A Weekend Snowpocolypse!

This past weekend, the Pacific NW was hit with freezing temperatures and snow. Schools were closed. Roads got icy and jammed up with accidents and slow moving vehicles. Tim got a 3 1/2 day weekend. But as the temperatures dipped, we enjoyed some relaxing family time in our warm apartment.  So, Tim (with the "help" of Beniah and Elijah) took the time to put together Isaac's exersaucer since Isaac just isn't happy laying on the floor or even sitting in his chair. He has to stand even if he is too little and can't properly hold himself upright yet. 

 

 The next morning, I bundled the older two boys up and we headed outside to play in the almost 4" of snow that accumulated in our back patio.

 

 

Isaac stayed warm inside with the cat (and Tim who was working from home).

Being the Pintrest junkie that I am, I decided to try out an outdoor winter activity that I saw pinned and I let the boys blow bubbles just to see what would happen when they froze.

 

 Although frozen bubbles look kind of cool, they're a bit anticlimactic.

Then it was off to explore the great white world of our neighborhood and to see if the US mail really does deliver in all sorts of weather. *We did have mail, but it could have been there for a few days since I always forget to check the mail.*

The roads were still too hazardous for us to venture out to church on Sunday, so we stayed home, got online, and watched my sister and brother in law talk about their ministry to the tribal regions of Southern India. The boys were excited to see their Aunt and Uncle on tv and slightly confused when their names were mentioned on tv in a shout out by my sister.

Life returned to normal on Monday when the warmer rains came and the roads cleared up so Tim could get back to work. But I had a nice view for a little while as I worked in the kitchen.

A Christmas Restored! Part Two: Off to Grandparents House We Go!

 Apparently, Beniah illness was just a case of food poisoning, so after attending the early service at our church, we headed down to Roseburg. Beniah's Sunday school class had a birthday party for Jesus. He loved his party hat and didn't want to take it off until we were 20 miles north of Roseburg.

I realized during this trip that maps make wonderful toys.

Once we got to my parents' house, we started in on our traditional Christmastime snack food dinner and a movie.

Then we piled into the Kumar's van and went through the Festival of Lights.

Seriously, what is with the creepy light displays?

I have to say, my favorite part of the festival of lights was when Elijah saw some candy cane lights and pretended that my dad was a candy cane and tried to lick him.

The next morning, the boys, my dad and I bundled up and went up to the hills and played in the snow.

Unfortunately, the snow was so icy that it didn't really stick together that well.

Beniah insisted that the little snowman that we made had a face.

It's kind of a weird looking creature, if you ask me.

Beniah found a pile of tires that had snow heaped up on them and began pulling chunks of snow off and making snow tires.

It's a snow beard! 

(No he's not actually eating that gross snow.)

Later that night, we went to the Kumar's house to enjoy some soup and cuddles with a cat that doesn't mind a toddler and a preschooler all over him.

Little Janasa girl charmed us all...

...and gave her Uncle Tim a back massage by climbing on his back and jumping off.

Then it was off to the Christmas Eve service

Where they had the children come up on stage to hear the Christmas story.

Then came the candle lighting. The boys loved that part and kept trying to blow out the all ready hard to light candles

Finally, Snow!

We finally got some snow!  I know, I am almost a week late on the announcement, but hey I get an A for effort, right? Last Wednesday, we got 4 inches of snow to play in. Schools were closed and not many people ventured out (at least from what I saw on our street).  Although the Olympians and Seattlites north of us can snicker at our measly amount of snow, we had a blast and Beniah is satisfied with the winter weather.

Beniah when he realized that it had snowed while he slept.

Beniah's snowmonster with a beret of course!

Beniah wanted to have snow bowling. The clumps of snow are the pins.

Elijah's first look at snow. 

He wasn't to thrilled with how cold it is.

 

You can't play in the snow without having hot cocoa afterwards.

Some of our garden friends.

 Even our cat, Mongkut, enjoyed the snow.

Snow!

Pacific Northwest snow system, I don't like you. You taunt my son with your flurries and slush.

But you never stick around. I have stopped telling Beniah whenever it starts to snow because he gets so disappointed when it all melts away. Tonight, you have started snowing again after my boys are in bed.

Please stick around until tomorrow morning so Beniah can enjoy throwing a snowball even if it's small and mostly mud.