Snow!

This makes quite the contrast from the previous post.  Elizabeth has gone from short sleeves on the beach to being bundled up like the little brother in A Christmas Story.

From 2015 January

We got 6 or 7 inches on Saturday and then another 20-24 today.

The only good thing to come from Clair's move to Florida is the snowblower because I doubt we would have bought one if they hadn't been getting rid of theirs and that saved us (okay, mostly Joe) literally hours and a lot of physical strain today.  He had to fight some this morning because we already had 17 inches when we got up and so the snow was literally higher than the snowblower (but not the spout, thankfully!).

From 2015 January

But we weren't going to go out at 3 am to do a first pass.  He did go out first thing this morning, though, even though it was still snowing pretty hard and I'm glad he did because I don't know if it would have been possible to use the snowblower once it got much higher.  He then did another round this afternoon, which was much easier because even though it snowed all day, it was relatively light most of the time.  There is still some cleanup work to do in the morning (including the wall at the end of the driveway--ick!) but in terms of square footage cleared we are in good shape.

We spent most of the day playing inside (and eating--it feels like we've hardly finished a meal before it is snack time and then almost before we've cleaned up they are hungry again!  I didn't expect that for another 10 years!)  We also tricked Nicholas into doing schoolwork for most of Elizabeth's naptime (as soon as I reminded him that it was a school day and started calling things by their school subject names he was on board) so we could get some work done.

Then we finally went outside to play for a bit in the afternoon.  Elizabeth and I were probably only out for 15 minutes because her face and the space that wasn't staying covered between her gloves and her sleeves were getting bright red (it was less than 20 degrees out and still snowing lightly), but everyone had a blast.  Joe worked to create a little sledding track (which was hard given how soft the snow was) for the kids to go down.  We weren't able to have the kids share the sled today because their combined weight was making them sink, but Nicholas then went over the track dozens of times after Elizabeth and I went in, so hopefully by tomorrow it will be firm enough that they can share the sled and Nicholas can help keep Elizabeth from falling (see the video in the January album).

I wasn't sure what Elizabeth would think this time around.  She was not keen on the snow at Thanksgiving, but she is much more capable now.  I doubt Nicholas would have enjoyed sledding at her age, especially after the first time falling.  I think last winter is the first time we even tried with him.  But Elizabeth is our adventurous one.  She was a little skeptical at first, but quickly warmed up to it and kept asking to go again, even after we thought she must be freezing.

From 2015 January

From 2015 January

And Nicholas impressed me so much.  He has turned into such a big kid.  On Sunday he went out and created his own sledding track (with instructions from Joe but doing the work on his own.  I was out with a friend and Joe was inside with Lizzie) and did a great job (Joe took a video for me, which is in the album).  And today after Elizabeth and I went in and Joe went back out front to do the second round on the driveway he stayed out there working on the track for a long time. 

From 2015 January

He got very frustrated at points, but got it back together and worked on a strategy and eventually got it to work the way he wanted.  I love that he is willing to play by himself like that and am so grateful that we can keep an eye on him from the warmth of the house. 

From 2015 January

I do leave a window or door open a few inches when he is in the backyard so I can hear him so a little cold air gets in, but way better than being outside.  And so Elizabeth and I watched him through the storm door while Elizabeth tried to convince me to put her gear back on so she could go join him.

I am sure this snow is going to cause us all sorts of headaches in the weeks to come, but for today at least it has been okay.

From 2015 January