Too Much Snow? Snow way!

We got some impressive "dumpage" (that's what my dad calls snow) in DC this winter. Well, not really impressive in inches, but enough at one time so that school got cancelled for a whole week. And THAT, my friends, IS impressive.



We had a blast building forts, sledding, creating snow creatures, making sledding tracks, and jumping off the roof. Yes, I said roof. For the record, the roof jumping was 100% my dad's idea. He'd borrowed the neighbor's 15 foot ladder to shovel 5' snow drifts off of our car port's flat roof. There was quite a bit of snow so by the time he'd shoveled it off, the snow mound below was enormous.

My dad and I'd done it several times when I hollered to my mom to come see what we were doing. She thought we were going to show her a giant snowman. She was a bit surprised to find me on the roof, running at full speed, jumping off, and squealing with glee. "Um, who's dump idea was this?" I believe was her exact comment. "Isn't it awesome mom? You've GOT to try it." She declined several times, but then peer pressure got the best of her. After she landed she said the same thing, "That was REALLY stupid." My dad proudly told her that he hadn't allowed my two year old brother jump off the roof. She was clearly unimpressed with his parental restraint. Either way, it was a blast. I highly recommend it. We also hosted a neighborhood snowball fight - check out the crowd that showed up (such a fun neighborhood!)

From our snow we headed west to some real serious dumpage in Utah. We spent ten days skiing, playing with family and friends, and enjoying tons of snow adventures. We went out to the lake house for a few days - the lake house in the winter? you ask - yes, the lake house.
The lake freezes so we can ice skate and it's an endless playground; check out my cousin Mallory and me being pulled on sleds behind the Rhino (safety first! not really, but always fun!). Gates and my grandpa were a bit smarter and just watched as we whizzed by.

This year was Gates' first year snow skiing. He's a stud and figured it out right away. His commitment to the sport overtook his brain a few times and twice - TWICE - he fell asleep on the slopes. Once my mom was alone with him and he just slumped over in the snow - face first and never woke up. So she had to pick him up in her arms with his skis attached to his feet, and ski to the bottom of the hill to get him off the mountain. Lucky for her there was a kind stranger who helped detach HER skis when she got to the lodge with her arms full of Gates.

One thing is for sure, our family loves snow.