Snow, Snow, and Yes, More Snow!

[More pictures are coming but they are taking forever to put on]

We are certainly strangers to snow but that white stuff and us have become well acquainted over the past month.

Round 1:
Sunday January 9, 2011- Wednesday January 12, 2011

It snowed Sunday morning and snowed hard.  We watched as our car quickly became buried under a pile of white stuff.  We received word though that church was still scheduled for the day, so we bundled up and headed out into the mess.  Later we found out that the Bishop sent out one of his counselors who is from Rexburg, Idaho to determine if the roads were driveable for the ward to go to church.  Of course he of all people will say yes!  It made me laugh when I found out.

Roland and Weston walking into church building

We drove through a winter wonderland of snow to get to the church building.  The kid were excited as can be and tromped through the snow both on the way in and on the way out of the building.

Yes Natalie looked that silly at church.  We had nothing warm so she wore a long sleeve dress with leggings underneath and rain boots.  She was quite the sight!

They went walking in the snow once we got back home but we lasted about a minute before the cold really hit their hands and tears started.  We ran into the house and sat them in the warm bath to defrost them a little.  We were not too prepared!

The snow and ice stuck around for a few days.  The kids loved touching it every time we went to the car.  I even watched icicles form!  This was a first for me and was actually really fun to watch.  Oh the things that entertain me!  :)

Alicia and Natalie

Round 2:
Tuesday February 1, 2011 - Friday February 4, 2011

We got slammed!  Tuesday hit us with an ice storm.  There was 1 to 3 inches of ice on everything.  Our parking lot looked like a skating rink.  I have never seen anything like it!  Roland went to work much to my dismay but luckily came home early (and safely).

The rain from the night before froze in a drizzle on our screen

Even the inside of the house had ice (this is the window frame)

Wednesday was more ice.  We were hovering at temperatures in the single digits and low teens (windchill had us at 0 degrees Fahrenheit). No rest for the weary.  Roland stayed home with us.  Yay!  He even got a glimpse of what it is like to be a full time student only.  He spent the whole day in the room working on homework.  He loved it!  (Not the homework - but the no other responsibilites part).

What did the rest of us do to keep ourselves entertained?  Why make a mess of course!  And, we started a band!  I have no idea how Daddy studied through all of this noise.

We did eventually leave the house to go to the gym.  Afterward we went to the parking lot of the church so Roland could teach me how to drive and skid on ice.  That was informational.  I even drove home and stopped at the grocery store (parking on a giant block of ice).  I was proud of myself.

On the way inside the kids got to skate (or skape as Weston calls it) in the parking lot.  They had so much fun. 

Roland doing his twirl

Thursday I ventured out of the house to do some makeup piano lessons.  I made it to two, then called it.  It was taking far too long to travel even short distances and it was getting dark and difficult to see the ice. 

Friday was snow - and lots of it.  Six inches!  Roland stayed home from work.  We were crazy and drove to Grandpa's house to go sledding!  Grandma was in Tucson for the week for Karlee's baby blessing.  We couldn't even see the road.  Roland was just guessing where it was.  Probably not the safest way to be driving!  It was absolutely beautiful though.

This is the frontage "road" of the freeway

The kids loved the snow.  They could not get enough of it - especially Natalie.  We used a pool raft as a sled and rode down the hill.  Weston and Natalie were giggling and laughing the whole time.  Both of them just wandered around the yard forever, touching the snow, jumping in the snow, falling in the snow.....  all with big, bright smiles!

Roland and Weston sledding

Don't you love the bags on my shoes?  So stylish!  Oh, and Roland has since taught me how to wrap a scarf!

Kids sliding down hill

Alicia and Roland

Roland with giant icicle (notice he has no gloves - we were horribly unprepared)

Alicia, Weston, Natalie on sled

Alicia and Andrea

Throwing snowballs with Aunt Andrea

Weston was fascinated with the icicles

I couldn't get either of the kids to pose with Grandpa.  They wanted to play!

Natalie especially loved exploring.  She could live in the snow forever and be the happiest girl in the world.  She was so frustrated to go back inside.

The snow and ice stuck around for a while and in an effort to make sure we were safe, Roland chiseled away at the ice on our steps after we came home from the gym Saturday.  The kids enjoyed the chance to play with shovels in the snow while we waited for Daddy to finish his task.

Our fearless hero and his tool

Natalie was making shapes in the snow

Our little snowman

Weston shoveling snow

Round 3:
Wednesday February 9, 2011

Kind of a let down.  We were told we would get another six inches.  I was actually excited this time.  But, no six inches here.  It came down pretty hard all morning but nothing really stuck (maybe because there was ice on the ground from last night - who knows).  So, we got maybe 0.1 inches.  Kind of lame.  The kids really wanted to go outside and play in the snow.  They begged me all morning.  But, it was too cold and I wasn't about to do it alone.  Plus, there isn't really enough even out there to play in.  Bummer.

I think we are done for now.  Hopefully no more snow this season.  We will see.  Although I am sure the kids would LOVE it!