We've had a lot of snow this year! Much more than I can remember in a long time (excluding last Christmas but that is another story). We made the best of it, playing when it wasn't too cold, making a snowman and just having fun. This snow (below) wasn't particularly wet so making a snowman proved challenging and the girls were quite frustrated so they pleasantly asked me for help (demanded it with tears of frustration), so I obliged, but only if they'd pose for a pic. Jake was a trooper and sat in his carseat watching his sisters play for a little bit.
The girls somehow think hot chocolate after playing in the snow is a must. I apologize for the Michigan State sweatshirt - it was a gift from someone who worked in a t-shirt shop as it was leftover.
Remember the Blizzard of 2011?? Chris went in to work that day they were forecasting over a foot of snow, quickly developing. I mentioned that he should probably come home early but didn't head home until after 2pm when a lot of the snow was already accumulating. He called and told me he was on his way. I realized that there was going to be no way he could get into our driveway (already had 6-8 inches of drifting snow). I put Jake in his high chair (above) with a few snacks to keep him busy and appointed Ava to "be in charge" (she loves hearing those words - think Candace Flynn). Please note he has more than "a few" snacks by the time I come in. ;) It was so cold and windy that one of my eyebrows was accumulating snow and freezing every time I turned to shovel a bit more. I was able to shovel enough (halfway up) for Chris, with his momentum, to get up our driveway (most of the way). He still had to push it a little with me in the driver's seat to get it into the garage -but we made it!
Chris thought it would be cool for the girls to experience a "blizzard" so they went out for about 20 minutes.
Once there was a snowman...In the sun he melted...Here are the girls on a warmer day checking up on their snowman. After this picture was taken Ava proceeded to karate chop the rest of it down.
Another story I want to remember about this winter...
We have an elderly neighbor a few houses down. On the day after the first snowstorm of the season, the girls wanted play outside in the snow so I took them out while I did some shoveling. I noticed one of my retired neighbors out. He had shoveled his own drive and sidewalk and was now working on the elderly man's drive and sidewalk. When he was done with that, he came over and helped me. I knew he must've been tired. Fast forward a week or two when we got another several inches of snow dumped on us...School was canceled but we still had playgroup that day (tour of Papa Murphy's - quite fun btw). After we got home I told the girls they could play for a few minutes while lunch was cooking (Papa Murphy's pizza of course). Jake was napping. Chris had already shoveled our drive the night before but I looked over and saw the elderly man's driveway untouched. I kept trying to think of how I could help so that the retired man across the street wouldn't have to shovel the elderly man's drive again. I couldn't figure out how I could go over and shovel with two kids playing, lunch in the oven and a sleeping baby.
Deep in thought, I look up and who do I see walking by in their suits and ties?? The Missionaries! The missionaries for our church are living with a couple in our neighborhood. I saw the two young men, waved, and asked what they were doing out (there was at least 5-6 inches of snow on the sidewalks and everything was closed really). I asked, "just looking for something to do?". One of the elders replied that they were looking to see if maybe they could help someone shovel snow or something. (DING! An answer to my prayer). So of course I offered up a suggestion and said, "Actually, there is an elderly man down the street who could use some help." I took them over to the man's house (3 doors down) and introduced myself and the elders and asked if they could shovel his drive. When we walked up he had been hunched over trying to use his leaf blower, without much success. So the elders started shoveling away (in their suits and ties mind you - and also no coats...but I guess I'm not their mom. ;)) I did send Ava and Elise down with extra gloves for them.
I knew they would be coming back to my house to return the extra gloves when they were done so I got some hot chocolate ready to give to them along with some foil-wrapped slices of Papa Murphy's (stuffed crust mind you), pizza. They were quite happy to receive said things when they returned.
What a great thing. I do believe the Lord answered my prayer to help the elderly man. His prayer was also answered. I'm thankful that the missionaries were in tune that day to know which way to go - where help was needed. No coincidence in my mind.
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