Snowpocalypse

When we decided to move to Mexico, we prayed that we would be able to have enough snow to sled on the hill across from our house before leaving. Well, we sure did get an answer to that prayer! We were given a snow storm that none of us will ever forget. It was a week of pure joy: the days were filled with sledding, friendship and snow fun. It was an absolute blast. 

When the snow started coming down the first evening, Ben and I were skeptical. Could it really be as big of a storm as the forecasters were predicting? By 11 o'clock (yes we were like giddy kids staying up watching the snow), we were believers. The snow was absolutely coming down with no signs of stopping. We woke up the next morning to a winter wonderland and 10 inches of snow. 

The first thing the kids did the next morning was explore our yard. It was so beautiful covered in a deep blanket of snow! I still cannot believe how much snow there was!

A great illustration of the depth of snow

Sliding the snow off the slide

Our walnut tree

The snow was pretty deep for Rosey to run around in. She loves snow, though, and spent her days running wildly after the kids down the sledding hill.

Next, it was off to the sledding hill across the field. See those tiny black spots on the field? That's Ben and the boys. It was quite a little trek over to the hill, but well worth it in the end! I could watch them sled from the front window of our living room.

Ben with Seth, then Sam

We talked neighbor Chris into going down the hill with Josh. 

 The power went out for a bit the first day, so we had a picnic lunch in front of the fire in the living room.

It was so fun to wake up the next morning to a blanket of snow (again). It was such a beautiful morning and the sunrise was spectacular. I ended up walking around the road at 7:30 drinking in the beauty. This picture might be my favorite ever.

The front of our house

Our backyard

Just when I thought that the sunrise couldn't get any prettier, God gave us this splendor: the trees were literally glowing pink.

 The second day of snow not only brought us a beautiful sunrise, but also lots of fun with friends. The Declerque boys joined us on the hill and everyone knows that sledding is way more fun with buddies.

Joel and Sam

The Carrier sisters walked into town to get "rations" at Fred Meyers and stopped by our house on the way home to say hello. They went up to the hill with us for a couple runs before walking the rest of the way home. These sweet girls help babysit for us and the boys adore them!

The sunset views weren't so bad that evening either

 So picturesque 

 Day 3 brought more sledding with friends. As the days progressed, the hill got faster and faster, and by the end of the snow days, Ben was pushing the kids down the hill from the road. Thankfully, no one got hurt! It seriously was such a great sledding hill.

Can you spot Josh trekking up the hill?

The sun came out!

Sammy

Seth would just bomb down the hill. He's kind of a thrill seeker

Matthew Declerque also really enjoyed going fast!

It was such a fun hill that even Ben and I got in on the action

The last couple of days there was a swamp at the bottom of the hill, but all the more fun, right?

I adore this picture of Sam and Joel!

We loved the snow days because it meant that all our friends were out of school too! We had many fun afternoons of not only sledding, but also friends coming to play at the house. Cheryl and I switched on childcare and both got a few hours of peace, while the other house got a few hours of fun, chaotic, boys-at-war play. On the day I took all the boys home from the sled hill, we stopped on a low part of the field and ice skated.  

 Then we made snow slushies at home (which was basically snow, vanilla, maple syrup and assorted toppings such as marshmallows and chocolate chips). 

 Bottom line: this snow storm was the best! Such great memories and something that we're so thankful to have experienced before moving to Mexico!