Sledding

The only thing London really, really wanted to do this Christmas break was play in the snow.  I promised him that some time over the course of the two weeks they had off we would go find snow.  We were going to go when my dad was here, but he felt sick that day, as was my mom.  So Saturday was the rescheduled time to find snow.  Stevie was reluctant to drive a long way for snow but I used my powers of female persuasion (wink, wink) and he relented.  In the end he had a fantastic time and we found that snow is only a little over an hour from our house!

From all reports that I'd heard, there was serious snow in the mountains and so we headed that direction.  Since we haven't been around cold weather much in the past 3 years, we were kind of ill-equipped for the snow.  Emmy had a good coat and boots, and I had snow (rain) pants, but the other three were a mix-match combo of cold weather clothes.  Unfortunately, this was our doing-in since as I remember from growing up, once your feet and hands are cold, you're done.

Anyways, we headed toward an area east of Seattle called Snoqualmie.  I had read online about a place to go tubing, but the tickets were all sold out.  Besides, we really just wanted a hill covered in snow to try out the kids' new sleds.  So I had also read about a State Park called Kyak that had snow play areas and that was our destination of the day.

Just shortly after we connected onto I-90 the landscape started to change, as did the weather.  In a matter of minutes we went from rain and woods like we are used to seeing to snow and giant mountains!  Overhead signs warned us of up coming treacherous road conditions and the shoulder of the road was designated for putting chains on tires (nope, we didn't have 'em).  Hmmm, this was beginning to sound serious.

He's plowing the wrong side of the road!

We pushed on in awe of the beautiful landscape.  We had no idea that a mere hour from our home was like landing in Colorado.  As we climbed the temperature dropped and the snow set in - how exciting! 

What's more shocking?  That the temp is 27 degrees or that Stevie is going 45 on the highway???

That's ice!

Fortunately, just when things were beginning to get worse, our exit came and we found the park - as did half of Seattle.  The ice-covered two lane road where we were supposed to park got a little crazy for driving, but in the end we got a parking spot and headed off into the wild white yonder.

As I mentioned earlier, we all were poorly equipped for such temperatures and snow.  London made the fatal mistake of jumping into a huge snow drift to see how deep it was.  Little did he know that getting snow in your rain boots makes for some frozen tootsies so after only a few minutes of sledding Stevie had to take him back to the car to thaw.  Emmy and Cannon and I stayed longer and then headed back when Emmy said her legs were stinging.  We were able to sled longer right by the car once everyone warmed up and put on dry socks (thankfully, I had remembered to bring a change of clothes for the kids).

Emmy's in purple, London's in orange

We are definitely not in Okinawa any more!

Even Stevie was sledding!

Look - we found Rudolph enjoying the snow too!

This was a great time and we are eager to go back and try again.  And after spending some time with target.com this week, we should be much better equipped next time we go!