this winter

This winter has been weird.

After last year's incessant snowing with our own version of the alps right outside our house, I never, never thought I would say, "I wish it would snow."

But here I am, not one year after that freak spring blizzard and I am here to say, "I wish it would snow."

Oh, we've had little snow, but what we've had more of is rain and ice. I've never seen anything like it. It rains and rains and because of the frozen ground it has no where to go so it just pools on the grass and then freezes, resulting in frozen ponds all over the grass and sidewalks and roads. It is quite unreal to see.

We did get a few inches a couple weeks ago and so we ventured out to a hill to go sledding. It was windy and freezing cold! And since then the snow has melted. But we got this good video:



Ana had fun anyway.

Hopefully February will bring us 1 or 2 good snowstorms. Then I'll be okay with spring coming. I still miss the sunshine.

the time we survived the blizzard of '11

Dave got up to take a test yesterday. He got up early so he could study for a little while beforehand. I heard him get up, make breakfast and leave. Then I heard him come back. Then I heard him leave again. Then I heard him talk on the phone... "I was out there since 6:20 and no bus ever came. There is nothing on the website about delayed buses. ... Yeah, he's going to take us all up there." Then I heard him leave out the back door. What? I thought. I looked at the clock. It was 7:15. Then I fell back asleep.

Ana came in a little while later. While she was laying next to me, I heard Dave come back inside. By then I was thoroughly confused. So I looked out the window.

I couldn't see anything. Literally. There was snow blowing everywhere and I couldn't see. I groaned and pulled the sheets back over my head.

Apparently since the city bus system wasn't running, and a number of students couldn't make it to the school, and some others had opted to snowshoe to school since their cars were buried, the test was postponed, and the class of 2014 rejoiced in the extra day to study.

our front.... steps?

I got his trike out last week and never got around to putting it back....

The Buick. It took Dave 2 hours to dig it out.

After the snow and wind died down Ana and Daddy went out to shovel.


"Dad," she said, "this is kinda hard work."


I guess that's when the shovel was put aside.

once there was a snowman

After last nights "thundersnow" storm, we had perfect snowman snow to work with today.



This is really how tall our snowman is. It is taller than Dave. He can't even reach the top. It is awesome.

snowed in

It snowed all day today. We have about 10 inches (at least) of new snow on top of the 10+ inches we had before. So, what did we do all day during the eastern storm?

We jumped:



We danced:

We cleaned.

We shoveled.
And we loved it!

white caps

Wednesday we had a blizzard. Half way through a snapped a couple pictures, though I wasn't about to go out in it.


Thursday morning I had to go out. It had stopped snowing by then, but the drift by our car was up to my knees and there was 8 inches of snow sticking out from the passenger side of the car. Normally, I would stay inside, but I couldn't help it yesterday.

See, Ana got her tooth pulled. She did really well and it only took about 30 minutes. She got a free pint of Ben & Jerry's too. I was a little envious of that. She excited for the tooth fairy to come tonight. (She would have come yesterday, but was unprepared, so we told Ana it takes a couple days for the tooth fairy to get here.)

Its snowing again today. Well, it was. I guess now the sun is shining. I think we might try to get out of the house anyway. If I had my way I'd lay on the couch all day, but my room is an explosion of laundry, my kitchen floors are decidedly sticky, I need to restock the pantry and the children are a little stir crazy.

I suppose we'll brave the cold weather and find some place to go.

monday, monday

Back in the routine today. Not that we have a great routine. We usually stay in our pjs until 10 or 11. Watch a bit of TV first thing in the morning. Generally laze about for most of the morning until I decide to get my butt in gear. That's our morning routine.

And since I'm not quite ready to start the laundry again - (I feel like I just got last weeks laundry put away.) (Actually, I still have a batch in the dryer that's been sitting there for a few days, yet once again we are out of clean clothes.) - I'll just spend some extra time and post a few pictures that our friends took over the break.


playing in the snow/sledding:









While Dave and I were gone, our friends introduced the kids to fondue:



We had an awesome break with Dave home. Although most of his time was spent taking care of sick people, I think he had a good time too.

Happy first Monday of 2011!

snowman

I hadn't made a snowman in a long time. It was fun.


After we made the snowman Jack stayed outside with me for a long time "playing snow fight" and also thoroughly enjoying himself while he ran around hitting various bits of snow with a stick. It was a great day.

in our house

The kids hadn't been out of the house since Monday night. On Wednesday Dave stayed home studying so I ran some Christmas-related errands without the kids. Other than that, I hadn't left the house either. Yesterday I was sick. I stayed on the couch all day. And I let the kids watch a lot of TV. But behavior-wise they were doing just fine. They even left me alone for a few minutes so I could soak in the tub.

Either way, I knew that today we needed to get out. So after lunch I bundled up the kids and we went outside to play in the snow. We had a great time.

And then suddenly, when we came back inside, 4 days of being-stuck-inside-with-mom unleashed its power and the kids went nuts. And now I'm feeling a little under the weather again. So I think I'll curl up on the couch with the kiddos and read them stories while I wait for Dave to finish his test and come home for 2 whole weeks.

And then we'll finish our Christmas cards and finish shopping and get the house all cleaned up for Christmas.

let it snow