Heavy on the Photos

Snow is not extremely rare in Oklahoma .... it's not like in Georgia or Florida, where some of the friends we made had never seen snow in their whole lives. Snow is also not extremely common in Oklahoma .... so when it happens, you better get out there and enjoy it.

More common, and what we experienced this past week, is a sort of icy rain that freezes over when the sun goes down (and causes innocent people to fall down on their patios, I think you know who I mean.) You might get a teeny tiny bit of snow accumulation on top of that at night, and then when the sun comes up the next day it all melts to slush. Then the slush freezes that night when the sun goes down, circle of life, etc.

Since my children lived the past five and a half years of their lives in Georgia, this combo of rain/sleet/ice/snow was good enough for them and they thoroughly enjoyed both of their snow days out of school this week. I reminded them that I didn't want to hear any complaining when this school year is extended two days past Memorial Day to make it up .....

I apologize to those of you with dial-up (does anyone really still have dial up?) but I have a boatload of photos to share. I've had winter scrapbooking embellishments, and no chance to use them, for years. By golly, I was taking some pictures when the opportunity arose.

(Those of you in Colorado or Wyoming or Idaho, please don't laugh. We take what we can get.)

The three kids, eager to get out the back door the first morning:



Even Barley gets into the action:



And then she promptly runs around the yard with the hat in her mouth while my poor children get pneumonia:



There are lots of things to do after a "snowfall" in Oklahoma ---

practice skating:


practice your karate moves:



practice your Hooked on Phonics:


practice your mad wanna-be photography skills:


endure more of your mother's photography attempts:





utilize your swim toys:





get your sister to push you:



And when you've used up all the slush in front of your house, and slid down your neighbor's driveway until there's nothing left, what do you do?

Why, go to your cousin's house, of course! (So what if the school board declares the roads are impassable? I'm telling you, after being house-bound for a day and a half, you'll CRAWL to your cousin's house if you need to, you'll be so desperate for someone to play with)

Because they've got way more awesome snow toys than a stupid kickboard:



And a pond that freezes over beautifully .... even if Aunt Kristie does get all freaked out when you test the strength of the ice under your weight:



Anyone who thinks there's not a perk to having ten acres of trails to explore clearly doesn't know what they're missing ...



Especially when you hit the parts that have natural hills for sledding:







Do you think Brayden was having a good time?



This is Kendrie with my youngest nephew:



We're a little worried he won't ever come out of his shell:



And although we had a wonderful time, and thoroughly enjoyed our two snow days .... MOM was certainly glad to see everyone go back to school the next day. Or at least she **was**, until that damn flyer about Book Character Costume Day came home.