well, today was supposed to include 6+ hours in the backseat of a car with two growing brothers, the annual swanson family reunion [at which there is not one swanson in attendance], featuring traditional scandinavian food, such as lefse, lutefisk, and pickled herring [sadly, this in no way resembles swedish fish], as well as an overabundance of christmas cookies. but all of those plans changed by the weatherman's two little words...

SNOW STORM!!!!!!!!!!

well, actually it was three big words: Winter Weather Advisory. but we all knew what he was getting at.

it's been snowing all day, so beautifully. how perfect, the first day of december is our first real snowstorm. i'd say we've gotten at least 6 inches, maybe more, of beautiful glistening fluffy white powder. ah! so lovely.

this change in scenery from brown to white also changed our plans from "party!" to "clean!".

all five us of have been cleaning, organizing, sorting, and rearranging since breakfast. and i must say, as pop snowblows the sidewalks outside at 9.37pm, it's been a busy day- but a very productive one. we all [meaning we three kinder] expected to sit around and poke a fire, watch the disney cartoon Robin Hood, drink hot chocolate, go for a few romps in the great white outdoors.. and instead, worked our little tails off. but it's quite satisfying at the end of a hard day's work to see the basement looking the best it has in years, and for me personally to see the back AND the floor of my closet!! [understand that "closet" in my case is synonymous with "cave," as it is narrow, deep, and dark. but today! it saw the light.]

so maybe tomorrow we'll play in the snow and watch Robin Hood. until then, we've got to figure out what to do with all that herring in the fridge..