Snow Party (part 2)

....as I left off we had a very chilly evening ahead of us. All four of us bundled up and made it through the night to only to be woken up by Chris at 5:30 am. He and Winston are early risers you see. They had gone out to do the potty break, when the whole place was covered by more snow. I think by the end of it we had 12 inches every where! It was beautiful looking outside. The glow from the snow was amazing.....we actually wished it was in our house lighting some paths! From there we talked about how we were very bummed the power was not on still....then I declared I was going back to bed.

the front of our house at 5:30 am...our poor sweet tree!

the road in front of our house

After a couple more hours of sleep we did finally get up and around. We really had no choice but to PLAY IN THE SNOW! I mean really it was not getting any warmer in our house...and well we needed to charge our phones too. So we bundled up and took off! First stop was to grab some gas. Then we were off to the park! I really wanted to get some pics of the beautiful snow before we lost it all. We went over by the botanical gardens. The park looked so clean and fresh. Hardly anyone had been out yet...the trees though they were very sad. Many of the trees had just fallen over and been up rooted by the weight of our very "wet" snow. Winston loved running free all over the park. He was our little bunny just jumping around every where.

the view from our neighborhood

my boys enjoying the warmth of the car

isn't this pretty

they loved it...the freedom

my favorite one...look how beautiful it is

After the park we headed over to the museum area. The trees there really didn't do as well either. We found some fun areas to run and play. A few of the artistic people had already been up building snow figures. They were pretty cool...way better than Chris or I could have done.

the artistic ones...

can you find my sweet pup amongst all the down trees

he had to see if it was really water

no matter how much the snow sticks on...he just can't stop playing

After letting Winston enjoy the snow we did need to warm him back up. What better place to go than Petsmart!!! We enjoyed walking around the store checking everything out. Winston really loves to go up there too. Every time he runs straight over to the training room looking for Angela our trainer. He was sad to see no one was there! Once the little guy had dried off a bit we went back home. By this time I was getting pretty hungry, as was Chris. We dropped off our pup added some blankets to Bob and then ran to grab some food. We enjoyed a nice WARM lunch. I think everyone looked at Chris and I kind of crazy when we walked in wearing SKI clothes. But heck we had to keep warm any way we could. After enjoying our lunch we headed home.

our little cowboy, enjoying Petsmart

We began to plan the rest of our day and where we could take the animals or stay for the night. Heavens knows I was NOT spending another night freezing cold. I had called my vet to see if I could board Bob for the night. Thankfully they did have an opening. Then we were going to take Winston to Petsmart for doggie day camp. At least there he could play and be WARM. We were going to catch a movie with some friends and then deiced from there. As I pulled onto the block we were OVER JOYED to see. LIGHTS LIGHTS LIGHTS!!! The neighbors lights were on and so was our porch light. It was the happiest moment of our day!

the best moment of the day....power

Whew we didn't need to ship off our babies or pack up for the night. Instead we could shower and go to the movies clean! (HUGE SMILE HERE) Oh and did I mention that my sister and family were coming to town today! That's right we had planned on enjoying the evening with them. However, I told them it depended on the power situation. YEAH we had power so they could come over too! They rolled in around 4 just as the house was starting to feel warm again. The kiddos could not believe the snow. I think Abby and Brian were pretty amazed too! We tried to do dinner with them, but guess what. ROSA'S (their favorite place ever) had no power either...so off to Dallas the headed. All in all from no power to power it was a fun couple of days with Chris, Winston, and Bob! Although we all agree nothing is better than sleeping in WARM beds!

Snow party (part 1)

Okay so I am starting from the 4:00 pm NO POWER part of the storm!! If you are lost you can go back and read here. On my way home from school I was just in AWE of how much snow had covered the area. When I got home I was greeted by a sweet little puppy that LOVES to play in the snow and Chris.

We had discussed that we really wanted to enjoy the snow, however were worried about not having power to warm back up. However, since the message from Encore said it would be back on at 4 we went ahead and had a snow party. Well our party had to hold for a moment, while I dug through my drawers looking for my snow gear. Since I have moved I don't really remember where everything is located. Especially not snow gear you don't need in Fort Worth. Once I was dressed we were off to play.

Chris and Winston with their first snow ball for our snowman...

Our first task of course was a snowman. This was the perfect snowman snow...it was so moist. The snow just rolled right up so easily, it was super. The hardest part really was picking up the enormous ball of snow for the middle and head. Oh and then a certain fiance and puppy had just finished of the carrots on Wednesday night. Well we had to make do with what we had, 2 limes and a banana!! I think our rather large snowman looked super! Winston really liked him too.

After building the snowman I wanted to make a snow angel. I mean everyone has to make a snow angel, right? Then Winston loved catching snowballs. He was so cute. Oh and did I mention that Winston doesn't really RUN in the snow, he hops like a bunny. I think it is because the snow is so deep. It really is the cutest thing I have ever seen. (Once I can up load videos I will, I am sure you will be waiting right?)

then for fun...our names in the snow!!

We enjoyed our little snow party for a little over an hour then headed back in. Sadly we headed back into a POWERLESS house still. I mostly felt bad for poor Winston. I mean he loves playing in the snow. We had to limit his snow for the rest of the night since we didn't really have a way to dry him off. You know towel drying is not enough when there is no heat. Bob well she was not too pleased about the chilled house.

However, she did just fine...I gave her some extra blankets to curl up in. Our real snow party began on Friday....stay tuned for some AMAZING pictures of the area!

Chris pushing over an extra ball of snow we had made! 

Did I mention that Chris bought me the most beautiful flowers too!  He picked them up on the way home from work...we worried that the lack of heat would hurt them.  However they have done just amazing really!

Snow makes everyone happy...

the front of our school

or at least it does for little 6 and 7 year old kiddos! While driving to school I knew it was going to be an interesting day. Kids get so excited, especially when it snows. Back in December we had a few flurries on the way to school. My kids just knew there would be tons outside when they left. They were sad to see nothing!



However, today was different that is for sure. The forecast was for just 1 -2 inches and NO ACCUMULATION! WRONG!!! As my kids came to school they were very jazzed. Instead of our normal morning writing I let them write about the snow and everything they could dream of doing in it. I of course unlike some of my teacher friends had all but 3 kiddos. Yep 21 showed up, I was very surprised too! I am very luck to not only have had all my kids; but we could keep on with our day just like normal. You know if a lot are missing it is pointless to teach something new, to only have to reteach half the class when they come back.

A. Smith and I enjoying the snow! Poor A. Smith, they are in a portable!!

Through out the day my kids and I enjoyed watching the snow fall from our classroom windows. As the flakes grew so did their excitement. Every time we left the room they just gazed out the back door to the play ground (my room is right next to the recess door). My newest little boy, who had very little English abilities, kept asking "recess today please, please." It was so cute, but NO we can't go outside they are not dressed for it!

We enjoy the snow too..

Finally after being frowned upon by many of my coworkers, I did let them touch the snow a bit. The reason I didn't want to is because many of them barley bring jackets...let alone gloves and hats. Plus this was a very "wet wet wet" snow! On our way to specials, I let them do a quick run out and back into the room. That way they all got to enjoy the snow. I mean yeah it is not every day we get this much snow.

Burton and I loving the snowball fights

Since the snow was continuing to fall FWISD sent the buses to pick up early. Thus allowing them extra time to make it safely to their stops. This little change caused our class to shrink quickly, oh and that parents were flooding in to get their kids. They were all worried about dismissal being to icy and such. So my 21 kids quickly faded to about 6. The 6 that were left were fully prepared for cold weather. Jackets, hats, and gloves....guess what that meant?

They loved it... I have some amazing pics, but can't post due to the safety of the kids!!!

SNOWBALL FIGHT! Yes, we all went out and had the best snowball fight ever! Of course we had a few safety rules, but man what a blast that was. The 4 of us teachers right next to the back door sent our kiddos out for some good clean winter fun. I love seeing how excited they get. The joy that they got to experience was worth all the snowballs I took in! Yes, I didn't mention the "don't throw snowballs at the teacher rule" like my other co-workers did! Heck everyone should enjoy a little snowball fun. After the snowball fight this is what I walked out too!

What a fun thing to do...clean off the 6 inches of snow! It was funny because people here don't carry ice scrappers in their cars. I have never NOT had one on hand, and some times even more than one! Got to love those people who park in the garage (and use that as their reason not to have a scrapper).

The ANGELS SANG today!!!

HALLELUJAH.....HALLELUJAH............It was the best song or sight I had seen in 2 days! Okay I have really enjoyed the snow (all snow fun will be in the NEXT post!). However, when the POWER in our house WENT BACK ON today at 1:00 pm I couldn't have been happier. Actually 2 of my neighbors and I were jumping for JOY in the street!! I have officially decided that I would really like not to CAMP OUT in my house again!

6:00 am THURSDAY morning!

Here's how it all got started....THURSDAY morning, Winston woke up around 3 needing a potty break. I got up put on my coat, then opened my door...........and WHAT did I see, but already about an inch of snow. From there I was back to sleep to be woken up again at 6 by my alarm for school. Yeah...we had school! (yes I wanted to go to school, I hate making up snow days) As I left for work there was about 3 inches of snow on the ground! For Fort Worth that is AMAZING!!! Of course as most of yall know it continued to snow ALL DAY...never let up once! This was so crazy, I mean yeah in Amarillo we got snow like this, but not in Fort Worth. Needless to say just as school is dismissing I get a text from Chris!

"Well my car got stuck trying to get in the garage, a man helped me out. Take Linden home. Oh and we have no power. The neighbor says its been out since 11 AM" Wouldn't you want to leave your very nice warm school to go home after reading that? NO! So I call, Chris declares that the power company says it will be fix by 4:00 pm. I kind of wait around and clean off the now 6 inches of snow off my car and head home.

4:00 pm after school, with no power!

4:00 pm rolls by and NO POWER! We call the 1888 number again to see that it still says 4! My dear friend Julie was kind enough to offer up her house. However, Chris said we could stick it out!!! Sure enough we WAITED, WAITED, WAITED, and WAITED! Come 8 pm still nothing...then the 1888 number no longer says 4, but just gives some B.S. conformation number. What you do with this conformation number? We still don't know. I mean you don't have power to look on line and see how things are going. Every time you call you get an automated systems...seems stupid to me! Well Chris, Bob, Winston, and I piled on the clothes and blankets and buckled down for a long night!

I had on um 4 shirts, 4 pairs of paints, and 4 blankets. Winston and Bob had a few blankets on too! Chris had one many layers and just swore the hat on his head was keeping him the warmest. We spent the night chit chatting and just wondering if the power would come on. I lit all the candles we had for some extra light. We imagined what all lights we had turned on, but not realized (you know it is just automatic that you turn on lights when entering a room). Chris took a shower by book light (attached to the shower curtain); then I used it to read some! I also enjoyed watching people, trying to get up the hill by our house....they all ended up backing down and going around.

a little fyi...tea light candles work best for light, but burn out faster

bundled up ready for bed

Finally we headed to bed with hopes of power in the morning....5:30 am rolled around and still nothing. However it did snow more!! Everything looked beautiful outside...and just amazing really.

our house at 5:30 am FRIDAY after 12 inches of snow (our poor little tree)

Then around 10 we thought we would get out. We drove around to find the "power trucks" never saw any near by. Therefore making us believe we would never see power today! Finally around 12 we went to lunch to warm up some. After lunch we headed home...as we pulled onto our street we saw the most WONDERFUL thing....LIGHTS! Finally at 1:00 pm on FRIDAY!! Our motion light lit up as I pulled into the driveway. The neighbors back light was on! JUMPING FOR JOY...we ran in to find MANY LIGHTS on, the radio on, and the HEATER!!!! Yeah Yeah Yeah!! Our day was really looking up! I hope the rest of you have power and can enjoy the warmth I am soaking up now!!