This better be the last of this white stuff.....

Ok here we go... for those of you wondering - we got a foot and a half of snow last Saturday/Sunday. Lets just say - that's a lot. AND, we need a snow blower!

This is our back yard. If you look closely at the neighbors yard you'll see a huge mound. They shoveled their deck off and tossed it over the side. It is now piled as high as the sides of the deck!
This was the accumulation of the snow on the side part of our fence.
Our Street - barely plowed.
This is our house - our garage is the one open. Our "yard" aka snow pile is to the right of the picture.
That's our neighbors yard aka snow pile. Theirs is actually bigger than ours! If that's possible!
Zada's bedroom window is just right of the little triangle. No she can't see out of her window!
Our mound. And me!
Just to the right there was a tree... when I shoveled on Sunday morning there was so much snow it was hip deep!
I'd like to say that was the last snow fall. But it's not. There are about 5 more days showing snow. Tonight being one of them. I am hoping to NOT see MORE snow when I wake up tomorrow. Winter sure isn't over!

(to see the pictures in a larger format click on the photo)

snow.....again.....and still....

This is the front walk of our house. There is a small tree beside me which is buried under snow!

This street sign is in front of our yard aka snow bank. I am waiting for it to be covered!

The snow bank from our driveway.

Zada's snowman we made last weekend. The snowman is now buried under a foot of snow - his head fell off too... poor guy!

It was reported today that today's 20cm of snow set the record books as being the second snowiest winter at 344 cm - which is 11 feet in total. We need 100cm more to hit the all time record. They closed one of the snow dumping lots today because it was full! All of my friends up here are blaming me for this snow - and all asking if I am finally happy with the snow fall!

Lets see how this works......

Toboggoning....aka sledding....

Today was picture perfect.... lots of snow, not freezing and very sunny! So to the hills we went...

Here we go........

The last run Zada and I did was pretty crazy - we hit two jumps and both times we got snow sprayed in our faces which made it hard to see where we were going... towards the end I noticed we were heading straight for a tree and boy did I do everything I could to make sure we didn't'! Now that last picture is not our doing... Always remember to BAIL before getting close to the water!!!

Back to winter....Winterlude

Every year Ottawa has a winter festival that starts at the beginning of February. This is the coldest month - when you want to stay in by the fire and sip hot cocoa. Not here though; it's time to bundle up (add 4 more pairs of socks) and head out to the many Winterlude Sites. This year we decided to check out the Snow park located in Gatineau, Quebec which is just over the river from Ottawa. What's there you ask? Ice Slides, Ice Fishing, snow sculptures and more ice slides.

These are all made of snow. Next year I would like to actually watch them put these together because they are pretty amazing.


No we didn't shrink in the dryer the chair is that big!
Massive ice slides....
That's me and Zada getting ready to go down...
OMG this was fun! I was a little hesitant when I sat down but man it was fun!
This was actually the first ice slide we went down...
Zada at the bottom! WOW what fun!!!!

Reasons to not move north....

I found this article today that talks about our snow fall so far this year... It's very interesting and pretty crazy! (at least for this YANK as many of my Northern friends now call me)

Budget-breaking snowfalls could set Ottawa records
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 4:45 PM ET
CBC News
Ottawa snow removal crews cleared 63,000 truckloads this past November and December — enough to fill a dump-truck convoy stretching bumper-to-bumper from Ottawa to London, Ont., city staff reported Wednesday.
The two-month tally was more than crews cleared during all of last winter, John Manconi, director of the city's surface operations, told the city council's transportation committee.
With some winter months still to come, the cost of snow clearing and snow storage could continue to impose a big strain on budgets, he said.
"I think the key thing is you have two-thirds of winter left," Manconi said. "We're probably going to break some records this year."
Those records could come in the form of salt use and costly staff overtime.
"The melt that we had after the Christmas period helped us significantly," Manconi said. "I'm happy that our staff were able to get a very good rest last week for the first time in a month and a half. That was starting to be a major concern for us."He added that record amounts of snow have already been moved into the city's snow disposal facilities, although there is still room for more.
Manconi thanked council for the close to $3 million of extra funding his department got this year but predicted he will be over his $62-million budget for 2007. He will have to see how his $64.8 million budget for 2008, which includes $9 million for snow removal, will fare, he said.....

Snow....snow....snow.....and yes... snow

Ok so I'm almost finished talking about that white stuff. Yes. Me. It's getting annoying because every single time it snows you must shovel. We should have shoveled today. But ya know. Forget it. Yesterday it was so cold kids were told to STAY INSIDE to play. That kinda cold where your nose freezes and your fingers hurt in 5 mins of being outside.

Wednesday I promised Zada we would go to this little tiny hill by our house to go tobaggoning (sledding). Yeah well the tobaggon was in the trunk of the car. Which was in Hull, Quebec at work with James. He secretly goes tobaggoning at work. So naturally being the mom that I am - I made that promise. I promised that as soon as James got home from work we would go. Ok yeah so I also forgot that it gets COLD and DARK at like 4:30pm. His arrival time. Plus I needed to run an errand before. SO being the mom that I am - I took Zada tobogganing. I could only handle 15 mins before my fingers and toes were hurting cold. Not freezing cold but hurting cold. The funny thing about this little excursion was where we went was has not been touched by another (nutty) human. The snow was above my knees. No lie. There were picnic benches and the snow was covering them, all you could see was the very top part of the back rest. It was NUTS!! ANd SOOOO COOL!

I asked my pop-in law to take/send some pictures of their back yard so you could all get an idea of just what kinda snow we're dealing with. I find it hard to really judge how much snow we've had so far. They have a picnic table in their back yard and you can really tell what kinda snow fall we've had.

ok I'm done talking about the white stuff... it's getting old.

Ps. since these picture have been taken we have gotten about 5 more inches of snow.

Up on the roof top.....it wasn't Ole St. Nick though..

So as it goes up here in the North....When we get a boat load, scratch that, SHIP load of snow it's best to take some time out of your day and shovel your ROOF. Yes your roof. It isn't one of those mandatory things like shoveling your driveway but it does help prevent any cave-ins or leaks. James didn't do the whole roof because, well it's dangerous. But we did do some of it...

When will it end?

Today was a very eventfull day. Lately our Saturday's have consisted up drinking coffee, watching tv, watching more tv, and well watching more tv. Today was different - maybe because Spring is in the air. This morning after breakfast we went to Micheals for a free family event. Zada got to make a bird out of clay and feathers, a magnetic picture frame and this cute little paper lantern. Then we went shopping for a birthday present for our little friend Holden who is turning 2.  Then we headed off to Holdens house for a little party.

Our friends just moved into a house with 8 achers 20 mins. from where we live. Their goal is to raise Alpacas. Their house is gigantic. Not in the ridiculous sense of 9 bedrooms but it's really long. When I walked into the house and looked to my left I saw the longest hallway I've ever seen! I think Aaron said it was like 70 ft long or something crazy! Lots of room!

While we were there it started to snow. It was the most beautiful snow I think we have had all winter. By the time we left the car was completely covered. (Why did we go to the car wash today?) As we were driving home all I could think and feel was - I can't wait to open Christmas gifts tomorrow. *ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR* (the sounds of squeeling tires) HOLD UP. It's March.... It's MARCH 24th.... This kind of snow is supposed to happen in December NOT MARCH. *RING RING* MOTHER NATURE SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE!

All I can think about now is it melting! lol

Will it ever end?

No I'm not talking about winter break - I'm talking about winter. I was ready to take our coats to the drycleaners and hang up our scarves. Done. I even washed Zada's snow "gear" and our mittens ready to pack them away and call it another successful winter. That won't be happening. According to our trusted weather people we will be getting about 10cm which is about 4inches of snow tonight and tomorrow.

I think I'm understanding Canadians - it's making sense to me. It's very funny to me that in July and August people are complaining (there's another word I'd like to use but I'll keep it clean) about how hot it is and how "they" are ready for winter. Then around the end of January beginning of February it's "I can't wait for Summer". Welp I'm feeling it.

The week started out as fairly warm and has turned to really cold somewhere around 10F. Thursday I tried to leave the house in a lighter jacket with no mitts. That was just stupid on my part.

Hopefully this will be Jack Frost last little "HA HA" and winter will let us go for one more year. Let the great melt begin please!!

"That was Awesome"

Saturday was the perfect "outside" day. The temp was relativly warm and we got periodic snow showers. James and I decided to take Zada tobagganing again incase winter decided to end. (Little did we know that its not ending anytime soon). Off we went to "the dog walking park" and it definitly was flooded with walking dogs egar to play in the snow!

We went to the same hill before however this time it had about 5 inches of fresh snow so it slowed the hill down quite a lot and made the decent a little softer on mom's tailbone!

Some kids had built a little jump half way down the hill and my little daredevil wanted to try it out. At first my motherly instincts kicked in and I said NO! I kept getting asked over and over till finally I caved. You're not supposed to do that in parenting but I let it slide this one time.

"Sure Zada you can go over the jump, get on the sled."
"mom, what will happen to me when I go over the jump?"
"I guess we'll see" *PUSH*
The next thing we all see is a little girl catching flight like a small bird just leaving the nest. I also knew at that moment she would be landing face first in the snow. I also knew that this would probably be tramatising for her and that there would be massive screams. So down the hill I ran as fast as I could. Sure enough once her face hit the snow her world ended. Once I got her to realize that she was a live and there was no blood and that life would still go on she settled down. I drug her in the tobaggan the entire way to the car and she didn't speak a word. When we finally got to the car she had just one last thing to say...

"MOM THAT JUMP WAS AWESOME!!!"

Just when you think Winter is over....

So after a beautiful weekend last week I think we were all ready for Winter to go. The sun was great the warmth was perfect ready for spring. That would have been way to easy. Last night we had winter storm warnings. We woke up to ice pellots and by noon we had about 3 to 4 inches of snow. By 3pm we had probably close 6 inches maybe more. Checking out the forecast we are supposed to get more snow tomorrow and some later on next week. Winter looks like it' s going to stick around for a few more weeks... or at least the snow will be here for a while. Being from Missouri I find it funny that there is snow on the ground in March. I remember one of Zada's birthdays at the trailer - it was so hot out it seemed. We were running around outside in t-shirts!

I guess it's true what "they" say about March... "In like a Lion out like a lamb" I guess we will have to test this theory.

-10C (14F) Never felt so good.

 Today is absolutly the most beautiful dayI think we have had so far this winter. The sun is shinning and it's warm. Well ok it's not WARM but it's a heck of a lot warmer than it's been in weeks. After dropping Zada off at school I went for my walk - remember the one I did before we moved into Artic like weather? Half way around I was sweating like a pig. I think my warm Missouri blood has finally warmed up. When I got home I shoveled all of the snow and ice off the driveway that has collected since the first snow.  Though spring is far away I can tell it is just around the corner! I'm also sure we arn't out of the woods of more cold and more snow but today was a nice treat!

Cold....

Definition of Cold: 
used of physical coldness; having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration; "a cold climate"; "a cold room"; "dinner has gotten cold"; "cold fingers"; "if you are cold, turn up the heat"; "a cold beer"


Yesterdays temp was some where around -7F HOWEVER, the windchill was somewhere around
-30F which made it feel like the artic.  Thankfully for my wonderful mother-in-law we had a ride to school.  

When I looked out of the window it looked like the perfect day. Super sunny. When I first stepped outside it seemed alright but by the time we got Zada's seatbelt on - FROZEN.

When I got home from dropping Zada off I took my mitt off to unlock the door and my fingertips stuck to the metal door handle. I knew then it really was that cold out! We were also blessed with a ride home from another mom in the neighborhood.

Today seems to be a little warmer but still wintery cold.


 

Ice Skating

Zada made her big debut on the ice Sunday. We purchased her BARBIE
skates on Saturday at Zellers (aka Target). She NEEDED to go that day
but it had gotten late in the evening and it was cold. So Sunday was the day,
though cold it was sunny so that seemed to help.

At first it seemed as though I was keeping Zada up - noodle legs is what
I refer to her sometimes. We suggested she just stand on the ice with
her skates on to get the feel of the ice. The wall soon became her bestfriend.

Soon she was away from the wall and ordering me to "GO AWAY".  She fell a
few times but got right back up. She demanded that I NOT help her as she was
big now and she was a pro skater. 

Monday she insisted that we go for round #2. Needless to say round #2 ended 
after about 30 mins as the temp was somewhere in the MINUS TEENS. That's right
-13F... By the time we got home the bottoms of my feet were numb. 

Today we decided against ice skating since it was cold yet again.  Tomorrow is looking
up as well as the weekend.  I am hoping to head to the canal this weekend for some
skating.

snow

We woke up this morning to SNOW! Now we already had 
snow on the ground but anytime it snows more is a bonus!
I know most of you are thinking SNOW? BONUS? PLEASE.
Life doesn't really slow down here in Ottawa. You get up,
you shovel the drive and you go about your day.  James
shoveled the drive while Zada and I constructed a snow
mountain to play in. Then we all played a little kick ball.
Later in the afternoon Zada and I took a little walk along
the pathways. It's amazing how a normally boring open field
turns into this amazing play area when there is snow involved.
Zada ran all over this field making snow angels and foot prints.
Then we continued to walk to a little park. Again everything changes
when snow is involved! Swinging becomes more fun... play houses
become more fun. The walk home started to be disasterous.
"My legs are tired... I need to pee.... are we home yet..." Then
someone got the idea to throw snowballs at my back which
entertained her the entire way home! I'll take whatever works!

We also noticed on our drive this afternoon that "THEY" are working
on the out door ice rinks!! WOHOO!!! Zada said that we NEEDED to 
go get her skates right away! hehehe