After having a morning filled with lots of snowball fun, and after coming inside from being hit by a snowball by my wonderful husband, we all went inside for awhile to warm up, all while the kiddos kept asking over and over when they could back out again.

We eventually ventured out again that afternoon for some more FUN, even though I really wanted to just stay inside for the rest of the day.

But once we were out again, I was in complete awe of how beautiful our neighborhood looked and I couldn't stop snapping it while the kiddos went to get their neighbor friend to come out and play with them! :)

And, again, I was in awe of this view. It really looks AMAZING with all the snow coverage. WOW!

I couldn't get enough!!

And, just like with D's car, the picnic table became another great tool for snowball making!

Snowball fight!!

There's nothing better than BEing in your JOY!! :)

Checkin' out what the girls are doing.

Oh...snowballs!! I can make some, too! :)

Oh gosh...his little face! The cutest!! :)

Then D started the fun of building a snowman!

"Do you wanna build a snowman???"

That soon became, what the girls said, a snowmaiden!

Their first snowmaiden...yaaaaay!!

Taaaa-daaaaa!!!

Best snow friends forever!!

Back to making snowballs.

"Hey, guys! Look what I made!!"

And then he posed for me. He said he was giving me a hug in this pic. Awwweee!

Definitely a framer!

I just loved how they looked under those snow trees!

I see you!!!

So teeny-tiny!

Oh, our little neighborbood. It just warms my heart!! Especially when it looks like snow globe!

Then it was off to wonder around some new parts of the hood. Bye, snowmaiden!

Rolling down the snow hills is AWESOME!!

And running in snow is AWESOME, too!!

Oh, their energy!!

Snow cutie!!

Off they go...

to explore some more!

Then D had something to tell them while under the tree.

"See this??"

Then he shook the tree like crazy so it was like they were standing in blizzard. :):)

They LOVED it!!!!

I mean, who wouldn't!? So fun!!

D...keep being amazing!! The kiddos and I are SO lucky to have you!!
You make life SO FUN and we LOVE you! :)

Oh, the beauty! It never ends and I wouldn't have it any other way! :)

He was ready to go back to the playground and he had absolutely no desire to wait for anyone to go with him. ;)

Even though he was WAY ahead of us, I always kept my eye on him. :)

Even while I was snapping the beauty that surrounds us.

OH MY GOSH!! What a sight!!

I absolutely LOVE it!!

I never, ever want forget this place. EVER!

It's been absolutely SOUL NOURISHING for my busy mama soul!!

Then it was time to go in and warm up!!! But, not without one last snowball in hand. :)

Thank you, snow day, for being the BEST DAY EVER for our little family! We will never forget the memories we made! :)

As I was editing the pics, I couldn't help but think about all the times it snowed when we lived in Williamsburg, just D and I, until our last year, when C was born.

Out of all those times, we only went outside in it once. And, it was only in our backyard.

The rest of the time, I mainly took pictures of the snow from inside the house through the window or from the front porch or the side door.

I NEVER ventured out, beyond the house and into our neighborhood, with my camera, like I did when were outside with the kiddos on this day.

I thought, "Wow, I missed out on a lot! Yes, it was beautiful, but being out in it, like this, was AMAZING!!"

It was cold and wet and I almost told the kids that we needed to stay in because of that, but gosh, words can't even express how grateful I AM that my kids pushed me out the door.

If it wasn't for them, I would have never realized just how important it is for me to GET OUT in nature, with my camera, and capture all the beauty that makes me STOP and SMILE!!

It's nice to have cozy, snow days at home, while being all warm and dry inside, but venturing out for a bit, beyond the house, truly is JOYFUL!!!

Because, yeah, it's just way too easy to stay inside and view it from the window. Which, yes, is nice, but BEing out in it for a bit truly pulls me into the PRESENT moment even more!

A lesson, I never, ever want to forget, and now, thanks to our kiddos, I don't think I never, ever will. :)

Read Our First Family Snow Day | Part 1 Here!

Until next time...

See something that makes you stop and smile. Grab your camera!! It'll slow you down, pull you into the present moment even more and have you SAVORing your JOY feeling even more!! And most of all, it will allow you to SEE things that you may have passed by (like all the snow in the neighborhood beyond the house!). The camera...it's powerful...especially when it comes to JOY! :)

That's WHY I take pictures!! The camera is one of my favorite creative tools that easily pulls me out of my to-do list head and helps me SAVOR (the feeling of) everything that makes me stop, smile and lights me UP with LOVE (something that's hard for me to do when my mind is running five miles ahead or behind the present moment)