Blogging for the Hansens!: Snow? SNOW!!

So, mid December we started getting some snow storm warnings, and of course we figure they are just exaggerating. We might get a flurry or two, but it's unlikely it'll stick, and there's no way it'll accumulate to anything worth while. I mean, come on, when we showed up in WA with our PA snow shovels and scrapers and leftover rock salt... we were laughed at. They don't get snow in the greater Portland area, they just don't.

So we didn't run to the store, we didn't panic (even with a kid with a broken leg) and Christian didn't even bring the BBQ back into the garage.... And then it started.

Christian quickly ran out to rescue his BBQ.

And the rest of us hunkered down to hang out inside.
Cordelia pretended to chat on the phone.

Wyatt built roads and drove his cars around town.

I did what I do, played with yarn. Started with a few hats...

Then as the snow fell harder and really started to stick, Wyatt got upset about his predicament.

"Why can't you play in the snow?"
.... "Because of my leg!"

So being the nice Mama I am, I bundled up and headed outside. Christian put the kids by a window so they could watch. I shoveled, then built them a snowman.

Wyatt informed me I needed to add a scarf.

Then we brought them back into the living room...

And gave them a "snow" box to play in!

And since it's "first" snow, you can eat it...

And make "First Snow Cream" with it! YUMMY! (fresh snow, milk, sugar & vanilla)

And they continued to play with it until it started to melt and their little fingers got too cold.

Even the cat was interested in the fun. Sort of.

The next night, after it continued to snow lightly on and off for a day and a half, this was the view from our room upstairs.

The next morning we woke to yet more snow and it was still coming down. Wyatt had a hard time accepting that not only could he not go play in the snow, but the snow had now kept him from school. He was frustrated, and it was not helping that his sister thought it was great fun to have him home, have Daddy home, and have a fun wheeled chair to play in.

By the 4th day, we all decided that staying at home stinks and we would starve if we didn't get out of the house. Plus, the kids had to see Santa. So we ventured out. We quickly realized that they do NOT deal with the snow in this area. They occasionally plow, but only the main roads, and only the very top layer which just leaves the ice to drive on.

It was worth it though.

The 5th day of snow we were back to enjoying it, took pictures of the driveway to our house.

Pictures of the beautiful trees covered in snow. (love the little red berries in the winter wonderland)

And broke down and let Cordelia go play in the snow, even though Wyatt couldn't.

I also continued to play with yarn, only this time I was trying to make it. After many, many, many attempts at using a drop spindle to spin wool into yarn, I finally succeeded! And it looks darn good if I do say so myself. =D

By Day 8 of "The snow storm for the history books", we felt the need to venture out again. It was either brave the snow or go insane. And since it was Christmas Eve, we opted to have some fun and enjoy the pretty whiteness.
Driving through downtown.