Ice

outside, ice I breathe
crunching overhead I see
crust through trees shine

Saskatchewan Screamer

It seriously is cold! I am not quite sure the last time it has been this cold! Has global warming brought us these extremes? School has been canceled in Iowa City 3 days in a row- which as far as I know is unprecedented. Poor Iowa City teachers will have many to make up- but I guess we do too. Does this make 4 or 5 for Clear Creek? I think 4 and we have the first two all ready built in. Looks like we might be going until June 4th. I am not sure how I feel about that. I hope I have daycare!

This morning as Lars was watching the news, they were doing a story on the weather. Well he was watching pretty intently and turned to me and said, "Mommy it is dangerous outside." I nodded and told him this is why you have to wear hats and gloves! He nodded in agreement. Wouldn't you expect, when we get ready to go outside, he gets his hat and gloves on, but since he has a sweatshirt on- he does not want to wear his coat. Go figure! I need to be careful what is ont he TV with him!

Wee Lil Cocoa

Last year I purchased a couple of small mugs from the Small Hands catalogue. I particulalry think they are so cute and adorable. It really is much easier for them to use and handle when drinking th hot cocoa when we come in from the arctic air. I also introduced Ella to toast dunked in the hot cocoa and she is obsessed with this! I have memories of my mom making stacks of toast for when we came in from the outside and we would just eat away!

Backyard Snow Sliding

Here is Ella waving goodbye to her Mommy right before she hurls herself into danger! I need to clarify that this was in no way shape or form even close to my idea. In fact I really was not sure how this would go at all. I was torn between taking pictures and taking the kids in.
As you can see...I took pictures.

Lars thinks I am being silly since I peek through my fingers. But I really do not want to look!

Here they go sliding down the slide, then down the hill in our back yard. This kind of stuff makes me nervous, but the kids love it. I figure it is Bret's job to encourage the stuff that scares me. They loved it! I think I remember Ella did not want to come in at all!