Snow Day!

I woke up Friday morning to a spectacular snowfall.

The "weather people" had warned us that it was coming, but they are so often wrong that I wasn’t quite prepared for the feet of snow that we got, rather than inches.

My brother and his family were in town for the weekend, and we had dinner plans on Friday night.  I didn’t want to miss it, but I wasn’t quite sure how my little Beetle was going to make it on the roads, so he came and picked me up, after picking up my youngest sister, and we planned a big slumber party at Mom and Dad’s house.

As soon as we got to Mom and Dad’s we decided that we would meet the Anderbergs at the sledding hill, so I had to borrow whatever snow gear I could find, but Mom got me fixed right up.  They were just about the tiniest pair of snow pants I’ve ever seen.  I may or may not have had to lay on the couch to get them zipped.  (Confession:  I grew up mostly in Montana, so I feel super-cute when I wear snow pants.  I’m all, “I don’t ski, but I could.”)

Addy, Cori and me, about to make our first run.

I was glad I had them, though, because once we got to the sledding hill, I only went down the hill a couple of times, but I got tackled several times (Gabe still thinks we’re 12), and it was a thick, wet spring snow, so I needed all the help I could to stay dry.

Tackled!

Yep.  Covered.  Good thing I had those snow pants on.

Evil laugh.

This was right before the tackle.

The kids (and kids at heart) had so much fun.

Cousins.

Ellie and the Snow Ninja make a run.

When we headed back to the Hoggstead, Mom had Chicken and Dumplings started, and I was gonna be her student in Dumplings 101 (because they’re not really a recipe thing, they’re more “a pinch of this and then sorta this much of that,” sort of thing).  I got schooled.  She made the first batch, and it took her about 10 minutes.  I told her to go lay down and nurse her migraine, I’d make the next two batches.  It took me about an hour.  Seriously.  It makes a mess, but they were delicious and fun!

My dough and flour covered hand...

Not sure I can make it without Mom's ancient copper rolling pin.

The two vats of Chicken and Dumplings.  Dee-lish!

After dinner, we visited and played board games. 

The dogs also had a party.  We didn't pose them.

This is the best "baby trick" ever.  Mom taught my nephew, Asher, to speak into the pretend microphone and say, "One dollar, Bob."

Sigh.  I love snow days.