Winter Wonders-Daily progression

Since Saturday morning, we have been living in a Winter Wonderland! It constantly snowed all day Saturday turning into freezing rain late Saturday night into Sunday. Sunday afternoon, the snow started back up! Oh, it is so pretty outside to see the dense snowflakes fall to the ground. But then the power went out at about 4pm. That is not so much fun! Especially since we don't have a fireplace! I took out ALL the candles in the house and had our dinner by candle light. The power came back on, so I blew some candles out and put away all my 'reserve' candles. And as Murphy's Law would have it, the power went back out! Out came the candles again...the power came back on at about 7:30 and stayed on (thank goodness)!

I have taken so many pictures of our week-long winter weather. Here are a few pics to show the progression of it all. As I type, it is still snowing outside (it has been now for nearly 24 hours!!) and is so beautiful! Dave has volunteered to work at the hospital today. They have been severely understaffed so I am glad that he is able to help out!

Saturday night: Looking out onto our deck. The snow was about 4 inches deep on the cooler.

Saturday night: A view of the deck. It was a bit windy!
Saturday night: Mr. Zebra

Sunday Morning: everything was iced over! About 1/4-1/2 inch of ice.

Sunday morning: Noah's summer toys!

Sunday morning: no the photo isn't out of focus....it is the ice!

Sunday morning: our pool

Sunday morning: the back deck.

Sunday morning: the view out of the kitchen window. Such an oxymoron to have a snow-covered, frozen palm tree!

Sunday night: a look at the deck.

Sunday night: the cooler. It was about 6+ inches deep.

This morning
Monday morning: Um over a foot deep on the cooler!

Monday morning: Mr. Zebra!

Monday morning: our pool.

Monday morning: the back deck....what deck?!

Monday morning: Dave's truck. Notice the tracks already filled in from Dave taking the car to work about 4 hours earlier in the morning. (the car was parked in the garage).

Let it Snow!!! Sat, Dec 20th

Satuday we woke up to snow! It has been snowing on and off for a week now. We did have a couple of days of clear weather where the previous snow melted a bit and the roads were driveable. Above is a pic of our house!

A view down the street.

Dave made a make-shift sled out of my wreath container! Noah LOVED being pulled in this!

On our snowy walk to the park. Ty was not a fan of the cold.

So sweet.

At the park there were so many kids with discs sliding down the hill. One child was nice to share with Noah. This was his first time sledding and he LOVED IT!!
At the park, Noah wanted to play on the play structure. He especially loves this slide (since it is in a tunnel). The first time he went down it, he shot out of it like a cannon!! I missed it on camera, but got the second time around!

Noah's First Haircut!

So, we have NEVER cut Noah's hair. We did trim the bangs, but his long locks are his baby hair. With others, his hair is an issue. Everyone always is hounding Dave and I about cutting his hair. When Noah was born, Dave stopped getting haircuts. Dave's intention was to grow his hair out (as Noah's was growing) and donate it to Lock's For Love. They then would get their hair cut together--Dave's for donation and Noah's as his first haircut. A couple of years have gone by now, Dave's hair is long enough for donation but we have become fond of the long hair and Dave isn't ready to cut his hair yet. In that being said, we continued to let Noah's hair grow too. His hair is beautiful, blonde, and (in a sense) a part of his personality. Well, the decision was made to cut Noah's hair. Dave said with much disappointment but the realization, "I think it is time". Noah is constantly being referred to as a girl by strangers. Even when we correct them, they still continue to call him a girl (this is so irritating). Also, Noah will be starting school soon, and we have noticed when he is concentrating on coloring or doing puzzles that require him to look down, his hair gets in his face. He refuses to let us put his hair in a ponytail so, it was unanimous, it was time.

Noah is sitting in his chair at Little Clippers watching Thomas. Braids are done.

First cut. (insert sniffle)
Braids are gone. I had tears in my eyes.

I asked her if she could keep his hair longer--kinda a shaggy look.

He still has his curl around the face.

Not much shag in the back, hmmmmm.

Because Noah's hair was weighted down so much by the length, we didn't know how his hair would be. Curly? Straight? Mixed? Well, it is a bit mixed. Curly around the face and neck area, but straight elsewhere with a significant cowlick in the nape of his neck. So, the shag/bob cut he received did not look boyish-rather girly. Back to Little Clippers we went and came home with a more traditional 'boy' cut!

Oh he looks so different! He aged with the haircut.

Back view. No longer blonde.

Dave is having a hard time with the haircut. He couldn't go with us when Noah got his hair cut in fear that he wouldn't go through with it. Dave also isn't ready to cut his own hair.

Noah's braids are about 8 inches long. He received a certificate for his first haircut.

The Polar Express!

Months ago, we purchased tickets for us to go on The Polar Express. Mount Hood Railroad has many train excursion and themed train rides and since Noah LOVES trains, we thought this could a new tradition to start as a family. I was really nervous that we wouldn't be able to make the hour long drive to the train station in Hood River due to the snow and freezing temperatures, but we made it and had such a wonderful time!

All Aboard! Waiting to start our adventure to the North Pole!

He has his hot chocolate on the left and his cookie in his right hand while watching the snow covered ground pass bye! Oh and the song, "Hot Chocolate" from the movie playing overhead! They really tried hard to follow the story line while on the train!

Ty really liked the cookie too!

The conductor even punched the tickets while holding it up high-as to let the the 'confetti' fall! Noah really liked that!

Noah's eyes NEVER left the pages of the book as it was being read--he has only seen the movie and was in awe that there was a book!

We made it to the North Pole! Santa and his elves are coming aboard!

Here comes Santa!

Noah was really excited to meet Santa--actually he was speechless!

Tyler's turn to meet Santa!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! After they met Santa, Santa gave them a Jingle Bell-Just like in the movie!

Winter Wonderland!

On Sunday morning, we woke up to a Winter Wonderland!! It is always exciting to wake up in the morning and see a blanket of fresh snow covering everything. I was full of energy and couldn't wait to get us all ready to play in the snow. I felt all nostalgic with the snow and hope the boys will have wonderful thoughts and memories of the winters here! So for nearly a week, the weather has stayed very cool and near freezing so the snow has stuck around with a few snow flurries practically everyday. We are anticipating about 6 inches tomorrow!

A Family Picture!

Ty and Daddy!

Just make sure that isn't yellow snow!
Mmmmm, snow!

Tyler's first SNOW! It took me so long to get the boys all bundled up! I couldn't find Tyler's snow jacket. Oh well, I piled on so many layer that he couldn't move!

Mommy and Tyler! I also had to layer up! I hate being cold!

Snow Ball Fight with the neighbors! Of course, Dave loved this-he is a kid at heart!
Help I've fallen and I can't get up! Really, he couldn't get up on his own--too many layers!
Walking up to the coffee shop to warm up and get some delicious Hot Chocolate!!

Tyler nearly fell asleep on the walk!
Noah guzzling down the hot chocolate! He looks so cute in his snow outfit!