Snow in Oregon

Since the middle of December to today it has three times, each a two or three inches. We were all excited. An excuse to stay home and bake is a good excuse. The Christmas before we left we bought snow gear for the kids. We purposefully bought a the bibs a little big so they could wear them for multiple years. Last year, we didn't really have occasion to pull them out last year, but this year we are trying to get one last use out of these flood-level bibs. The snow mittens still fit but, in true Oregon fashion, they are sporting rain boots with their outfits. They don't seem to mind.

 

Boy Howdy's snow angel.

Our general rule has been to warm up with hot cocoa after being outside. I'm pretty sure it is one of the main reasons the kids go out to play. But recently, it was the ONLY reason they ventured into the cold. They would go out for a minute or so and then return claiming their "right" to cocoa. I told them their sacrifice didn't merit warming up. Boy Howdy acquiesced and went upstairs to play with his legos. Cheeks, tried at least three more times with similarly bad success. She did, however, get her fingernails painted purple, so I think we will call it a draw.

Side note: We live at the top of a pretty steep hill. After shoveling our driveway on one snow-day Matthew and I found ourselves alone since the kids had already gone back inside. We decided to follow the lead of the neighborhood kids and sled down the hill. It felt kind of fun and naughty to sled sans our children. Once Matthew tired, I went in and convinced Boy Howdy to come get his warm clothes back on to go sledding with me. We went a fair number of times, but he was a little concerned with our speed and was not interested at all in going down by himself. On our more recent snow day, I convinced Cheeks to go sledding with me. She was ALL about the speed, ran back up the hill each time and asked to have the sled to herself. She didn't get very far on her own. I mostly had to kick the sled until she got going.

So grateful this unusually snowy winter has given fun memories with my babies.