Just When We Thought We'd Had Enough Snow...it SNOWed Some MORE!

So, a full week with no school--thanks to the snow and ice. Gratefully, on Friday, most of it melted. We took advantage of the melt and went to Jason's indoor soccer game and out to eat. Little did we know what we would find today.
SNOW, SNOW, and MORE SNOW. We have had a continual flow of snow all day today. So far, we're at 4 1/2 inches (our picture was taken at 4 inches). They are predicting 6-10 inches. Usually our weathermen are rarely accurate, but they have been pretty correct this snowstorm.
In the 10 years we have lived in Oregon, I have NEVER seen this much snow. Crazy!
The kids are enjoying the snow. They have reveled in the days off school, but we're going to hate it come June. We FINALLY bought a sled and it's been a big hit. Especially for Matt, he has gone out several times a day to ride the sled. This is definitely the snow storm that makes memories. Remember when . . .
Good thing the stores were open until midnight last night...Chad went and finished the Christmas shopping. Then we wrapped presents until 2am. Crazy!

Snow Day Play

And then the weather could hold us back no longer. Today, the light fluffy snow was back in abundance. Seriously, are we in Utah? This is so not typical Portland snow. Gratefully, our neighbors have a sled. I guess we're getting enough snow that we should actually buy one...

Mr. Snowball was busy making and throwing his large bundles of snow.

Snow brings out the sillies in all of us.

These girls think they are "stylin'" and ready for the snow.

Snow Day...Again!!!

Yes, it's true. No days of school for us this week and it doesn't look good for the rest of the week. We have full blown snow today. It's the pretty kind of snow, though. We're supposed to have freezing rain later in the afternoon. Knowing how things work in Oregon...it looks like Winter Break started on Dec. 12th. It will be a bummer when we have to make up the days in June.
We had "Mom School" today to keep our brains going...

With the threat of another snow storm on Sunday and Monday, we might be stuck here until Christmas. Looks like what I've done for Christmas shopping will have to do.

Beyond Brrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I admit it...I'm a whimp! Yesterday we had the 1st snowfall. Today, we still have snow, because it is so stinkin' cold!!! What are we in Utah or something???!!!??? Where people have walked/drove their car...we have ice. Nice. Going out to the garage is seriously physically painful...especially if you have to stay there for longer than 30 seconds. In a household where we are slow to relinquish to winter (anti-coats, anti-shoes, anti-socks, etc), we are really having a hard adjustment. Today I found Jason out in the snow...in his shoes with NO SOCKS!!!! Apparently, he doesn't feel that toes are necessary!

I'm just not a 20-degrees-kind-of-girl...I can tolerant 30 degrees, but 40 degrees is more my style.

If we have to miss school all week due to the snow...it might be rough (missed parties, missed projects, missed giving presents to teachers--again!, missed time for mom to shop without kids, etc). Survivable though. Then, I think to myself, "Have I prayed for more time with my children lately? Hmm..." Well, I think I've got it. The kids have actually been great today. We've been able to get lots of things done and enjoy some time together. I swapped kids with my neighbor for part of the day and that has been nice.

One beautiful thing about today...blue skies and sunshine...ah, vitamin D.

Ok, enough ranting...ah, but it's nice therapy.

WE GOT SNOW!!!

At 8:00am this morning, the snow started! It's been going all day...sometimes stronger than other times. You'd think we were in Utah.
Only in Portland would they cancel everything when the snow comes. Church was cancelled today. With how the weather is progressing, we're expecting that there will be no school tomorrow.
Portland just doesn't know what to do with snow. They don't have the equipment to clear the roads. Plus, there is the ice factor. Ice settles in quickly.
Trevor had a sad moment this morning, because he thought I wasn't going to let him play in the snow. We were working on a Christmas gift for their school teachers. He thought the snow was going to disappear in 20 minutes time (which is typical of Portland snow). Luckily for him, I think the snow is staying around.
Matt's been working on a big snow ball periodically through the day. At first, the snow was packing nicely and we had dreams of a snowman. Maybe by tomorrow.
We've had a nice day at home...playing and trying to remember it's Sunday. We worked on the boys' Faith in God. Trevor and Matt both taught us some lessons and they made pedigree charts. We did have some quiet time in the afternoon, because we all needed a break from one another.

Hancock Dictionary- Revised Edition (with Trevor's Help)

All of the following come from Jenna. Trevor was asking the questions.

Teddy Roosevelt: a teddy bear that can't talk
Barack Obama: a teacher, that's not mine
John McCain: a doctor
President Monson: a president
Rudolph: all the other reindeers called him names and that's NOT NICE (say "not nice" with drama)

Ode to Jason

Jason is 6 years old! Where did the time go? He had a "friend" birthday party on Wednesday after school. He wanted a polar bear birthday party (which provided much fun for Julie's apparently creative-starved brain). He invited 9 little friends. This immediately sent Julie into "preschool" mode. Crowd control of 10 excited 5/6 year olds cries out for stations, of course.

With the help of Chad, Trevor, Matt, and Sheri (our superhero neighbor) we set up 7 "awesome" (said Jason) stations. Matt led the penguin bowling in the garage. Chad led the "winter snow hunt" (imagine a bowl of fake snow with marbles hidden inside) and the "Ice Age Melt" (we froze those "sponge pellet things that turn into shapes" in ice cubes. The kids melted the ice on my neighbor's "Instant thaw melting plate"--a VERY cool thing found on EBAY these days). Sheri led the polar bear marshmallow ornaments. Trevor led the penguin jumping on the wii fit. I manned the "arctic scene" (making a picture out of stickers) and "Polar Bear Cave" (made with marshmallows and toothpicks).

When all was said and done, this was the report:
1. Chad asked if this was preschool or a birthday party
2. The shear number of things that I sent home with the kids was a little embarrassing (crafty projects, etc). I had gone overboard with my creativity...but it was so much fun! (Ok, it felt like preschool...)
3. The kids were INCREDIBLE! They got a sticker to prove that they had been at each station. They all moved around to each of the stations and had fun. It was a great little group of busy little beavers. It was fun to see their creativity at work as well.
4. Jason thought the party was "AWESOME"!
5. Stations proved to be a great way to handle the crowd control and to keep excited little minds/bodies busy.
6. I heard reports from other Moms that their children enjoyed the party.
7. The station "managers" were FABULOUS! Many thanks to Chad, Trev, Matt, and Sheri!
8. The Polar Bear theme was a BLAST! Way to think outside the box, Jason!