15 inches

Instead of making dinner, I spent the past several hours shoveling the 15+ inches off of our driveway and front walk! Man, I have got to get me a snow blower, or just suck it up and hire a plower, or at least a massage therapist when I'm done...

In any case, we had fun playing in it today. Angel's school was cancelled so we stayed in our pajamas and had a grand old time working on crafts, playing games, popping corn, making snow angels, and drinking hot cocoa. While I was outside shoveling, our neighbor was using his snow blower, and Angel and Grins followed behind him, right underneath where the snow was shooting out, just so they could get a constant "shower". Even with the noise of the motor I could hear their giggling and squeals. Crazy kiddos. I love that they can have fun in almost any situation!

(Cozying up in their new "Snuggies" - a Christmas present from Grandma & Grandpa!)

Poor little Wiggles just followed me around - which is no small feat, considering the snow is up to her waist! But she was such a sport, saying "I want to go in the warm house" or "I'm not going to cry." (We can always tell exactly what she is thinking - she always tells us "I'm not going to color on the walls with this marker." or "I'm not going to throw my food on the ground." or, sometimes it's after the fact; "I'm not going to make that mess"). Hilarious. After we were done with our driveway we went down the street and shoveled the porch of our elderly widow neighbor. We finally headed back home just in time for the Mr. to return from work. Perfect timing! :) So we were able to enjoy a nice, warm meal together!

(Although this photo was taken a few weeks ago - notice the Christmas tree is still up - Nothing says 'snow day' like forts and cushion mountains!)

Unfortunately my camera batteries died just as I was about to take the first picture - and since I was all snow-suited up, I didn't take the time to switch them out - so the photos will have to wait for another day. But for now, here are some recent photos (I LOVE having a camera!!! Thank you Mom and Dad B!)

Once there was a snow man....

We have been thoroughly enjoying having the Mr. home so much!! (Some call this "the calm before the storm" of Residency...we'll take it!)

A couple of weeks ago when, out of nowhere, we got several inches of snow, he took the kids out (with the help of a couple other moms and kids) made a GIANT snowman (complete with 'horns' per the kids' request.) Later, we worked together on an igloo! Angel insisted on eating lunch in the igloo after it was done. We had a great time!

Final snow of the season????

Last week we thoroughly enjoyed the snow. And it's a good thing, too....with how nice it's been lately, it seems that may have been the last of the snow for the season. Well, we do live in Utah. But we can always dream, right?

Skiing

Since we are very likely enjoying our last winter in Utah (and because Utah does, afterall, boast the "best snow on earth", we decided to 'hit the slopes' last week. (Did you know you can Ski Free at Alta?) Although 3 of us were beginners (can you tell which 3?!?) we had a blast! (although the Mr. and I definitely felt it in our backs the next day)! I definitely hope we'll be able to do it again sometime!

Angel was very scared at first, but said "I can be brave" and even tried skiing by herself! I was so proud of her courage in trying something new! (even though she did take a couple of spills)








Grins was quite hesitant the whole time - and we felt so bad when he took a couple of really bad face plants - but he was such a sport! He kept hanging in there and when we were done, we asked "Did you have fun?" "Yeah, a little bit." he said. "It was a little bit scary, too." What a trooper!

Because the Mr. is MUCH more experienced than I am, both kids strongly preferred him
(as in, they pretty much refused to ski with me towards the end). So at the end, I went alone while the Mr. took both kids! What a dad, huh?

We really did have fun, despite the kids faces here!
(after a couple of hours, we were cold and tired!)

First Snow of the Season

Autumn seemed much too short this year. It seems the leaves scarcely had time to change colors and begin falling when, suddenly, the temperature dropped and I could almost taste the impending snow. The children were, of course, delighted when the first flakes of snow started to appear. Before you could say "look outside!" they were donning hats, gloves, boots and snowpants, and taking a stool to the door to unlock the chain (my latest attempt at keeping them from leaving without my knowledge) and free themselves from the warm confines of our apartment to the blistery cold outside. I begrudingly dressed Wiggles and myself (no small feat, since she lives up to her name, especially while being dressed!) and headed out the door. I must admit that, despite my wistfull longing for a longer autumn, watching the children gleefully run around scooping up snow, making snowmen and snow angels, and screaming "THANK YOU JESUS" while looking heavenward did manage to lift my spirits. And it was beautiful; The snowflakes falling, the white blanket covering the earth, and, most of all, my children dancing.


**Later that day, once we were back inside, Angel asked if we could send a Thank You card to Jesus and Heavenly Father for the "beautiful gift of snow". I smiled and told her that was so thoughtful, but asked how she thought we might deliver it, since no mailman I know of ventures quite that far. She paused for a moment, and then said "We could send it up in a balloon." She was so sincere that, though I'm opposed to the sending up of balloons due to environmental reasons, at that moment I nearly considered it! I think I managed to talk her into "praying" the Thank You message instead...