Winter

We still have snow on the ground despite a very warm week.  One morning we woke up to 3-4 new inches of snow and a delay of school.  Not entirely sure of why we had the delay, but like most times that happens, the phones rang around 6 am and so we were all up earlier than usual.  I have just been looking for pictures for H's cub scout banquet next month and so was reminded that in March last year we were outside in shirt sleeves.  It is a reminder that winter isn't too long.  I had my usual winter down time in January - maybe it is the post holiday blahs or maybe the days aren't getting longer fast enough, but it was a week of frigid temperatures and dark days.  It didn't last too long this year and even though we are facing more snow today/tomorrow I am hopeful for the end of winter.

Here are some pictures in no particular order.

testing out my new mini camera

swim class

goofing around for the new camera

uh oh - blanket is now poncho!

playing with the Wii

water baby

Blizzard of 2013

Here is our blizzard experience in pictures.  We lost power at 7:15 Friday night and it came back on Sunday mid-afternoon.  Our house started at a cozy 65 degrees and ended at around 40 degrees.  We are rethinking a generator and some form of emergency heat now!  Fortunately our neighbors offered us space to warm up and heat up food and if the power had stayed out we would have had a choice of places to sleep last night.

Today, I am thankful for all the amenities of modern life in a different way.  Last night as I took out the boys clothes from their room I noticed how although the room had warmed their clothes were still quite cold and when I took out plates to put dinner on they too were so cold I wondered if I should heat them a bit before putting warm food on them!  

We were very lucky in the storm to suffer no major damage to our home and the boys were troopers.  On Saturday night we all camped out in the master bedroom with lots of blankets and played games by candlelight before an early bedtime in the quiet, dark house.  We were very lucky on Saturday when the roads were not safe for driving that our neighbors across the street let us come and warm up after playing in the snow and on Sunday they again welcomed us in to warm up as our house was so cold and we were figuring out how we would spend our day.  

I am always reminded of the goodness of people in extreme situations.  As we shoveled out and wandered the neighborhood taking pictures and looking around we had many conversations with neighbors who we seldom see and offers of help from then as well.

Friday afternoon - front of the house and cars before the storm

Saturday morning - front of house partly shoveled out 

Saturday morning - Kevin's car after the storm

Saturday morning - snowy house - snowy car

Saturday morning - our road 

Saturday morning - heading to Newport Bridge (main road) 

Saturday Mt. Hope Ave - note how they didn't plow to the end  of the street

Saturday early afternon - sun trying to peak out - our house on left

Saturday - Conanicus (main road) going toward water

Saturday - door handle - temps dropped during the day so everything stayed frozen

Saturday - a natural fridge

Saturday afternoon - outside play

Saturday afternoon - we were hoping to sled, but the high winds discouraged us from the nearby hill on the golf course

Saturday afternoon - cozying up on the couch playing games

Saturday afternoon - Mom joins the crowd and Harry falls asleep

Sunday morning - visit to church to check on it (no services yesterday) - it was Kevin's second visit - he went over late Saturday to check and start faucets dripping to try to prevent pipes from freezing with no heat there

Sunday morning - Church parking lot - looks like our massive holly may have some damage

Sunday morning - back entry to the church

Sunday morning - still cuddling on the couch - a few more layers because now it is 40 degrees in the house

Sunday morning - front view of church

Sunday late morning - at friend's house for warmth and fellowship

Sunday late morning/early afternoon - Susan & Willa our heroes with heat and while we were there power (for them) came back too!

Sunday midday - the kids playing

Sunday midday - on the ipad in the sunshine

Sunday afternoon - sledding on Shoreby Hill (while there we found out the power had come back - so we could head home and warm up there and clean up the house).