Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Snow: Day 1
Well, it started snowing late afternoon early evening Sunday and when the kids woke up Monday morning and were very excited about it. School was running on their normal schedule and since snow around here doesn't USUALLY last more than a half day or maybe a day, I let them convince me to play for 1/2 hour before they headed off to school. As you can tell by the photos, it was barely light outside. Anyway, the snow did stay and it snowed off and on throughout the day, but significantly starting around 4 pm. So, the kids got to play again after school, which of course they were excited about. The commuters trying to make it home on Monday weren't so excited about the snow, however. It took Mike over 2 hours to get home (a normal 35 min. drive) and he left before 3 pm. Those who left later in the day took 6, 8 or even more hours to get home.

Snow: Day 2
So, now it's Tuesday, we got about 7 inches of snow and most everyone was staying put because the roads don't cleared as quickly here as it does in other places where it snows regularly. The kids had no school.

Snow: Day 3

Wednesday, the kids still had no school, but it hadn't snowed any more. The roads were still bad because unless it was a major highway, it hadn't been plowed. Mike went to work for a few hours, but came home early with his laptop to work from home because another storm was suppose to hit again that evening.

So, Thursday. The storm Wednesday evening didn't turn out to be nearly as bad as predicted. We got a little more snow here at our house and some places also got some freezing rain, but the main roads that had already been cleared, stayed in pretty good condition. Mike went to work for a normal day and the kids had a 2-hour delay, which means no a.m. kindergarten, so Ben had another day off. Today, Friday, everything is mostly back to normal. Even the street in front of our house has completely melted and a good portion of the snow in our yard. The kids will be sad when the snow is completely gone, and so will I. I would much rather it be cold with snow on the ground than warmer and having it rain. Hopefully this won't be our only snow for the winter!

Happy Halloween!

Jessie, Ben, and Josh all had a great time on Halloween. I stayed home to answer the door (and to finish the dinner dishes) while Mike took the kids out around the neighborhood. Until today, it has been a very cold and clear week, so the kids had to layer under their costumes and modify them a little bit. Josh quickly caught on to the "trick-or-treat" and "thank you" part of the evening, and loved carrying his pumpkin full of candy. Of course they complained that they didn't get to be out long enough, but our two huge bowls full of candy say otherwise.

Jessie: Candy Detective, Ben: Cowboy, Josh: white tiger

You've got to love those special pumpkin carving knives they sell in the stores now! Jessie and Ben were able to carve their pumpkins this year with only a little help from me. It was so nice. Here are their creations.