Because I love all things routine and predictable, I thrive living in a place where four seasons arrive and depart exactly when they should, and can be counted on to display the best of themselves each time. Winter in the Upstate almost always guarantees one good, hearty snow a year, which means it's regular enough to count on, but not so frequent that we have to learn to live around it. So when a "wintery mix" makes it into the forecast, the grocery stores are abuzz and everyone prepares for hibernation of the best sort.

Winter Storm Jonas did not disappoint. In fact, I think it's safe to say that he brought with him the best snow we've had since moving here ten years ago, and I know for certain that we enjoyed the most pleasantly relaxing snow weekend we've ever had. By 6pm on day 2, the two littlest boys were crying at the tiniest provocation or disappointment. And while incessant crying is nothing if not annoying, Jimmy and I agreed that it was also a sign of a wonderfully delightful two days.

I'll always be the first to sign up for a weekend that includes an extra day, no leaving, no hurrying, the whole family playing outside together, coffee, cameras, goPro's, drones, The Office, The Hobbit, The Great British Baking Competition, and even Monopoly. Yes, I'll even play monopoly on a snow weekend.