Let it "Snow"

It doesn't snow often in Richmond, Va. Supposedly the average snowfall is 12 inches per year. I think we've maybe had eight inches total in the past two winters. It's hard to snow when it's 75 in mid-December....which is the actual temperature right now (and rising).

We got a small taste of it last week in the form of a few flurries -- not even enough to cover the ground. It was, however, enough for Ema and her classmates to get outside and catch snowflakes on their tongues. Ema really enjoyed this and told us all about it. On Saturday night, we decided to take her to see some "snow." So we headed to Stony Point Fashion Mall in Richmond. Every night during the holidays it "snows" at 7 p.m. It's actually soap bubbles that come off the buildings. But it does look like real snow! Being the southern girl she is (Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy), Ema was delighted to see the snow falling around her. There was an audible gasp when the bubbles were first blown out around the 45-foot Christmas tree. Ema tried to catch "snowflakes" with her hand and tongue. She even did a little dance among the flakes. Now we're hoping she'll get a real taste of snow for Christmas as we will head to northern Indiana, where it once snowed 12 inches in a 24-hour period and the average snow is 34 inches per winter. As we are nearing 80, it's 31 in northern Indiana with ice.

Already, we have put in the request for some snow for Christmas...my mom is working on it! Ha, ha. Ema would definitely love to build a snowman and go sledding!

Over the weekend, we discovered something else Ema enjoys -- gymnastics. We went to Ronin's birthday party at a local gym. Ema loved running around the obstacle course, walking the balance beam and especially the parachute! We might have to look into classes for her although Gage is terrified of her being a gymnast. I've assured him that just because she is doing it at 2, that doesn't mean she'll be training for the Olympics.

Enjoy all the photos!