Winter Wonderland!

Well, after not having much snow last winter, we have certainly made up for it now! After getting 12 inches a week ago, we now have another 20 inches on the ground with more coming in the next week (although the next few potential storms are predicted to only leave an inch or two). It has been nice that most of the snow we have gotten this winter has been during the day, so we get to have the pretty scenery of snow, bake, play, make fun comfort food type dinners, go outside, warm up with hot chocolate, and enjoy being snowed in. We have spent a lot of time outside, when we are home, playing in the snow. Gavin and Dane both love it and can't seem to get enough. While I do enjoy being outside, especially given how excited they both get, the bundling up three people and then un-bundling three people (and hanging all the snow attire to dry) is exhausting.

This particular snow was huge. We ended up with a little sleet/freezing rain mixed in during the middle, but it was mostly just snow and a lot of fun to watch Gavin try to walk though. Dane just relied on being pulled on the sled and carried because 1-2 inches is about all he can maneuver through. We walked all over the yard, back into the woods, and down the road a little way.

It was a huge job to clear all the snow and Scott is still working on it. I helped where I could but I can't easily run the snow blower, especially with Gavin and Dane outside with me so that is up to him. Gavin helped me clear off Scott's truck and break down some of the higher piles so Scott could make fewer passes with the snow blower. We also cleared as much as we could off of the deck, twice. After we got most of it off, Scott went up on the roof to clear off the roof (because 3 feet of snow is way too much, especially given the potential for more and potentially warmer weather as well). So we cleared as much of that off as we could manage as well. There is still quite a bit of snow because some areas I couldn't easily clear off, but it is better than it being covered in several feet of snow.

Scott still had a lot of IBM work to do, so he tried to get as much done outside as he could before he had to head inside to get as much IBM work done as possible. He had already had to spend the previous day in the office while it snowed because he is so busy. It is a good thing he has a truck that can handle the snow so well and he has brand new tires on it - they are definitely getting some heavy duty use this year! We spent a good part of the day outside before coming in to make dinner and have some hot chocolate. We weren't able to clear very much of the remaining snow on the driveway or back into the yard area that Scott always clears (so that we have more space to play, a place to give more room getting into and out of the garage with the Terrain and also a place to put more snow if we ended up with more snow) but we did at least try to break it down some to make Scott's job a little easier tomorrow when he has to try to finish up that and the snow from the roof that recovered the walk way up to the house.

I am wondering what our new neighbors think of all this snow. They just moved in last week, right before the foot of snow we got. Now this. At least they are getting some serious use out of their new (or maybe just new to them) snowblower. I imagine it isn't much fun to have just moved in and be getting this much snow right away. It is really crazy to see so much snow outside but it really is deceiving until you are actually up next to it. It looks so pretty. We are looking forward to lots more time outside playing in it while it is around (which I am guessing is going to be quite a while unless it starts warming up soon). Yay for pretty snow!