Wild & Wacky Washington Weather

We've lived here for 3.5 years and have yet to figure out what normal weather is. Our first winter here a portion of I-5 collapsed due to flooding. I was assured that wasn't normal. Several months later, I woke up on my birthday (in mid-April) to a snow-capped lawn. Again, that wasn't normal. The next winter we got heavy and "abnormal" snowfalls that brought both the Puget Sound region and all travel to a halt that Christmas holiday. Last year's "spring-like weather" in January and February, well that wasn't normal either. And the rains that lasted well into the middle of June ~ you get the picture.....

What a difference a year makes. This February is reminiscent of December. Yesterday we had sunshine, snow, hail, and wind all in the matter of a few hours. And this morning's announcement of a two-hour late start was quickly upgraded to a snow day.

So what do you do when that news is sprung on you bright and early in the morning: I'll show you.

First, the kids build forts out of anything imaginable while Mommy scours the pantry to make sure there's enough food to last the day:

Then you dust off the professional-grade waffle maker that usually gets used only once a year:

You make sopita for lunch, a fruit smoothie for snack, and chicken soup for dinner.

You walk the neighborhood,

and weather the storm



until you find some friends that share your passion for playing no matter what Mother Nature throws at you:



You use your imagination ~ or maybe you're just delirious ~ and build a shrine to the
grandmother of snowy fun, Mt. Rainier.


You put your V-Day present to good use by filling up over and over:

And you fill its counterpart with hot chocolate for your little guy:

you pull out some stashed-away birthday presents that you were

smart enough to save for a "snowy day":

And then you deal with the mess left behind:

And another unrelated one:

You anxiously wait for Daddy to come home so you can go outside and

eat some snow?

Yup...eat some snow,

make a giant snowball,

and then throw smaller ones and M and me:

You thank God that you are lucky enough to not have to worry about missing work, calling in sick, or putting yourself and your kids in danger by getting into a car.

You pray a rosary, light a candle, and continue to pray that the school is open for business as usual tomorrow.