February 2013: A most snowy month for the Boston area. Aurora enjoyed a few extra days at home with Mama, a hockey game, and Chinese New Year.

February 2, 2013: Early that morning, we took Jon to the airport, hugged and kissed him good-bye, and off he went to Taiwan for the week.


After getting her customary breakfast at Logan, Aurora headed out to Natick for ballet. That afternoon was Greer's 4th birthday party at The Kids Place. Aurora decorated a plaster plaque and got to mine for gems. She definitely took much longer and was more thorough with her painting compared to other kids.


Then it was downstairs for pizza and cupcakes. (Aurora avoided the veggies)


I guess the crafting bug got to her because when we got home, Aurora beganto make Valentines for her friends and family. Each card was specifically created for the recipient with a special story behind it. Aurora explained the story for each card to Kathy, who wrote it down for the recipient. Wai Po and Wai Gong told Aurora that they loved their card and really appreciated the story that went along with it.



February 8, 2013: Snow Day! A blizzard came to town, so we stayed home that day and watched it snow. By afternoon, Aurora was ready to head outside to play.


That evening, Kathy went out several times to shovel the walkway a bit. At first, the snow was light and fluffy (easy to shovel), but around midnight it got wetter and heavier.



February 9, 2013: This is what we woke up to the next morning. Good thing it was a Saturday and we had no where to be (ballet was cancelled). The snow was piled halfway up the backdoor. There was no mail delivery that day.


From the bedroom windows. We got about 20 inches that storm. (maybe more, with snow drifting and blowing)


The neighbor's basement door is half covered in snow.


Have we ever told you how wonderful Aurora is? By the time Kathy got the breakfast dishes washed and herself bundled up, Aurora had already dressed herself, and put on her snowsuit, boots, and hat. Kathy discovered Aurora happily shoveling the snow off the front porch!


Video: I love my kid!

More pictures of the wild snow drifts we got!


Somewhere down there, there are three cars. Thank you for plowing us in.


Aurora measures the snow for herself.


And then the miracle of awesome neighbors happened. Peter the landlord from next door showed up with his snowblower and helped clear most of the snow from around the cars. Then John and Sam (our neighbors on the other side) generously helped Frankie and myself finish shoveling out and cleaning off the cars.


Another reason we love our street - the view at sunset!



February 10, 2013: Everything is still quite snowy, but Aurora is ready to go sledding! We are invited to try out the hill behind Greer's house. It is a bit of a trek through deep snow to get from their driveway to the hill. Aurora loved walking through the new snow!


Video: The girls go downhill

Video: Snow angel



Hey! I know you! A most joyous reunion. A week ago Jon flew to Taiwan. He got stuck trying to get back home. Despite his best efforts to reroute himself, eventually renting a car and driving up from NYC, he only managed to get home AFTER the majority of the snow had already been shoveled.


Video: Jon's turn


February 14, 2013: Happy Valentine's Day! We enjoy our annual chocolate and cheese fondue dinner.



February 16, 2013: We attend the Cornell-Harvard hockey game that evening. Jon was looking forward to hanging out in the clubhouse, enjoying a beer with Aurora. This year, however, she decided the noise was not too much and she stuck it out for the whole game. She even learned to cheer "Go Big Red!"



February 17, 2013: We go to Chinatown for dimsum. We happen to also be there when the dragon parade is going around to the local businesses to bestow good luck. Aurora is not a fan of the firecrackers being set off all over.


Once inside the restaurant, she enjoys using her chopsticks to eat dumplings and chicken feet.


Unfortunate timing! The dragon arrives at the grocery store while we are shopping there. Aurora is not sure what is worse - the front of the store with the dragon and loud drums and firecrackers, or the back of the store which smells like fish!



February 18, 2013: It's Isaac's birthday. This is Aurora's special message for him.

Video: Happy birthday