Winter "Wonder"land

I don't know about you, but I am ready for Spring! I'm over this so called Winter Wonderland Ohio has. It was beautiful in the beginning... when you're not having to go out in it. We've easily got about two feet of snow on the ground and more snow is expected. My car has been stuck in the snow twice already. OVER IT!

Poor Noah only gets to watch from the window.

Alena and my dad built a snowman. He took Noah out real quick to feel the snow and a picture (He was not actually out playing like that).

The road and driveway are gone.

And let me tell you about my recent drive home from Columbus. I went down to attend a business training  for my doula business. It was a three hour drive down with clear roads. Throughout the day the weather was going between rain and snow, increasing to snow later in the day. The kids spent the day with my sister who lives down there. I picked them up and we went out for dinner before making the trek home. It was snowing pretty heavily and I just knew I should have hit up a drive-thru and went home. By the time we were actually heading north, the snow was ridiculous and the roads were horrible. So bad, in fact, that I slid right on through a red light with no hopes of stopping. Thank the Lord that it was not a busy intersection and the few cars there saw me coming and didn't go.

My three hour drive turned into five hours, averaging 25-35 mph the entire way. Talk about a white knuckle experience. We passed a total of 9 accidents, 7 of which were on a 20 mile strip just north of Columbus. The picture below was what I saw that whole way. No lines and everyone just guessing where on the road they were.

Spring, where are you?!

Wordless Wednesday - Let it Snow

Sub zero temps + lots of snow = an unhappy, cabin fevered me.

Beauty Surrounds Us

We've lived here in Arizona for a little over five years and I love our scenery. At times it can be somewhat "ugly" if you're looking at the surface. It's not very colorful except for a few short months during monsoon season. There is mostly dead weeds, small shrubs, cacti, dirt, and everything seems to be a shade of brown.

But open your eyes and mind a little and look past that and you will see beautiful mountains, clear blue skies, and small wildlife. If you look a little harder you will find plenty of colors in the birds, bugs, small plants, and desert flowers.

The other week when we had snow, I wanted to get a good shot of the mountains because they are just so beautiful when covered in snow. I'm not sure I did them proper justice but I tried.

I really like the flag that appears as if it is in the middle of nowhere in the above photos.

These were taken on the west end of town at the edge of the base. I then moved to the south side of town to take the next photos. I went as far as I could until I hit a dirt road and there was nowhere else to go but down a walking path.

Seriously, so beautiful.

SNOW in Arizona!

Yes, we had SNOW in southern Arizona! Granted we live almost a mile above sea level so snow is not impossible. It's just highly unlikely. The mountains surrounding us are usually the only way we get to see snow throughout the winter. Being that we are located at a higher altitude, we do get a small dusting at least once a year but not like this. We were blessed with almost two inches on New Year's Eve. (Yes, I am just getting around to posting this almost a month late!)

Gabe and I were woken up to the sounds of Alena screaming "Snow! We have snow! Can we play in it?" And who are we to tell her no when this might be her one and only chance to play in snow this year?

So we were bundling up the kids and getting them ready to head outside when we thought up the idea to take them to the park where there would be more snow than at home. So Gabe and I bundled up too and even before anyone had breakfast, we were out the door to play.

I was joking with Gabe and saying how only in Arizona do you play in the snow before eating breakfast because you know it'll be gone by noon. It's true! I also joked that this was a once in five year type of snow. We have lived here barely over five years and this is about the most we've seen.

We were not the only ones who had the idea to come to the park because there were several other families there enjoying the snow. The kids had a blast and I do believe Christian could have played in it all day! Alena, on the other hand, is more like me. We like for a bit, but when the cold overtakes the fun, we're done.

Trying to make a large ball for a snowman.

You can see in this next one that Christian took the opportunity to nail Gabe with a huge snowball while he was helping Alena with her gloves.

You can see where Alena was nailed right in her forehead.

The others in the park with the same idea as us. They were building some sort of funky snowman (snowfrog?).

After having our fill of snow, we headed home. On the way, we decided we were just too lazy to make breakfast so instead, we would head to a local restaurant for some brunch (since by then it was 11). Gabe and the kids ordered breakfast items but this pregnant momma was craving the Turkey Reuben as soon as I saw it on the menu. And boy was it good! I ate the whole thing and completely overstuffed myself!

Waiting for our meals to arrive.

YUMMY!

We had such a good family day!

Beautiful Just Doesn't do it Justice

Remember how a few days ago, Arizona was hit with snow? Maybe not because I know most of you were enjoying 70-80 weather.

Well, we got snow, but it didn't stay around by our house. The mountains, on the other hand, were COVERED. And not the usual peaks. We're talking the entire mountain and it was BEAUTIFUL! But beautiful just doesn't do it justice. I went out to try and capture the beauty but it is definitely something you just have to see in person.

The very little amount that started to stick but melted as soon as the sun came out.

Christian watching it come down hoping to get enough to play in.

Taken from Veteran's Memorial Cemetery

Panoramic. I really wish you can see just how pretty it is.

Taken from the very end of Cherokee near Ramsey Canyon Rd.

Holy SNOW!

We live in southern Arizona and rarely does it snow. Maybe once or twice a year we wake up to 1/2 - 1 inch of snow, go out and play, and have it melted by noon. Well, today we are having somewhat of a blizzard!

Crazy, right?!

I did get some great shots of the birds enjoying some lunch at the bird feeder while it's snowing.

I really like this one.

The kids were also loving the snow. Alena asked several times if it was Christmas. They think snow means Christmas. (I got some cute shots of them but it's on my phone and when I put it on the blog, they come out really bad.)

And as I'm finishing this post, the snow has virtually stopped and nothing stuck. So that means I will have no pics of snow on the ground (unless it snows tonight but I don't want that).