Snowpoclypse 2011

Crazy.  That's the understatement of the year!  We just got our third snow event...and by event, I mean anywhere from 3-9 inches.  The first one we had brought us just about 9 inches.  Yes, 9 inches of snow. Deep enough you had to walk like you were wearing scuba shoes.  It left our public school with three snow days to make up.  The second one brought us around 3, and that happened about two or three weeks after the major event.  This last one dumped only about 4 or 5 inches on us, but you'd have thought everyone was preparing for a major shut-in event.  This one had everyone scrambling to get every last pound of ground beef, every last bottle of water, box of poptarts, banana, and loaf of bread.  Literally, those items were gone from the store's shelves.  It had people scrambling because it was a little up in the air as to how much snow we actually got.  Some weathermen predicted only 3 inches while others guesstimated we'd see up to 8-10 inches.  Obviously we didn't get that much, but people wanted to be on the safe side knowing after our first snowstorm that the town would all but shut down.  The rolling hills of Arkadelphia don't make traveling on ice much fun...though they do make good hills for sledding!  After all three events, schools here are now going to June 8th.  Others are going till well after that, closer to the 15th.  They were all supposed to get out at the end of May.  Oops! 

So as for good playing snow.  First storm - ehh...too deep and too soft.  Couldn't even make a snowball.  

Second storm - the one with only three inches - best snow ever!  Allowed us to make this...remember?

Third storm - so so.  Good depth, but not good packing snow.  Too powdery and soft. 

What do they have in common?  All made GREAT snow ice cream!!!!!  We had that more times than I can count.  With the only ingredients being milk, sugar, vanilla, and snow, we always had what we needed. 

Kids aren't too fond of it yet, but they're just not quite sure what to do with it.  They usually just walk around and hit the bushes, watching snow fall off of them.  Zoe likes to drop in it and make snow angels.  And eat it.  And lick it.  And eat more of it.  Did I mention she likes to eat it? 

And this mama never gets tired of taking pictures of rosy, cold cheeks that are on the verge of windburn.  Not in the slightest. 

I think winter is almost gone.  Let me rephrase.  I hope winter is almost gone.  We're looking at almost two straight weeks of 60's and 70's. Frost, our latest snowman (mostly revived from Frosty, our snowman from the second storm) has finally completely melted away.  It took three days of 60 degree temps for him to melt away.  Until next year...hopefully!!!