Long, Cold Winter Wonderland

Can you believe all this snow this year? Last night on the weather we heard it has literally snowed every other day for the past month here. After suffering drought conditions for so long now in Utah, it's such a blessing! It's been a blast for my kids, too, and we all get excited every time we see those flakes begin to fall again. We've had every kind of snow this year - big, fat flakes that just coat the ground all at once - tiny shimmery flakes that look like glitter in a partly sunny sky - blizzard conditions where you can't hardly see across the street - and it's all been so fun! Although it's all snow, basically the same thing over and over, it hasn't gotten dull yet because it's all been different! It's like getting a different show every couple of days. I remember days when I was younger thinking if it would just snow a little more I'd be able to literally tunnel through, or at least have virtual "hallways" in the backyard through which we'd play the ultimate game of fox and rabbit. Then suddenly it seemed as though those kind of snow years were gone forever. It's been wonderful to welcome them back to Utah, a place where the promise of spring flowers and summer water activities are hardly threatened by the blanket of white, so you can really enjoy it while it lasts.

Let's see, what else have we been up to? Yesterday I slow-cooked a pork roast. I got up on a whim and thought I'd be so prepared for dinner last night, and then the day slipped by and we had nothing planned to go with it. Here I thought I was so on the ball. It worked out, but I laughed at how silly I was! Erick brought home the school directory and is thrilled about being able to call all his friends now to come play - I can't wait! They have such a good time and it's fun to see him so entertained. I bought our plane tickets to Saint Louis this summer on a $99 deal from Delta this morning, and am thrilled we're all going to go for under $500. Well, not all or us, as Justin will be driving out two weeks prior, but four of us. And I was glad to not be on Southwest with the kids as they've changed their pre-board policy (don't even get me started on that). The big date is June 3, and I have a feeling it will come up quickly!

Izzie's begging me for two-day-a-week gymnastics these days - I can't blame her as all that beautiful snow has made us a little stir crazy. We went to Chuck-E-Cheese a couple of weeks ago, splitting coupons with a friend, and that was kind of the highlight of their lives for the month. That and the slumber party at Grandma and Grandpa's. That was a highlight of my month, too!

Justin's doing well in his classes, and has so far been surprised at the light workload he's had for 18 credit hours. We love that he's home a little more often, too!

Yesterday Erick and I played Lego Star Wars together for something close to three hours. It's a great game, because you can go right in the middle of the game from two player to one and back again! Erick thinks I'm a videogame hero because I'm SO good, and I relish the chance because I know in another year or so I'll be completely trounced. I already can't beat him anymore at MarioKart. And so I don't feel completely guilty for rotting his brain, I have to add he's also doing great with his reading, and it's fun to see the surprise and delight on his face when he sounds out bigger words and gets them right! Last night's big one was "commandments" out of our Book of Mormon reading. He was thrilled, and his sense of accomplishment at each activity makes me just glow.