Prelude to Winter

Yesterday was our first snowfall.  It was a beautiful snowfall which I kept meaning to photograph in my spare time, which is why I never took a picture.:)  I did make hot chocolate for the occasion, though not "St.Nick's Hot Chocolate", which I didn't have the ingredients to make, but is my all-time favorite form of hot chocolate.  (I'll post a recipe for that one of these days...)

So, although I can't show you the falling flakes, I can show you what I woke up to this morning: the sunlight streaming through the remaining fall leaves, and a pretty dusting of white over everything.

Has anyone else noticed that snowfalls bring clear and bright skies in their wake? It is always sunny after a snow day.

 I loved the last of the fall leaves nestled in with the first of the winter's snow.

We received our official "warning" of the approaching winter.  The day grew dark early, we made a run for a pair of boots and some hats and gloves for the few of us who still needed them. And I might just have splurged on a peppermint mocha while I was out...


It's a good thing we had just managed to capture a few of these beauties in beeswax before the snow hit:

I tried to turn this project into a science/nature lesson, having my  little ones trace the leaves with crayons and study them under a magnifying glass.  Kindergarteners can be very taken with magnifying glasses.  Bilbo kept saying "I never knew that!" as he looked at his leaves.  

My artistic and talented sister made hers into a gorgeous swag for her front door.  I could barely manage to string them across my mantle.  Occasionally I'll catch a whiff of the beeswax, which is just lovely!

Is it completely obvious that I'm trying to post sweet things to distract myself from the one very sweet thing that simply will. not. come. early?!! How this little holiday baby isn't making an early arrival is beyond me. I feel like I am going to pop! Bun in the oven? Ha! I've got the Thanksgiving turkey in here!!

But, truth be told, I could stand to wait another day since five of my kids have a dentist appointment tomorrow and it would be really inconvenient to have to reschedule those!  Always good to get things cleared off the plate before a baby comes. On the other hand, I'm sure my Mom and sister would just love to take my kids to those appointments for me!:)