Snowman

Winter has been so strange this year, with barely any snow. When we headed for Idaho to celebrate Norwegian Christmas we had hoped to find mounds of snow just waiting to be shaped into numerous snowmen. Unfortunately, rain came just before we arrived and melted all the snow away. Luckily, my grandparent's cabin in Island Park was able to fulfill the boy's wishes to build a snowman. Or as Kyle would say, "NOWMAH!".

The snow wasn't snowman snow by any means and it was virtually impossible to make it stick together. I was worried they would be disappointed but we were fortunate to find a partially made snowman just waiting for us to put on the final touches. The bottom two snowballs had been placed and a large, oddly shaped chunk of ice happened to be lying nearby. I smooshed the final piece in place and then the boys helped me add a plastic carrot for the nose and a few small rocks as eyes. 

 They were thrilled to say the least. Overjoyed and so proud to have finally built the "Perfect" snowman. (Thank you so much to whoever the person was to half built it for us. I really don't think we could have managed it on our own.)

March Snowfall

Oh my goodness has it really been so long since I've updated? Oh dear, so sorry. Well, I'll just start with today and then back track. Hopefully we can get you all caught up on our life. 

Yesterday, it snowed. 

After a winter with minimal snowfall and quite a bit of spring-like weather I was surprised to look out the window and find large slowly drifting flakes of snow. It was a bit late so I promised the boys that we would enjoy the surprise snowfall today. Most of it had melted by the time we were able to get ourselves bundled up and out the door but there was enough for snow angels (in the really shady parts of the yard). And THAT is what's important!

 (I have no idea why that one is loading upside down. I've flipped it over and over but it just keeps going back)

We also enjoyed a snowball fight.

 You can tell by the background here just how little snow is left.

 When the wind started to blow we filled up Kyle's bucket with snow and brought it in to build a snowman/snow-house.

I know it's not the winter wonderland experience that I might have pictured but the boys had a great time. I would say that I don't expect we'll have another chance at snow but with this odd weather we've had lately... who knows?

Sledding

Our boys' first sled ride.

Jason had Saturday off so we headed to the "slopes" to give the boys their first sledding experience. Kyle was NOT impressed and this picture is the only moment he spent on the sled. Immediately after snapping the shot he insisted on being carried and remained so for the rest of the outing.

Zach thought riding in the sled was great fun as we hiked toward the sledding hills. He ended up going down a couple of times before nervously requesting that I accompany him. We had one good run and then our second time down my lack of sledding experience got the best of us and we took a pretty good tumble. Zach was a bit shaken up, having been clobbered by his own mother crashing down the hill. He was a good sport though and did go down one more time, on a slightly smaller hill. I felt pretty awful about our crash but thankfully, Zach was very forgiving and seems to have completely forgotten the entire incident. We all look forward to our next sledding adventure, that will probably just end up being in our own backyard where the daddy made hills are a bit less treacherous.

ALL the snowmen die!

I think Zach decided it was actually a bit humorous when his snowmen died because just after we rebuilt his snowman from the previous tragedy, He slaughtered them all!

Can snowmen die?

I'm not really a huge fan of cold. Somewhere, deep inside me still lives and Arizona girl and the idea of purposefully plunging into the cold outdoors just doesn't really appeal to me. BUT, after a fairly good snow storm, I wasn't about to deny my sweet boy his opportunity. This snow was PERFECT for snow men. So I brought in a bucket and we set to work. I guess, We is more of I in this case however. As I built, Zach would shovel snow into his little bowl. After I had built four snow men I stepped away to pull some laundry out of the dryer when I heard a very pitiful voice crying "Die, Die!"

This is what I found

Apparently one of our snowmen had died and Zach was examining it's head. I didn't know he knew the word "Die" let alone what it meant! We quickly rebuilt his snowman and he was back to being as happy as a clam.

SNOW DAY!

Well, today was the first day of "real" snow. We had snow about a week or so back but it was late at night and melted the next day so we never really got to play.

Finally, Zach has had his first experience with snow!

He did see snow last winter but he was so little that mom kept him bundled up and hidden away the whole time. This year he has his own snow suit and everything. We are really looking forward to more fun in the snow.

It's true he was a bit apprehensive at first. He just sat quietly, hovering his hand over the snow, not quite daring to touch. Then he started to flick it. Then he patted it. Then he was done.

He stuck his hands straight up in the air and grunted till mom finally rescued him from the cold sticky white stuff. We'll have to play again later, maybe he'll be a little less nervous next time.