Sunday Smiles::Trains, Groundhogs And A Birthday

Our morning started as all Sunday mornings do. Dave did our weekly food shopping and the girls and I got things organized for the day ahead. After everything was done there was still a wee bit of time before we needed to leave for church so the girls got out their train set. I love that they still love this train set as much as they did the day my parents gave it to them. You really can't go wrong with a classic toy! 

After church we returned home, had a lovely lunch and watched The Kitten Bowl (the cuteness was just ridiculous!). Once the Kitten Bowl was done we decided to make our traditional Groundhog Day treat (click here, here and here for a little blast from the past). While watching Grace mix the pudding I couldn't help but wonder exactly when it was that she grew up. She looks older to me all of a sudden and her eighth birthday is still a good five-ish months away. 

While we were making these pudding cups it occurred to me that I forgot a few things to make the cookies look more like a groundhog rather than a cookie with a face (this head cold really is doing a number on me being able to think clearly)! Next year, I'll be sure to have all the necessary supplies on hand so they actually look like groundhogs! 

In addition to it being Groundhog Day and Candlemas Day and Super Bowl Sunday and Superb Owl Sunday it also happens to be David's Grandma's 96th birthday! So, even though we're all the way up here and she's all the way on Long Island we wanted to take a quick moment to wish her a very happy birthday! She's a hot ticket this grandma of his and I wish we lived closer so we could celebrate with her! Happy Birthday, Grandma! May this next year be full of love and laughter and time spent with those you hold most dear! We love you! xoxo

Groundhog Day

(The picture above is from the Drumlin Farm Facebook page.)

This year was the first year that we attended the Groundhog Day event at Drumlin Farm.  We arrived a little before 9:30am (the time that it was said that Ms. G would emerge and make her prediction) and discovered that many other people were already there.  As you can see from the pictures above while we had a decent spot it was still hard for the girls and I to see what was going on. I managed to get a few good pictures though the one I really wanted of her on her log pile eluded me (thanks to the Drumlin Farm Facebook page for that one)!  After it was determined that there would be an early spring (yay!), the girls and I headed over to the pond house for some snacks and story and craftime.  While it was a chilly, grey day it was still a great way to celebrate! Here's to hoping Ms. G's prediction is right.  After all, if we're not going to have a snowy winter we might as well have an early spring!

Our (Groundhog) Day

Our day began with us checking in with Punxsutawney Phil who told us that spring is on it's way!  After that there was:

dressing up,

chicken stock making,

puppet creating,

(Perhaps some ears would have helped!)

paper bag groundhog making,

groundhog hide and seek playing (which easily lasted an hour),

some computer time (on a fun new website thanks to our friends from Frog Creek!),

treat making,

and eating.  (Before dinner because that's fun!)

And of course, snow blowing (after all, what's a day without some snow removal?!)

Happy Groundhog Day, everyone! 

Groundhog Day Dirt Mound Dessert

Happy Groundhog Day!

We started our day off by checking in with Good Morning America to see if the Punxatawny Phil saw his shadow or not.  The girls loved seeing the groundhog!  They loved seeing it so much that they repeatedly asked to see it again and again and again.  Grace was fascinated by him, especially by the fact that: "He has a runny nose, Mommy!"

To celebrate Groundhog Day, I thought it would be fun to make a groundhog themed dessert.  And what better way to pay homage to the little guy than to make a dirt mound with a groundhog puppet in it?!

Coloring the groundhog mound toppers. 

Mixing pudding and crushing Oreo cookies for the dessert.

David mixes in half a container of Cool Whip. 

Dishing up pudding/Cool Whip mixture.

Topping with Oreo cookie "dirt" and of course, a groundhog.

Too Cute!

And clearly delicious!

So, according to Phil we have six more weeks of winter.  

We'll keep plugging away and having fun to help the days pass more quickly!  

We hope you'll continue to join us.  

Have a great night, friends. 

We'll see you tomorrow.