The Great Outdoors

As is fairly typical in many parts of the country, you never quite know what the weather has in store for you here.  At the end of January we had a few weeks of lovely, spring-like weather.  I tried not to be tricked into believing winter was over, but just enjoyed it while it lasted (some of my tulips, however, seem to have been completely convinced spring was on it's way...oops!).

We took advantage of the sun one morning and spent blissful hours at a neighborhood park playing with friends and replenishing our stores of Vitamin D.

Bryce playing freeze tag

 Thane wouldn't stay still long enough to allow me to get a picture.  Graham, on the other hand, sat contentedly putting the mulch sticks on the sidewalk.

 Inevitably, the warm streak gave way to the return of winter's freezing temperatures.  Aubree didn't mind the opportunity to "skate" on her friend's frozen pond.

 Last Sunday we woke up to another winter wonderland.  With a couple inches of snow, church was cancelled (to be fair... the roads were terribly icy).  Knowing the snow wouldn't last, I let the kids go out and play.

 Aubree and Bryce built one wall of a snow fort.  It took all the snow we could gather from all around our house to make it.  

 Eventually Aubree found a secluded spot across the street to make her own, mini version (one that wouldn't be knocked down by little brothers).  

 Thane discovered that snow is tasty.  

By noon, the rain started and everything was pretty much melted within a couple hours.  More snow is forecasted for later this week - just in time for Mid-Winter Break.