Arctic Blast 2008!

SNOW?!? Yes, for those of you in Iowa, snow that actually sticks is a TREAT for us in the Pacific Northwest. We've just gotten hit with the biggest snow and ice storm that Vancouver has had in at least a decade.

Last winter we didn't get any snow at all here, and it was January 2007 the last time we got enough snow to play in. Of course, Braden barely remembers that and Ashlyn had just been born. Even being from the wintery midwest, it's easy for me to forget what it's like when a big snowstorm hits.

It all started on Sunday the 14th with less than an inch that didn't stick around for long. It was the first snow that Ashlyn got to see here - very exciting for her! We had to rush out and play as soon as we got home from church.

Click to Watch Video of our First Snow of the Year!

Ashlyn - "What's this stuck to my mittens?"

Following the initial excitement, there was a mix of snow and rain all week long. We would get an inch of snow or so overnight, then it would melt off each day. So, when it finally started to stick on the ground on Friday, we had to run out and build a snowman while we had a chance!

Braden hard at work on his Snowman

Click to Watch Video of our Snowman

Little did we know what we were in for. It finally got cold enough with just the right conditions on Saturday. It snowed steadily ALL day for over 12 hours. At first it didn't seem like much, but it kept coming and coming!

Braden trying to keep up with the falling snow!

Ashlyn enjoying a ride down the hill

Saturday night it turned into freezing rain on top of all the new snow, and then it snowed 2 more inches on Sunday. It was really starting to feel like a real blizzard!

Click to Watch Video of our REAL Snow

Ashlyn holding a big chunk of ice
(She insisted on wearing her sunglasses)

Everything tends to shut down here when we get snow. With all the hills, wet packed snow and ice it's nearly impossible to safely drive without chains or studded tires. Plus there's a bunch of people that don't know how to drive in the snow! Church was canceled on Sunday and Sheldon's office was closed on Monday. Uncle Byron even stopped by and recruited Braden to help shovel the driveway and build a snow fort!




Needless to say, it's been a lot of fun for us to play in the snow and enjoy some winter weather. The sun is peeking out momentarily and it's sure to melt off eventually, but for now we are enjoying the beauty of it all!

Our Snowy Backyard Wonderland