The Snow of February 2014

It always cracks me up when we get a good dusting or any kind of extreme weather around the Portland metro area, the news is consumed by minute to minute coverage.

Peoples cars end up like pin balls in a game sliding around side streets. Schools close, businesses close, and normal routine is in a state of suspended animation...

Where we live now snow is a normal part of winter. Nothing closes (really?) and people are prepared to drive in it. (Even so, I feel this year we got a little more than usual.)

I love snow. The boys not so much. Brent and I can play for long lengths of time building, sliding, and burying each other. The boys beg to come in after 20 mins.

Who are these kids?

Unfortunately this year August and I were struck down with a mini flu.  I have not been sick in such a manner since 2006. So, the fact I was this ill and it was dumping snow outside was like a double smack in the face.

Brent of course was in Corvallis (160miles away). He offered to come home and care for us, but I am stubborn and was SURE I would only be sick for a day (or less). I didn't want to chance him getting stuck on the mountain pass, or worse here with us :) Sick! He would stress about work way too much.

Anyways, Friday I was down for the count. All the boys were at school and I slept for the larger part of the day.

Saturday I felt much better. I made breakfast. Cleaned all the linen in the house. Sanitized the kitchen, and cleaned the bathrooms. Brought in wood. Walked outside. Cleared the satellite of all snow. Lay in the snow and made an angel. Prepared a casserole for dinner. By that afternoon I was back to feeling super nauseated. I retired to my couch post, wrapped in blankets with broth and tea surrounding me. The boys still did not want to go out. I knew the weather would turn soon, so I told them Sunday they were going out NO MATTER WHAT.

It was really bugging me that I was practically giddy over the amount of snow and the boys were so indifferent. I gave them the permission to do whatever they wanted with the snow. I gave them examples of things they could do: igloos, sleds, snowmen, walls of snow  to run through, snowball fight, shovel the driveway...

There is something about snow. It is so beautiful. So clean. So insulating. The crunch beneath your feet is a wonderful sound. Catching snowflakes on your tongue...Ahhh!
I love all seasons for the unique qualities each bring.
Anyways, where was I?...
Oh yea, Sunday I kicked the boys outside and made them play...
 
They put on all their gear and went out. I put on my zoom lens and took pictures from inside and on the porch....

Our fence on the way to clearing off the satellite.

I sat in the street to try and show how the snow was almost level with our top stair...

The snow plows were out with a vengeance on Sunday...Unfortunately they just plowed MORE snow into our driveway.

Bray played with the next door neighbor, pulling her on her sled

He could not stop EATING the snow

 A video I made to summarize the day!

 And inside, August was lip syncing to songs and putting on some spectacular shows for me....

I can't wait to feel better :(

For now I'm snuggling with my Aug watching icicles form from the melting snow outside!

Making (too many) Videos...

The other day I got an email from Animoto.

I had used them a few years ago to make some fun father's day video and a graduation video for my sister.

Upon log-ing on to the website I was delighted to find a bunch of old videos I had made :)

This one was to welcome Baby Charlie... 
(I loved the lyrics to the song, but it does say baby "girl"/so just ignore that)

 This one was a getaway Brent and I took...

Then, I got carried away and made a ton of videos.

I loved all their templates.

Plus it's so easy to just throw in pictures and some captions here and there.

A couple of our Snake Rafting trips...

And as always a fun day hanging with my sister

So fun to make these little things!

Stop on By...

This last weekend was a four day weekend for the boys.
Teachers' planning days had left us with a nice chunk of time to fill.
We took this opportunity to tackle a lot of chores.
Mitch escaped for a second to a friends house (lucky duck).
Mom and I went shopping for some scrap booking gear, to complete a small project I have going on right now.
Anyways, then to my surprise Sunday I get a text from Rebecca "asking" (ha ha) about stopping by.
Which of course I was SUPER EXCITED to be asked.
It's not very often family is out in our neck of the woods.
I think its funny, because my family totally just comes (without asking).
Such polite visitors.
Anyways, they arrived and the boys were moderately helpful in getting Charlie entertained in things. August kept wanting to have a dance party while Charlie wanted to explore his toys. Aug is still in that stage in development where he thinks everyone wants to do the same thing as him. Ya know, cause we are all just excited as him about dancing and lip syncing! Ah-Doy

So Charlie and the boys discovered all the toys again. (Seriously, the 13 year old played with the big Lego's the most)
Max and Rebecca wanted to make sure they weren't imposing with a impromptu visit...
Again, HAHA!
I LOVE having people come over, I AM a people person (at least I think so)...
I settled their nerves by telling them we had NO plans...
 and actually it was a "should I even get dressed today?" kind of day.
(I do have mid-terms this week so I was most likely going to read ALL day ~ bleh)

They had been planning on making pretzels and cheesy dip for a super bowl thing, but it was a bust. So not only did we get guests, they brought/made a super yummy snack for us.
The boys (Mitch) were trying to be helpful in the process...
We put Wreck-it-Ralph on, Max watched it more than the kids :)

Charlie showed us how strong he is! On Mitch's pull up bar he hung on for quite a long while. I think he would have done an actual pull up if the bar wasn't soo padded. I think he is used to a nicer grip. He kept shimmying over to the bare bar area to hold on. Still, super impressive.
We kind of got to visit a little. It is hard to talk for any length of time with little ones. I don't think we hang out nearly as much as we should. We are pretty busy people (all of us)
So these little moments are super precious when they happen.
*I am hoping we can do a family camping trip this summer*

Max and Rebecca are great parents though...
It will be fun to see Charlie with a little baby brother. (can't wait)
Here are some photos ( I did not take nearly enough of them)
What was I thinking?!

I love that Becca is cracking up and the rest of the boys are like "whatever"

I need to stop walking while taking pictures, they turn out so blurry. Max getting sucked into the video game madness that is plaguing today's youth...
Rebecca was gently trying to get him to leave, because it was DARK out and snowing (lightly).
Sadly and against August's request to have Becca stay, they went home...
So fun!
Love our family...