Winter Wonderland

I love living in France and don't miss the US very often. But I do miss the weather sometimes. The hot Chicago summers and the cold, snowy winters! If it does snow here, it usually lasts 24 hours before a warm front comes through and turns it all to rain.

So our weather right now is pleasing!!! Just the way I like it!!!

Take snow, add cousins, friends and neighbors on a Sunday afternoon, and what do you get? A great time!

Our front yard.

 Sled dog in training.

 Before the fun begins.

 Betsy and I are just spectators. Or so we hope.

A shower for Wesley.

 Too much snow is not so fun.

 Unless it is on someone else!!! Ruben was too big to cry.

 Nathan's turn.

The igloo

We had a white Christmas this year!!!! No one can remember the last time that happened, but it was definitely a LONG time ago!

The kids (that includes Philip and I when it snows...) had a blast building an igloo to rival all igloos.

Click on one of the links below to watch a video that gives you an inside look at the igloo and the fun we had.

The video with subtitles for those of you whose French is rusty

French video with no subtitles

First we built a snow woman, African style.

Then came the igloo...

 Then it snowed again and the igloo got a second room.

Then the cousins (the ones who live nearby) came over and everyone enjoyed the igloo.

Snow Day!

How can snow stop home-schoolers from school? I know, I know, it doesn't make sense. I am sure that most people from the northern half of the United States would laugh to see us call a snow day for this amount of snow, but the southerners must understand. We hardly ever get snow. (We live at the same latitude as Winnipeg, but somehow the proximity of the ocean and it's warm currents give us a mild climate) This year has been a bit exceptional, and this must be the fourth snow fall (and also the fourth snow day!).
My students are all outside having PE! They have already assembled the dusting of snow to try to make a snowman. Wesley came in to ask for walnuts for finishing touches. I will have to go out and see this!
Turns out there are two! About knee high. (The second one looks strangely female. I think they have been reading too much Calvin and Hobbes!)
And now I see they have set up a goal and gotten out all the balls (soccer and otherwise) that we own. So much for snow!
They will come back in soaking wet and muddy (it is above freezing) and my washing machine will get a work out.