Laid back Saturday..snow melt!

This last week has been *very* interesting.  Monday started with subzero temps and finally on Wednesday it started snowing.  At one point the wind chill was around -45.  We experienced these temps in Wyoming a few years back, but the difference here is that in Cheyenne, similar conditions shut most of the town down, the Air Force base pretty much shut down so Charles didn't have to go to work, kids didn't go to school and such.  But here, it's business as usual.  And it was SO bitter.  The kids kept saying, "I can't BREATHE outside".  Our lungs burned! But you just hurry from the car into the house or school and don't stay out in it. At school, the kids don't go out on the playground if the windchill is below zero..yep, that means if it's 1 degree, they go out and play.  But our whole attitude is, "Adventure!"  It never lasts too long (one, two days at the most) and it's a GREAT excuse for hot chocolate, great warm soups for dinner and getting cozy under soft, comfy blankets to watch movies.  :) 

When if finally snowed, we got about 6 inches, which is not a ton, but enough to make everything beautiful and have some fun.  Today, Saturday, was pretty incredible because suddenly, the temp is 50 degrees!  After the severe cold, this REALLY does feel warm!  We didn't even need a jacket!  This is what the locals call a Chinook.  They tell me that means a warm wind and 'they' say it happens frequently throughout the winter.  I don't really understand why it happens but it is a great relief that often comes after those really intense winter days.  Many people say the Chinooks are what make living here bearable.  After today, I do agree with them.  It has been a beautiful, 'warm', sunny day and all the snow is just melting like crazy.   Sheets of it were sliding off the roof.  But, before it all melted away, Zak pulled out this cheapo snow board with crappy, loose bindings and went out onto the street, where there is a small hill and started 'boarding' down it.  Charles pushed him and watched for cars and Zak had a blast!  Charlie had a friend over and they got a snowman built before all the snow melted.  SOO many people hate the snow and I get it, but we just LOVE it.  We love playing in it and watching it fall is just beautiful, quiet and peaceful.  Here are some pics and videos of the kids today.  If you are reading this in an email, you have to click on the heading (Doyles Take Montana) to go to the actual blog to view them.

Figuring it out:

 

More Practice:

 

 "A New Record":

The Girl's Snowman

 

Charles lifts the heavy snowball for the girls

 More tweaking

"Mr. Cool"

:)

c, m, c & z!