Snowmagedon

With the exception of a very small dusting last year that didn't even stick we have not had measurable snowfall in three years.  And honestly I can't say that I have been sad or missed it.  Somehow this month we have had more days off of school due to snow and ice than I can count.  Our first big snow/ice adventure resulted in over a week off of school!  And then we somehow had more snow and days off less than a week later.  Combine that with Christmas break and it has been a loooonnng time without our normal routine and structure. 

A few days before the snow came we had very low temperatures. The boys went outside and chopped ice for a solid hour. They were thrilled to get this huge piece.  

In typical eastern NC fashion we had an entire day off of school with no precipitation at all. It finally started sleeting around 8:00 that night.  A and K had an 8 a.m. speech appointment so the boys and I decided to go have breakfast at the hospital cafeteria.  

A and K enjoyed the leftover pancakes 

This girl is going to be a handful. At speech that morning Ms. Leanne asked her to do something and Kate got right in her face and whispered "I am NOT going to do that!" 

We managed to scrounge up some random clothes for the possible snow. Just looking at this pile and imagining having to dress everyone made me feel tired. 

As we were waiting for snow that night we decided to have a game night. 

Harrison designated himself the banker. 

It FINALLY started snowing around 10 that night and James (who had been waiting and watching) had just fallen asleep but I went and woke him up anyway. I couldn't stand the thought of him not getting to see it falling! The other three....well they can have a turn next time lol.

When we woke up that morning there was snow! About 6 inches on top of another inch of ice! 

Andrew and Kate's reaction when they saw the snow out the window that morning was priceless. They were amazed!  Andrew completely HATED being in it.  He kept crying and saying "back home! back home!" 

Kate started off enjoying it but it was so deep on her.  It had been really windy so we had very high drifts. It was also super cold. 

The basketball net was completely frozen 

The roads were so bad that Ryan's clinic was canceled. I'm so glad he got to have a snow day with us.

"Save me mama" 

After this fall things started to go downhill for Kate 

The big boys liked it but it was almost unbearably cold.  

Time to sled!

Across the street is the tiniest hill but it worked!

Kate's expression- not a fan!

Poor Kate!

I took these two back home and let me tell you, carrying 60 plus pounds of crying kids in the snow is no easy task

These two were pretty traumatized by it all

Soon it was time for hot chocolate

And we decided to burn some energy off in the jump house 

Still slightly traumatized an hour later lol 

That afternoon we made snow cream.  Believe it or not we had so much snow that both of the bowls we had left out to collect snow were completely covered and we had a hard time finding them!

Ryan took the big boys to sled on the golf course that afternoon 

That night we introduced A and K to the world of Frozen.  We also got to watch it in "daddy's room." 

The next few days were bitterly cold and that stuff just would not melt. 

We did every activity I could think of. 

The snow was too powdery to build a snowman so this was our compromise. :) 

Day two! 

Shoveling our driveway 

Still not a fan

One night we made cookies and we devoured the batch.  There is something about being stuck in the house for days that makes you eat non stop. 

The pizza place wouldn't deliver because the roads were so bad but Ryan braved the ice to go get us dinner. Pizza, wings, sugar cookies, and good wine.  Perfect Friday night! 

We were already going slightly crazy from being stuck in the house at this point. 

The pizza seemed to make up for all of his misery in the snow!

We had another movie night with the big boys- this time it was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which James and I had just read together.  We actually ended up doing movie nights almost every night we were stuck at home. 

It ended up taking days for everything to melt.  Everywhere was closed- school, church, etc.  We had already been stuck in the house SO much over Christmas break due to sickness and now the snow that we were literally bouncing off the walls. It was also so cold outside that you really couldn't play long out there.

Project for the morning: pattern paper chains to count down to our Disney trip 

The pond near our house completely froze!

One of Ryan's co-workers was having a luncheon and decided to still do it.  Thankfully our babysitter lived up north so she braved the roads for us to go and escape for a few hours.

This was a first for me: Bear Stew 

That same afternoon Madeline got stuck waiting on her flights so we went and met them at Panera for coffee while they waited. So thankful for some friend time! 

We also did loooong baths every night to occupy the kids and give us a break.  Thankfully we had new bath stuff from Christmas- this night was colored water and foam soap!

In general we try hard to do family dinners but every now and then Ryan and I like to put all the kids down early and have an "at home date" together with a special dinner.  Needless to say we didn't lose any weight during the week of snow days. 

Craziness! 3 degrees and then close to 70 in the same week 

Slowly places started opening but we were still out of school and stuck.  Church was closed but by Sunday afternoon Ryan felt okay taking the boys out individually for some special time.  James went to the bookstore where they read and played chess (and apparently James won and shouted "CHECKMATE" for the world to hear).  

Harrison got to go to Lowes and then to Dunkin Donuts

Family snow walk!

We wanted the boys to see the frozen pond since it rarely happens here. 

"I need my glubs" a.k.a gloves.  Girl is all about the accessories.  Andrew on the other hand refused to wear mittens or a hat. 

Crazy teenagers were walking and sliding all the way across the pond 

Which of course James wanted to do. This was my compromise :) 

Dirty wet clothes. Snow please go away!  During the week our pipes also froze so I could not do laundry and let me tell you a family of 6 does a lot of laundry on a daily basis.  It took me over a week to catch back up! 

Trying again for a snowman

Our best attempt

Snow painting!  

Clearing off the patio for me 

Snowman part 2

Even the trash pick up was canceled and by the following week this was our situation. Thank goodness the stuff finally melted so the trash men could come back. And yes, we were the only people in our neighborhood with this much garbage!