ICK...

Guess what I woke up to this morning...

8 inches of snow!

Ick...

Every Day is a Snow Day...

They have been slowly building the snow ramp.

When these pictures were taken it wasn't very big...

but now, it is pretty large.

They can spend hours out there...

I can last about 10 minutes.

The great thing about homeschooling is that every day can be a snow day...

as long as we get in a few lessons first.

Snow Man...

As the snow continued to fall, the kids decided a snow man was in order.

A HUGE snowman!

I laughed when I saw them trying to lift this huge snowball.

They finally realized they needed to remove some of the snow or they wouldn't be able to lift it.

He looked a little lonely when the kids abandoned him for hot chocolate.

Sorry Frosty...

but, that was some good hot chocolate!

snow, Snow, SNOW...

We will not be attending church today since we have tons of snow on the ground and it is still coming down.  The roads are covered with the extremely deep stuff. 

So...  We are making a yummy breakfast and will hang out here at home.

Handy...

The two medium girls are currently outside in the driveway... shoveling.

We woke up this morning to a lot of snow... and it is still coming.  I know that some of you may be asking why shovel when it is still snowing...

The answer, my friends, is that if we don't do it now it will be so heavy later that it will take hours to accomplish the job.  Also, if one of the cars drives over that snow... it will pack down and become miserable and may not come off the driveway again until June.

So, they are shoveling.

I knew having these kids would come in handy one day...

Get Over Myself...

I looked out the window and couldn't believe my eyes!

I knew it was cold, but... really?  This?  Now?

Within 90 minutes we had about 5 inches on the ground and I wanted to cry.

The kids were overjoyed!

I was in a deep depression...

I know, I know... I have heard it all before.

What you must understand is that when you grow up in Alaska...

You get a lot of this stuff.

I am just done with snow.

I love the idea of global warming.

I just wish I saw it happening... because around here, we are not experiencing that "theory". 

We are in a snowstorm... and we all know what that does to me.

Okay, now I have cried about it. 

I have moaned and thrown a fit on the floor.

I have comtemplated moving to Arizona or Texas...

Now, I will smile and get over myself.

** These pics are from last week.

Sparkling...

I think it has been well established that I could do without snow.

However, even I can admit that when the snow is freshly fallen and the sun is peeking through the clouds... and everything is sparkling... it is beautiful.


Then 5 minutes pass and I realize that, yeah, I really like green grass, warm days and the smell of freshly cut grass.

Summer will return, Tammy... but for now...

enjoy the sparkling beauty.

At least until the cars turn the snow black and disgusting.

Oh the Joy...

Someone told me that I don't put enough pictures of myself on here, so this is to satisfy that person!I thought this was hilarious...

We were driving around town for 2 or 3 days after Christmas and couldn't figure out why we hadn't seen any snow plows. The roads were horrible and people were sliding all over the place.
Well, we finally found out that the state/city is struggling with their budget and decided that the good folks in Utah should know how to drive in the snow... I mean, after all, we do live in Utah! So, our roads are a mess! People are sliding and spinning.
Thank the good Lord that over the next couple of weeks I will be at home more than out.

My brother did remind me that we haven't really hit the worst weather around here. That generally comes in January and early February.

Oh the joy!!

This is what it is like to live in a winter wonderland...

By the way, my brother said it was 83 degrees in Florida the day after Christmas!

Still here...

Yes...

I am still here!

Christmas was wonderful! Truly!

I am so glad to have the house back to normal, though.

Yes...

I am one of those people who says...

Okay, get the tree out of the house the minute all of the presents are unwrapped.

We put it up the day after Thanksgiving so it was time... the fire hazard.

That tree was so dry I think dry wind might have set the thing on fire.

We have had tons of snow... there is probably close to two feet sitting out there right now.

Now compared with last year, that is a drop in the bucket. It actually snowed on Christmas day! It does not do that often... so it was nice. People keep getting stuck in the road in front of our house since all roads in this town are a two or three inch sheet of ice.

Cadi is in Nevada visiting friends. We took her to the airport yesterday. The roads were awful. We have never seen the freeway that bad. The latest storm had dropped such a huge amount of snow in such a short time that the plows couldn't keep up with it. They were working hard though.

I will try to post some pictures later today or tomorrow.

I hope you all had as wonderful of a holiday as we did!

They're loving the snow... for now...

I think this boy was born for the outdoors!

Maybe all boys are. I wouldn't know. He is my only boy... and very like his dad!

The snow keeps coming.

At this time of the year, the kids love it.

Snowball fights

snow angels

sledding

snowboarding

skiing

Eating snow (gross)

To a kid it is so much fun...

until mid February comes around.

Then the snow gets boring.

The cold seems colder.

Then they start to agree with me!

Spring can't come fast enough!!

Plan of Attack...

As I sit here typing, my husband is bombarding the children with one snowball after another.

The innocent little creatures are running for cover...

...but do not be dismayed, they will retaliate!

I can see them gathering their forces and making their plan of attack.

OH!!

I think Daddy is going down!

Another Snow Day...

At his best...

What does a boy love more than playing in the snow?

His hands don 't seem to get cold...

His feet don't get cold...

He wears himself out!

Then...

he gets up and does it all over again!



The abominable snow boy...



...at his best!

It's a wonderful life...

We made it to church this morning. I wasn't sure for a little while if it was a good idea. The snow was really coming down. By the time church was over, we had about 5 inches on the ground. (not too bad)

Mark is now looking over my shoulder which really freaks me out.

Okay... he's gone.

Ummm...

So church was slightly less populated today because of the weather. We only slid around a couple of times. The snow has stopped falling and the two "medium girls" (yes that is what we call them) are outside sledding.

Cookies are baking... they smell amazing... and the little kids are napping.

I wrapped several presents today. The tree looks full already. School is back in session tomorrow, but there are only 7 more school days until vacation. (yes our first vacation day is the 24th)

Winter has arrived around here. Thank you God for a great heater and a loving family!

It's a wonderful life!

forecast...

I went to the 7 day forecast this morning and every single day it is supposed to snow...

Oh My Goodness!

There is just starting to be a little light in the sky.

Guess what I can see on my front lawn...

SNOW!

GRRRRRRRRR...

Bah Humbug!

Okay, I need to get over it... I know, I know. It is winter, after all.

Let Your Light Shine...

I woke up to rain this morning.

We all know that I love rain because we don't get enough of it around here.

The only bad part is that the mountains are all covered in snow.

I know, I know...

I seem to be the only one around who absolutely despises the snow.

But, you must remember...

I grew up in Alaska and have had my share of snow, plus some!

Okay, I will put aside my snowy thoughts and focus on letting my light shine today.

I was thinking last night about how important it is just to let your positive attitude shine on your children.

I haven't always done a good job of that, but I tell my kids that the amazing thing about God is that he lets you start over every single day. If you royally messed up yesterday (and we all do it sometimes) you can start fresh, right now... this moment!

So, today and everyday, remember to let your light shine!

With a Cherry on Top...

This is what they are forecasting...

Ugggg!

I know, I know... beautiful, Christmas-like, yada yada....

Last year cured me of ever needing to see snow again.

I mean, come on people...

I grew up in Alaska.

I have seen my share of snow!

I love the first snow fall and after that, I am done.

Now, maybe I am just grumpy today (I really am not feeling very well.)

But...

I could do without any snow this winter!

Please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top.

Ummm, do think that will work????

Naw, me neither...

(My hubby took this photo last year. At the time of this snow fall I thought, "Wow, we are having a pretty good amount of snow this year." Yeah, by the time it was over this looked like a light dusting... Okay I think I am done whining now... wait.... yeah, Now I am done.)

almost believe...

Only 48 degrees today...

but since that is warmer than yesterday,

it feels marvelous!

The snow has melted from the backyard.

If I don't look across the street at the neighbors north facing yard...

I can almost believe it never happened!

Is it still Fall?...

When we got in from church this morning this is what greeted us in the yard!
The kids went sledding and built a snowman.
When we first got home, there was about 6 inches...
Thank goodness it has started melting and next weekend is supposed to be around 70 degrees.