Snowy Play Date

Yikes! Look at our driveway! Snow on ice...

Stacia and I began a new Bible study. We're working through the Beatitudes together. We were ready for something new and she wanted to work on a Bible passage.  This is a time-saver for me as it is what Bible Babes (an online group) and Gather women (our local church ministry) are also doing. I can prepare once and share 3 times. We ended up at Sophia's at lunch time. We'll be sure to aim for breakfast from now on...much more conducive to private conversations.

We were barely home when we heard a sweet voice coming in the front door....Benny came to play at Baachan and Papa's.  Here he is at the back door....letting in the snow. LOL He was quite impressed with the snow.

Our yard is covered with fairly fresh snow. We haven't had the snow machines running or any snow shoeing etc....and so we played. We SUNK... deep... Arielle taught Benny to "wiggle, wiggle" when his boot gets stuck in the snow. It's much better than panic. 

I found it quite funny, as I continued to sink up to my thighs, to hear Benny say, "Baachan! Wiggle, wiggle."

Of course I was flat on my tush when he said it and all the wiggling in the world didn't help. Once one is off their feet, they really need help to get back up in this mess.

We discovered Kimber LOVES to chase snowballs! She gets very excited and dives nose first into the snow. She can't seem to figure out what happens to them. LOL

Go Kimber....

We packed and smashed the snow down and made our way over to the swings.

Look - new moose tracks! Deep. 

Stacia packed down the snow and made a little "jump" off the hill of dirt we'd been digging from this summer. Everyone loved going off the jump.

Kimber mostly loved jumping UP the jump.  

These three made for a fun play date. I was happy Arielle and Benny came over. It was just what Stacia and I needed. 

Can you see Benny's face?  

Benny was suitably impressed with our snowman. 

When we were too wet to enjoy anymore fun in the snow, we came inside for hot chocolate. Autumn had given us a lemon cookie at Sophia's and so we split it four ways....well Benny and I had a tiny bite and the other two split it. LOL 

It was a great afternoon. I had just enough time to get sloppy joe meat off the canning shelf and make a quick dinner, clean up, before lifers (Life Group members) began arriving. 

It was one of those picture-perfect days. It was another NSV (non-scale victory) for me. I am off the sidelines...not watching from the deck. Yesterday, I sled with Stacia. Today, I sunk with Benny.  AND my snow pants fall off my tush - another NSV. 

SNOW DAY 2020!

WHUT? 0445 and the school district posted all schools are closed for the day!

Alaska schools "never" get snow days....but it appears the hours of freezing rain, followed by snow all evening has earned us a SNOW DAY!

Phoenix took one look and went back inside.  

We determined to do all the things! You know...all the things Stacia's heart has been dreaming of all winter. It's been hard for her to be the only one at home during the day. I've watched her try to build the sledding hill by herself and then try to talk the boys into playing in the snow when they get off work. I've listened as she remembered playing with the neighborhood kids in Japan and me bringing out hot chocolate every day. The snow here has been too dry to build a snowman....but today...it's wet and sloppy and perfect.  Sort of.

Krista and Stacia headed up to a side they deemed perfect for sledding.  I set out to find them.

When I thought I was near the right spot I planted my cup to be retrieved later.

I found them.  Michael caught up with us too. This road had not been plowed and the snow was deep and unpacked.

This meant the girls spent significant amounts of time packing a trail down. In the end - it worked.

Ok, now - it takes some skill to grab a photo while sledding down the hill. Stacia calls it foolish and dangerous...but I know she's impressed. LOL

We need to find another sled like the one above (it can be steered) and the one Stacia is holding here (it goes fast).

So much fun! The three colorful hats are Alaskan Happy Hats - which Stacia makes. The white one is one Arielle made for me years ago. 

Krista, Micahel, Me and Stacia

When we deemed ourselves sufficiently wet, cold, and satisfied we headed back to our house.  The girls sled as much of the way home as they could. Sometimes it is nice living at the bottom of an incline. Michael spent quite a bit of time today working in the garage. He is making a project for the male family birthdays and trying to get the garage arranged the way he'd like it. 

We dried out coats, gloves and hats (coat rack placed by the woodstove is working well) and then went out again when Nolan returned home.  G dog came out and determined it was too wet to make a snowman....and the snow was too deep.....

G dog...agreed to put on gloves and snow boots

G Dog's assessment didn't stop Nolan, Krista and Stacia from building their snowman.  I remembered... and made up a thermos of hot chocolate to take outside.

I spend more time "chilling" in the snow than staying upright. LOL 

Isn't he classy? The snow was deep so they dug down to build him. He is sitting on a pedestal.  He sports a knitted tie Arielle made for one of the brothers and an old hat that no one has been wearing. 

Nolan, Krista, Stacia, Me, Olaf

When they finished building Olaf they all decided to make snow angels. The snow is incredibly soft...

Krista angel 

Wednesday night activities were cancelled and we enjoyed another quiet day around the house. This snow day was a family blessing. 

SNOW STORM

Yes, I believe this qualifies as an-honest-to-goodness snow storm.  As the temps begin to warm up we get MORE SNOW....and more light...all in all this mess is a sure sign winter is entering a new phase...spring/ BREAK UP will eventually come. I've begun to dream of seeds and gardens.

This was our view this a.m.  Our mountains have disappeared.

Almost time for winter bonfires

I wasn't getting out of this conveniently placed door - it leads to the backyard and the chicken coop, garden etc.

That's a lot of snow

The chickens were not impressed one bit. Some of the more courageous ones were willing to venture out of the coop. The new roofed area is priceless. Next year, I may put a barrier on the fence to help with wind.

The roads were bad - but I had  a schedule to keep. I picked up Alex at work and we headed to the doctor. He's been having trouble with his ankle/foot now that he is working 8 hour shifts at McDonald's.

On the way to get Alex I experienced a truly frightening winter driving episode. The roads hadn't been plowed. Everyone was driving 35 or 40 mph - a sure sign it's "Alaskan bad." Alaskans don't slow down for anything.  The turn onto the road which leads to us was barricaded with 2 feet of a snow berm. I plowed through....and then as I zipped into town at 40 mph...all the snow from my roof slid onto my windshield. I hoped there was nothing in the way and pulled off the road. It took a lot of work to clear the car.

When we came home, Michael and Stacia were out clearing the driveway and indicated we should park at the head of the driveway. We jumped out and began helping....it took 2 1/2 hours to clear it...as more cars joined the driveway line up. The school district sent Krista home early. She said she couldn't figure out why until she neared our area. LOL

It's hard to show snow depth 

Michael and Stacia 

 

 We spent the rest of the sunlight hours clearing snow....

Krista

Up by the road

We attempted to make an easy route for Dad's paper delivery. 

Nolan got off work and joined the fun

I took a step and sunk up to my thighs. I told Dad he needs to let us get the paper for the next few days. 

I have never hit Michael with a snow ball in 37 years. He was properly surprised....

The power went out for quite a bit of time. We were happy to have kept my lamp from Liberia....and candles....the woodstove proved it's worth and the gas cook top was perfect for heating up some dinner.

Games by candle light

We cancelled Ladies Bible study for the night. We are all wondering if school will have a late start tomorrow. Alaska "never" cancels school because of snow....

Yard Ornaments

As the snow accumulates on the mountain, the moose are moving to our neighborhood, our yard to be exact. They are very appreciative of the lasagna bed I've been building this winter. ::snort::

We've seen their tracks in the garden and through the yard. We've seen the hollows where they've been sleeping. Aren't they cute yard ornaments? Beat gnomes any day of the week.

Thing 1 and thing 2