The Snowman Is Doing What?

Last week while Jeff had a few days off for vacation, we had just enough snow to make a snowman, throw a few snowballs and do a little sledding.

I was inside getting my cold weather gear on and resting up from getting four kids bundled up, so I missed the actual building of the snowman.

When I went out, I found a rather unusual snowman, which Sam was happy to explain to me. Jeff, on the other hand, refused to answer for this.



The snow was gone the next day, so I was glad we got out and played in it. The snowman mostly melted in the next couple of days, though a small part of his potty remains. 

© Trippin' Mama 2011

Winter's Last Hurrah

We got another four inches of snow last Friday.

I didn't think my spirit could take any more snow.

Luckily I have kids, and they were thrilled with the snow, which lifted my spirits immensely.

Friday after Amelia came home from school we all went out and played in the white stuff.

Saturday I took her to the sledding hill, hoping it was the last time for the season.

Once we got there, we had a lot of fun and a few wipeouts, too. I quickly forgot about the cold, the hassle of shoveling and driving in the snow, and what a pain it is to bundle everyone up every time we go out. We played for more than an hour before we packed it in. I think we both knew it was the last hurrah.

Sunday it rained. The rain took all the snow with it and left behind mud. Lots and lots of mud.

I'm glad we enjoyed the snow one last time, because you know what? I miss it already.

© Trippin' Mama 2011

Confessions of a Weather Weenie

It's hard for me to admit this, but I am a winter weather weenie.

There! I feel much better.

At least until the ridicule and heckling from all my friends and family who still live in the Frozen North starts rolling in.

I never used to be a wimp about a little snow, but boy have things changed.

You see, I grew up in a place where two feet of snow in one storm was not remarkable, and it didn't bring everything to a screeching halt. Then I moved south. Not way south, but far enough that 8 inches of snow is a major snowstorm. Far enough that I took my daughter out to play in the snow and you could see the grass through our snow angels.

We are getting our second round of snow in less than a week. I can barely bring myself to admit that the 5-9 inches we're getting today made me rethink taking the boys to the doctor's office for their checkup today.

Before the heckling begins I just want to point out a few important things:

1. Most people here do not know how to drive in snow. The other drivers tend to be a greater danger than the road conditions.

2. We don't have the snow removal equipment to clean much more than the major thoroughfares, which leaves a large portion of the roads untouched.

3. What in the world would I do if I got stranded with three 16-month-olds in the car? We can't reasonably walk across a parking lot together yet, and while our stroller is built for off-roading, it doesn't come with runners and a sled dog. The mere idea of being trapped for hours with three boys who would soon be bored and hungry and wailing is enough to send me screaming to the funny farm.

Jeff and I love to tell the story about our second winter here. We were expecting 14 inches of snow, and despite the panicked look in every newscaster's eyes, the idea of that as a major winter storm never even registered with us. Fourteen inches? We'd be driving to work tomorrow. Ha! How little we knew.

The storm hit New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve we were in the grocery store buying alcohol. Everyone around us had carts piled full of toilet paper, milk and bread. I wondered what the heck kind of New Year's parties people had around here. I even asked the cashier what was going on. She looked at me like I had two heads and said, "Honey, we're expecting more than a foot of snow. You won't be able to get out for days."

We still didn't believe it, but she was right. We didn't see a snowplow for five days. The only getting out we did was to join our neighbors, who hailed from Utah, in sledding down the big, unplowed hill that was our street while the rest of the neighbors peered out from their warm houses and called us crazy. 

Over time, we've adapted, and slowly, ever so slowly, I have become a complete winter weather weenie. Although I must admit having three little ones to contend with is pretty good justification for staying put. Maybe it's even smart.

Fortunately, before I had to admit to my weather wimpiness and call the doctor's office, they called me. "Would you mind rescheduling this afternoon's appointment? You know the weather is going to be pretty bad."

Oh, sure. No problem.

At least now I can blame my wimping out on them!

© Trippin' Mama 2010

Phil Was Right

Well, turns out the groundhog was right. Winter is back in full force around here. We've got snow on the ground again, but at least this time the temperature's not so unbearable.

Isaac

Tomorrow afternoon we'll probably take the kids outside and do a little sledding. Hopefully they will be bigger fans of the snow when it's not quite so cold outside. Last time they didn't last more than ten minutes, and Sam spent nine of those crying.

Sam

As for me, I learned a valuable lesson that first time out. If you are going to wrestle four small children into snow pants, boots, coats, mittens and hats, DO NOT put any of your winter gear on first. In fact, workout wear is more than appropriate. I was sweating like it was the Fourth of July by the time I had everyone ready.

Alex & Amelia

My winter-wear workout did make me appreciate how much effort my mom made to get us ready and out the door every day when I was growing up in the Frozen North.

But I also know that the silence she enjoyed while we were outside was definitely worth it.

© Trippin' Mama 2010

Time to Play with Snow

Today we got 6 inches of snow. I know it's not much to my friends and family who live in the Frozen North, but it's a pretty decent amount here. (Yes, I know I live in the South.)

It's beautiful stuff, all white and fluffy.

Unfortunately, it was too cold out and too late by the time it quit snowing to take the kids out to play. So I brought the snow in to them instead.

Everyone got a little more interested in the snow when I started to make it into snowballs.

Alex gives it another shot.

Sam takes a taste.

Isaac analyzes the snow.

I don't know what they'll think when we get them out in it this weekend, but I can't wait to find out. In the meantime, Alex thought this was a great way to enjoy the snow!

Snow Day

We woke up this morning to find about an inch of snow of the ground. Jeff and I were bewildered, since we apparently missed that weather report completely. Amelia was delighted!



As soon as the boys went down for their morning nap, Amelia suited up and we headed out for a little fun in the snow.

I taught her how to play Fox and Goose, and then she made some snow angels.

Amelia had so much fun that she didn't even want to come inside when she got cold. Maybe she's got a little of that Frozen North blood running through her veins after all!

Snow Day

We got more than a foot of snow Tuesday night so by Wednesday morning travel was not advised. Jeff worked from home and Amelia got a snow day with mom and the boys.

Fortunately, it wasn't really cold, so we put on the snow pants and boots and went out to play for a short time.

Amelia checks out the snow.

Cold, but fun!

The snow was up to Amelia's knees, and she had trouble even walking, but she was giggling the whole time. It's good to have a small child to remind you of how much fun snow can be! Somehow it's hard to think fun when you have a snow shovel in your hand.

My sister Mary and her son, Luke, left for home Tuesday night. It took Jeff a while to get them to the airport, and they barely made their connection, but they got home. It's a good thing they left when they did.

Hope you are staying warm wherever you are!

Oh, Christmas Tree

With Aunt Susie here to watch the boys, we took the opportunity to take Amelia to the tree farm to get our Christmas tree. It was, of course, snowing and one of the coldest days of the year -- 11 degrees with the wind chill. We bundled up and made fast decisions!

Daddy and Amelia at the Christmas tree farm.

Amelia enjoyed seeing the "reindeer" and playing in the snow.

Amelia and the "reindeer."

Amelia did not enjoy falling in the snow. She fell just before we took this picture with her next o a tree just her size. She was very concerned about getting the snow off the seat of her pants.

Amelia next to "her" tree -- a 3.5 footer that was just taller than her.

Now if only the elves would come decorate the tree for me...