snow
Pittsburgh 2015
Each year on the weekend before Christmas Dusty and I travel to Pittsburgh. We always choose an event, somewhere delicious to eat, and stay in our favorite hotel. In the past we have seen The Nutcracker at The Benedum and Highmark Holiday Pops at Heinz Hall. They are both amazing shows. This year we decided to do something different. We went to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. My sister and her husband joined us for this part of our trip, and we really enjoyed it. We got there before the crowd but late enough to enjoy the special winter light garden. It was absolutely perfect.
We parted ways for dinner after our tour of the conservatory. Dusty and I had a reservation at Meat and Potatoes. We had a wonderful dinner as we watched the snow fall.
The next morning we made our usual rounds on the Strip… and so did everyone else. Wow, was it packed!! We usually try to get to the Strip as early as possible, but on this trip we try not to rush. Before we did any shopping, we made our typical visit to Enrico Cafe. This is the highlight of every trip to Pittsburgh. I could set up camp in this cafe. After our bellies were full, we made all of the necessary stops and made our way out.
To see more of our trip, check out the video Dusty put together.
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A Season for Everything
One of my favorite things about living in West Virginia is the ability to experience all four seasons. When I was in seventh grade, my teacher read a short story to the class that was written by a former student of hers. The story had won our local Young Writers Contest a few years back. It was about one’s inability to be content. Each time a new season would come about, the person was longing for the next. The story obviously resonated with me, as it has been a long time since seventh grade. I do my best to fully appreciate each season. Each one is unique and perfect in its own way.
This winter has been a harsh one in West Virginia. Many school districts have missed over 20 days due to poor weather conditions. People now become angry at the mention of snow. I now have the unique privilege of being able to stay home on days when the weather is bad. I used to absolutely loathe snow. When I was younger, I had places to go and people to see, and snow kept me from those things. Now I am very content staying at home with my fur babies, warm blanket, good book, and a cup of coffee.
Spring is a welcome thought at the end of each winter, and especially this one. We have been teased with a few perfect West Virginia spring days already even though the first official day of spring isn’t until tomorrow. Everyone is ready to come out of hibernation. People are walking around my neighborhood. I hear birds chirping. Flowers have started blooming. Our favorite local ice cream place has opened its doors once again. Unfortunately, Spring seems to get shorter every year. Those mild days pass by quickly and the next thing you know, its summertime.
Summer is a wonderful thing. The days are longer, kids are out of school, pools are open, and it is hot. There is something so magical about summer when you’re a kid. It seems to last forever, and you want it to. Summer takes on a completely different personality when you are no longer of school age. I begin my summer job, which is a bit more relaxed than teaching. At our house, that means it’s time to start grilling. It’s time to start going to farmer’s markets. It’s a time for thunderstorms, and leaving windows open at night. Eventually the pools close, and summer gives way to fall.
Fall takes my breath away each year. If I could bottle and sell fall in West Virginia, I would make a fortune. By this time everyone is usually just as sick of the heat as they were snow a few months prior. They are ready for cooler temperatures. The doors on our local ice cream place close. Students return to school, and there is an excitement to be felt. The air is crisp, and its time to pack away the tank tops and hang up the scarves. The leaves turn to radiant reds, yellows, and oranges, and descend from the trees. Mother Nature begins preparing us for another winter.
The cycle goes on each year, and there is comfort in knowing the next season is just around the corner.
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Snow.
“Snow” is really the only word to describe the past week. We haven’t had school since January 17. Although I do appreciate a snow day here and there, this is too much. I need a schedule and routine in my life. I miss my students. I am hoping that we will return to school at some point this week. With this being said, I spent my week cleaning, organizing, online shopping (this is dangerous), lesson planning, grading, and completing several other odd household tasks.
Our nieces come to stay with us every other weekend, but this time we were concerned about the pending weather forecast. We took them on Saturday morning in hopes that we would make it to story time at Barnes and Noble. When we picked them up, the snow was already accumulating. We decided that it would be best to stay home for the day, but didn’t let it spoil our fun. We enjoyed hot chocolate, made snow paintings, made play doh, ate snow cream, and watched Despicable Me 2. We had big plans for Sunday. It was dollar day for the WVU Gymnastics team. The girls had never seen anyone do gymnastics, so we watched a few videos of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. They were fascinated! I could’t wait to take them to see gymnasts compete live.
When we woke up Sunday morning the snow had stopped, and we made our way to church. Unfortunately, right after we arrived it began snowing again. The ride home was slightly terrifying. We knew there was no way we were going to make it to see the gymnasts.
What do you do when you are snowed in with a three and five year old? Play in the snow, of course! They had never played in the snow before, so I was super excited. I had ordered them snow clothes from Columbia a few days prior to this, and they were set to arrive by the next weekend. Perfect, right? Luckily, I picked up their coats the previous weekend from Old Navy and Lydia’s snow boots had arrived in the mail on Thursday. We put on as many layers as we could, taped plastic bags around Angel’s boots to make them waterproof (and her own personal ice skates) and we were ready to go. We had so much fun! We only stayed out for about 30 minutes because it was so cold. It was almost impossible to get them to come back inside.
Their parents picked them up that night once the snow had stopped and the roads had partially cleared. Every time they leave I just start planning for their next visit.
Amy
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A Trip Around the Sun
As a kid, everyone asks if you feel older on your birthday. It always seemed so silly. Of course I didn’t notice a difference between January 16 and January 17. I can honestly say that I have felt older on the past few birthdays. A month after my 21st birthday Dusty proposed, and it feels like since then time has flown. I have graduated from college twice (once with my bachelors and then with my masters), bought a house, planned a wedding, taught at three different schools, worked for the Boys and Girls Club for three summers, ended my five years working at NASA, worked a brief time at WVU, and become co-president of my local reading council. That’s just to name a few of the things that have made time go by so quickly.
This year I turned 26. If how I began this year of my life is any indication of how I will spend the rest of it, then I couldn’t be more pleased.
I got a jumpstart of the celebrations with Dusty’s birthday being a week before mine. We had dinner with his family. We also had dinner at my grandma’s house to celebrate my, Dusty, and Jared’s (Sara’s fiancé) birthday. She made our favorite foods and we each got our own cake.
I was surprised with flowers from my husband at school on Thursday. These weren’t just any flowers. These were the flowers from our wedding from our wedding florist. They were perfect. I also received a Birthday Princess button in my mailbox from a few wonderful coworkers.
Friday morning began with a birthday text from my mom. I always feel as though we should celebrate her on my birthday. She is an amazing lady and I am so blessed to be able to call her mom. My day at school began with finding a giant cupcake and owl gift bag on my desk from my fellow sixth grade teachers. Inside of the owl gift bag I found the cutest little owl measuring spoons. They know me so well.
It also wouldn’t be my birthday if it didn’t snow. The picture below is the view of the snow from my classroom. By the time we left school, that snow had all melted. Everything looked great for our plans that evening. I really should have known better. We had planned to go bowling and eat in the city north of us with my family. Dusty and I left a bit early to do a little shopping and almost as soon as we arrived decided that we needed to turn around as the weather took a turn. The drive back to town was terrifying. We met my family at one of our favorite local places for dinner. Then we went back to their house to watch The Heat. The night may have even turned out to be better than what it would have been.
Saturday was spent with a few of my dearest friends who worked very hard to make the day special. Samantha met me at my house to go out for lunch. Upon being greeted, I was handed an umbrella and told to open it. I was thrilled because I truly do need an umbrella, and there is no possible way she would know that. Of course, it wasn’t simply an umbrella. From each streamer hanging from the inside was a sweet note written from her to me. There were also iTunes and Starbucks gift cards. That wasn’t all. She handed me a gift bag in the car full of things I love (including the hat pictured below). There were also two cards. One from her and one from my furry nephew, Charlie. 
We then traveled to one of my favorite restaurants to meet Renee. After our yummy lunch, we went to a local paint your own pottery place where a few more surprises were in store for me. While picking out my pottery, my sister arrived. At first I thought it was just a coincidence, but I was thrilled when I found out they had been planning her arrival all along. A few minutes later another one of my friends, Ashley, walked through the door. Have I mentioned that I love my friends? 
I took Samantha back to my house to get her car because she had to get to another engagement. Renee and Sara stopped by the house. During their visit, Renee handed me a gift bag that contained a DVD she made of a VHS tape we were given when we graduated from junior high. I hadn’t seen this video since junior high. I can’t even explain how much this means to me.
I am so blessed with wonderful family and friends. It was a perfect birthday.
Bring it on 26!
Amy
Mr. and Mrs. Merrill 