Leah Carole Makes a Move

Leah Carole is heads up and talking! Here is her latest statement:

More Snow Pictures

The few people who read this blog must be really sick of snow pictures and snow talk, but, in some ways, snow is pretty much all the news from here. Our days revolve around it, because the amount and type of snow weather effect our lives in many ways. If it is super cold and large amounts of fluffy snow are coming down, we have to stay in the house. It is too dangerous to drive when snow is blowing over the roads, and the cold temperatures are hard to handle for long periods of time. If the snow is falling fast, the roads will be impassable. If the sun comes out, there could be slush on the roads, which makes for another type of dangerous driving.

Then there are play options. If the snow is fluffy, we can't ski, snowshoe or build anything. (Though it is fun to just fall into it...like feathers!) If the snow is icy, it's not really any fun. If the snow is starting to thaw, then it is great packing snow, and it's fun to build forts and snowmen, and have snowball fights. If the snow has thawed a little, but it is really cold again, then it is great for sled-riding! I am starting to understand a little bit about why the Arctic people have so many words for snow.

Anyway, as far as these pictures, I took them one morning last week when the sun came out. In western PA, especially in the winter, the sun is hardly ever out. But when it is, it is beautiful! Here are some of my favorite shots from that morning.

Very Much Snow

They tell us that last year we had 150 inches of snow. This year, we got off to a warm, wet start, and I thought that this winter's record setting would have more to do with mud. I wrote off the snow too soon! Now we have two feet out there at least, and the weatherman is calling for another foot over the next 24 hours.

The thing is, even with all of this snow, school has still been in session except for this past Monday. Tomorrow Leah has a doctor's appointment at ten AM, Benjamin has a trumpet lesson at one, and Rachel and Amanda are invited to a birthday party that starts at 5:30 and is located uphill on a dirt road. I am not sure my van is up to all of this! Rear wheel drive on a minivan is just not the ticket around here.

I should have taken my cue from Jason, and when people asked me if I needed anything for the baby, I should have said, "The baby needs a 4-wheel-drive SUV!"

Snow Pictures

Outside my bedroom window. Amanda all ready to go out.

The boys with cousin Ryan. Heading for sledding.

Sled Riding

Pictures of fun in the snow, on Katie's first day out: