The "Dusting" of 2014

For those that don't live around here, we were supposed to get a "dusting" of snow yesterday. And though we got a mere 1-1.5 inches, it has led to more chaos in the past 36 hours than you could ever imagine. Our state was not prepared for this, and the roads turned to ice almost immediately since it was 20 degrees outside. Luckily, Abby was home with me and I was able to pick Nate up at school for early dismissal around 11:30 am. We are so fortunate to live less than 10 minutes from his school. Others were not so lucky though....

I have friends who were trapped in their cars with their kids for 4-5 hours yesterday, just trying to get home from school and work.

I know someone who is STILL not back at her house. She & her infant son have been cooped up in a hospital (where a friend works), while her husband and eldest son had to ride an ATV to get up some of the hills in their neighborhood to get to their house this morning.

There were kids who had to spend the night in their school because their parents couldn't get to them. Heartbreaking.

Most of the highways in Birmingham look like parking lots, with abandoned cars. And with temperatures not getting above freezing again today, I have no idea when they will be able to clear all this mess up.

Like I said, it is utter chaos around our state.

Which makes me feel pretty guilty actually, since my biggest concerns the last 36 hours were how many layers to put on the kids before going outside, or which pair of gloves were warmest.

With that being said, we've had two fun days of playing in the snow and making memories with our friends. Yesterday, one of Nate's school buddies came home with us because - you guessed it - his mom was stuck on the road and couldn't get to the school by 12. As soon as we got home, we ran outside to play, and were joined by our next-door neighbors:

Pretty thrilled with his snow angel

Snowball fight with Jack!

They ganged up on Mrs. Nicole!

Her first time wearing a scarf and she LOVED it! I think she actually slept with that thing last night :)

Double Trouble

Nate & Chandler, planning their next move

Chandler found the wheelbarrow behind the house, with a TON of snow inside!

Jack got his mom pretty good!

Having a ball :)

Chandler, Kate, Nate & Jack discovered the carport snow!

Abby had already gone inside, so I had to get a selfie with at least one of my kids

Love our house in the snow!

Chandler & his mom camped out at our house most of the afternoon, until some roads re-opened & less crazy drivers were out. It still took them 1.5 hours to get home! (Instead of the usual 20 minutes)

 Of course, school was cancelled today since a lot of the roads were still icy and it dipped down to single digits last night. These two were thrilled to sleep in (!) and play outside, yet again, with neighbors. We learned our lesson from yesterday and put on an extra - 3rd - layer of clothes and a second pair of gloves. We were nice & toasty despite the 14 degree wind chill!

Kate, Jack, and Nate (and Matt!) trying their hardest to make a snowman. It didn't work :(

Sass & Frass could have cared less about a snowman!

.....all they cared about was the swings!

Luckily, hot chocolate & Girl Scout cookies awaited us inside Mrs. Nicole's house.

Kennedy, Abby, and Caroline. They are all 4 but somehow look 14 to me here. (Kennedy is another neighbor who joined us - along with her 2 year old brother - outside today. So fun!!)

Like mentioned before, I feel very blessed that we were not directly affected by this snow & ice. My kids got to be kids, and play outside and have red cheeks and throw snowballs at each other. School is cancelled again tomorrow, but sadly, most of our snow will be gone by then. But yay for another morning to sleep in!!