Anyway, we haven't made our traditional Utah winter trip yet, so we haven't experienced a recent winter wonderland. Today I took the kids, along with a few ward friends, to Mt. Charleston -- an actual mountain about 45 minutes away from home. Jayce was beyond excited. He's been itching to wear the snow gear and continually asks me when it will snow at his house. I had high expectations of fun as the kids would experience a winter phenomenon in Southern Nevada. The preparation was taxing -- amassing the various snow clothes and tracking down un-matched mittens, extra socks, coats that fit, etc. I've forgotten how complicated outfitting for snow can be. However, my mood was not deterred. I was anxious to embark on the adventure. As we neared the peak, the temperature dropped as the elevation climbed. I saw the 31 degree mark on the van's thermostat and wondered how I would possibly handle below-freezing temps (yes, Utahns, I'm a wimp now). After many minutes of bundling the kids, they played in the frozen snow. Jayce was in heaven. Our group forgot the sleds, but he couldn't resist sliding down the hill anyway (see video). He and Jackson tossed some snow around (the poor snow quality wouldn't allow for a proper snowball), and Damon (Tricia's husband), pushed him around in a laundry basket (our make-shift sled). Thanks, Damon, for entertaining our brood!
Jayce after throwing a snowball
Jackson pushing Jayce in the "sled"
Now for the moms and children younger than two, we had a different experience. Alyssa liked the snow for five minutes, but she kept falling down as she waddled in her thick layers. The cold got old really fast. Carter and Trevor were also having a difficult time. Both of Mitzi's kids preferred to be held (and she's nine months pregnant . . . no easy task), and they're even of Canadian descent! After much crying and shivering, we left too soon. Poor Jayce wanted to stay, but our little ones were absolutely miserable. Alyssa had a shrill cry that I'm sure the whole canyon could hear, so I'm positive Mother Nature was grateful as we pulled out. Next time, we vowed, someone would stay home with the babies and we would venture with the older kids.
Alyssa before the meltdown
My pictures are lousy because my camera wigged out in the cold, and I was holding an hysterical baby. Hopefully you get the gist.
Let it snow? I'm not so sure. I was grateful to get back home to the warmer temps and a happier baby, but I was also happy to see Jayce so happy. We'll just have to head to Utah soon so we can give him a proper snow day while Alyssa stays home with Grandma!
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6 comments:
You are such a great writer! Were you an English major? Yes, the poor babies but really the poor Moms having to deal with them. Oh well, at least the big kids had fun for a short time. We drove longer than the fun! Thanks for being a trooper.
The whole experience made me worried about moving to VA! Luckily, my brother says they don't see too much snow. He said usually it melts the day it falls. I really don't know how Tara would do if there was as much for as long as Utah has it. She really didn't seem to be much of a fan. But it was fun. Thanks for putting it together.
You are such a fun mom to plan something so out-of-the-ordinary for your kids. Seems like a lot of the things I remember most about growing up were probably events that were made possible because of a sacrifice on my mom's part. You were such a good sport and I'd bet this is something Jayce is going to remember. Travis is plotting a similar trip for us to Mt. Hood so the boys can experience "real" snow for themselves. Wish us luck!
how fun! i miss the snow sometimes! i love sledding!
I love the "sled"! How creative.
Remember it used to snow so much that tractors would make huge snow piles in front of our house? They became the ultimate snow fortresses. I like snow.
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