After much talk about flurries in TN and sledding hills in Durham Central Park, winter 2014 finally delivered and Durham got two very measurable snow falls that the boys could play in. The first snow was supposed to begin sometime in the afternoon. So, we were having a playdate with our friends, and the moms were clearly more anxious than the kids. We kept checking our phones and the news and looking out the window, waiting for the snow to fall. We were sure that it would snow once the kids had gone to bed and be melted by the time they woke up. Flurries started around dinnertime, so Evan could watch it fall in the porch light out his window when he went to bed. Fortunately for all of us, when we woke up the next morning, there were a couple of inches of beautiful powder covering the ground when we woke up, and of course, no school...SNOW DAY!
The second snow event was supposed to happen earlier in the day. Since we had missed so many days already, both of the boys' schools decided to have school, and since the snow was supposed to start in earnest about the time they both get out of school, I was worried about getting stuck on the roads. You might think that seems silly, but Ian and I both clearly remember a day in 2002 where we were stuck on the roads for several hours when the snow started before we were able to get home. No one in NC can drive in the snow and the roads always become a mess as soon as it starts.
So, I was volunteering at Evan's school that morning, and I was watching the radar and out the window closely. Evan was having PJ day and his winter carnival, so we were doing all sorts of snow and winter themed activities in the gym area. I was manning the fake "snow" table where kids could dig in snow made of little plastic bits and search for things. It was definitely a preview of things to come. When the day was over, I hurried over to Benny's school and got him too. When we pulled in to the driveway, the first flakes hit my windshield, and within a half an hour it was covering the ground. We made it just in time. The boys rushed outside, tongues out to catch the flakes, and started to watch it fall.
(radar watching-the snow is coming!)
(playing with the fake snow on PJ day)
(and so it begins!)
Ian, however, did not have it so easy. He left work when the first flakes started to fall, and being the nice guy that he is, he stopped to get me a Valentine's present on the way home, so he got stuck. He kept trying different routes to get home and cars were stopped dead everytime. He made it home from work (about 10 miles) in about 3 hours, and he had it pretty good. Lots of people in Durham were stuck on the roads for hours and they simply just left their cars and walked home. Some of my friends walked home 9 miles!
Once the snow was on the ground, we all had to get out there and play in it in both situations. Since we do live in Durham, we don't have the best snow gear. So, I put the boys in lots of layers (after having them pee first, of course). Then, we wrapped their feet in plastic bags and rubber bands and put their rain boots on top. Then, I dug up the most waterproof pants we had, and added their coats and hats to finish it off. They stayed pretty warm, except when Benny kept taking off his gloves to eat snow and would come back to the front door crying because his hands were so cold. Silly Ben, keep your gloves on!
(The snow piled up!)
(dressed for success)
Evan's biggest wish was to make a snowball, but the first snow was too powdery for that or a snowman. Finally, at the end of the second snow we had enough to have a snowball fight, and Evan loved it! We got out both our sleds and slid down the small hills in our neighbors yard. We also attached one of them to a jump rope and the neighbor girls had a great time dragging the boys around the cul-de-sac. There were snow angels, snow poodles who were covered in snow despite a stylish jacket, snow play in the tree house, and even snow ice cream! Why had I never made snow ice cream as a kid?? It was delicious!
(snow angel #1)
(snow angel #2)
I'm so glad the boys finally got their snow experience, and the grown ups had a great time playing in it as well! Now, however, I think I'm done with the cold weather and happy to save any more snow events for next year!
(finally, a decent snow ball fight!)
(Sledding is fun!)
(Whee!)
(Ben sleds with Izzy.)
(snow ice cream ingredients)
(Evan enjoys the snow cream with Carolyn.)
No comments:
Post a Comment