Snow Day

We figured out what to do on our snow day . . . see if you think we did OK . . .

The first thing you do on a once-every-thirty-years snow day is take pictures of the beauty that surrounds you . . .

A view of the ever-brown and usually pretty boring foothills from my neighborhood that look pretty spectacular snow-covered

A view of the hill behind my house from out my bedroom window

The next thing you do on a very unusual snow day is take pictures of the plethora of broken tree limbs you see all around you. Those of us who have dwelt in the desert for most of our lives had a profound "a ha moment" as we realized why God made trees that lose their leaves in the winter. Typical trees used in desert landscaping are not these kind of trees, and they always have some sort of green leaves all year round. These poor plants don't know how to behave when they have several inches of snow stuck to their branches and sadly, they break. Broken tree branches can be found by the side of the road for miles in our community. These pictures are all from broken trees in my small neighborhood.

The limbs of this tree don't normally touch the ground.

This tree belongs to our neighbor, a single mom, who lives across the street. Brad was very excited about the prospect of using his chain saw to help her, so he knocked on her door & asked if she would like him to cut up this broken branch. Our neighbor was thrilled to have the help since she couldn't get in her garage otherwise. So there you have it - a win-win situation. Brad was happy to use his chain saw and our neighbor was happy to use her garage. There's just nothing like a freak winter storm to help create 2 happy neighbors.

This tree is right next door. Once again, those boughs don't normally graze the ground. This tree, along with the tree across the street, are both California pepper trees. These trees did NOT fair well in this storm. Pepper trees are plentiful in my neighborhood and most had broken branches. We feel very fortunate that the large pepper tree in our back yard seems to have survived the snow.

Another sad little tree, common in desert landscaping, that I found in our neighborhood.

And when you're done taking pictures of trees, take pictures of your kids while they do things like . . .

Have a conversation with the tilting neighborhood snowman, asking him why his eyes fell out and telling him to stand up straight . . .


Accidentally behead Mr. Snow man then . . .


. . . Finish his demise . . .

. . . and arise victorious . . . Poor Mr. Snowman!




Build a wall of snow with your friend because it's easier than building another snowman



Get your backside wet while sliding down a snow-covered slide and landing in a heap of snow


Try to figure out how to have a snowball fight with your sister . . .


. . . And when you can't figure out how to make a snowball on your own, ask her to help you make one so that you can throw it at her.


Stand in the melting snow-filled gutter just so your already cold, wet feet can get even colder and wetter.



And when you just can't stand the cold for one minute longer, head inside to . . .

Watch Higgly Town Heroes together


Or to lay around in your sweats all day and watch movies with your friend who stayed the night for an impromptu sleepover


Cook up a new recipe or

Make a gourmet lunch with your girlfriends . . .


. . . create a heap of dishes in the process (along with some really messy counters and floor) that you leave in the sink. Then mysteriously disappear when it's time to wash them . . . hmmm . . . I wonder who will end up doing these dishes?


After hours of playing, fall asleep on your mom's bed in your snuggly sweatshirt, looking so cute with those chubby cheeks that your mom can't resist taking your picture!



But wait - we did even more - we drank hot chocolate and ate lots of food, Lacey challenged the dad up the street to some games on the wii, Katie and I worked on a puzzle with the mom up the street, we dressed and undressed for the snow multiple times, and thoroughly loved having a day with nothing to do but play. Oh how we want another snow day! Maybe in another thirty years!