In Summer

This is what happens to a snowman in summer.

It's not summer yet, but just 2 days later and this is all that is left of our Olaf.

Do you want to build a snowman?

I can't believe we are getting more snow! It's really late in the year for us to get another snow storm. 

Rebekah went out in the morning to help shovel the walkway.

 The girls were enjoying some hot chocolate and a movie. 

I walked in and sang, "Do you Want to build a snowman?"

That's all it took. The girls jumped up and grabbed their snow gear and ran outside.

Rebekah and her friend, Bridgette, wanted to use the stump in our yard to make their snowman. They did a great job piling snow on to cover it up.

 The girls have fallen in love with the movie Frozen. Emma decided to make Olaf. I worked at finding things to use for buttons and arms and hair. All the kids in the neighborhood came over to visit with Olaf. 

"Hi ... My name is Olaf, and I like warm hugs!"

More Snow

Still more snow. And another day off from school.

This time all the kids came over to our house to sled down our hill. I'm tired of the snow. But I am glad that all the kids like to play together and have fun.

Snow Tubing

With all the snow we got, it was a great time to enjoy it. We took the girls to Liberty to go snow tubing.

The girls had a ton of fun! I stayed nice and warm in the lodge. Unfortunately, they didn't have free WiFi there, only at the main lodge.

 Rebekah is definitely at that stage that she is tired of all the photos we take and doesn't want to cooperate anymore. 

The BIG Snow

We got about 16 inches of snow overnight. 

In these pictures you can see the top of the fire hydrant, the snow piled against our screen door on the deck, and our neighbors car completely covered. 

I took my time getting up in the morning and getting out to shovel. My neighbor with the long driveway behind me got out just before 8:00 to start on his driveway with his snow blower. I got out around 10:30 and ALL my neighbors were out working hard. As soon as they saw me start to shovel they all said, "Where's Clay??" "In Boston" I answered. They were so great. They instantly came over with two snow blowers and more shovels and got my driveway done quickly. I LOVE my neighbors!! They really are the best you could ever ask for.

Clay got to skip all the snow. It only snowed a little up in Boston. I was worried that he might not be able to fly in the next day. Thankfully, the airport was cleared by then and he made it back just fine. 

He had a business meeting at M.I.T. After his meetings he met up with some former coworkers who live up there now. Here are some photos he took of his trip.

I don't know who this guy is. Maybe Clay can edit the text and will you in more on his trip.

Snow Angel

 We got just enough snow for Rebekah to go out and make a snow angel.

She also got this birthday gift from Grandma Kris. An outfit for her doll.

Kris made the pants, shirt, and jacket. She also knit the hat, scarf and purse.

She did an amazing job!

Mt Baker

It was a beautiful day up on Mt Baker. 

The girls were surprised to find snow on the mountain. They all had a great time playing in the snow and riding the sled down the slope.

Here's the tightly twisting road we took up and back down the mountain.

First day of Spring Break

Doesn't look much like spring does it?

 I like this picture. It reminds me of the Lamppost in Narnia.

We had enough snow that Emma & Spencer went out and made lots of snow bricks into a snow fort. It was cold, but the kids still had tons of fun.

Snow Tubing

Emma's Girl Scout troop went snow tubing at Liberty_Mountain.  Click on that link and you can see what the runs look like!! Tons of fun! School let out 1-hour early because snow was in the forecast. So we headed up to the mountain early! Rebekah and I went with them (Clay had to work). 

It was nothing like I expected. When I have gone snow tubing with friends we just drove out to the mountains, pulled off the side of the road, and used some inflatable pool tubes or sleds to slide down. That was nothing. This was REAL snow tubing.

Rebekah went the first time with me (tubes connected), then with Emma's friend Olivia. After that she wanted to go by herself. I watched her the first couple of times but then she ran off and I lost sight of her. Some of the leaders reported that they saw her lying on her belly on the tube, being spun super fast by the workers and raising her hands in the air as she went. They said she caught some huge air but was smiling and laughing the whole way! That girl has no fear.

It was very cold and snowing the whole time. But we all had a great time. 

Dreaming of a White Christmas

The girls wanted to make snowflake decorations for Christmas. We had a lot of fun making different designs and a lot of paper clippings.

I made a dolphin snowflake for Emma.

And a unicorn snowflake for Rebekah.

The girls were so excited when it actually started snowing the day before Christmas. They immediately ran out to dance and play on the deck.

It continued snowing until just past dinnertime. The girls went sledding and made a snowman. What a perfect Christmas Eve.