Snowy Walks

These photos are from yesterday, but it's still snowing! We're in Maine holding down the fort while Grandpa and Grandma Earnshaw are on vacation. Our main responsibilities include supervising Uncle Sam and making sure Gretchen (the dog) gets a walk now and then. Gretchen actually likes the snow, so we've been taking daily walks down the dirt road that leads to the beach. The ocean is just as beautiful in the winter as it is in other seasons. Mom pulls Gwen in the little yellow sled Sam used to get pulled around in as a babe. Gwen likes the ride, but will walk some if the road isn't too slick. When we were walking yesterday we saw the man who plows the dirt road and he waved from his truck. He saw us again as we were walking today. He rolled down his window and said in a classic Maine accent, "It's gonna be a long wintah pulling dat baby!" True dat!

After our walk today we decided to shovel a bit. Gwen really wanted to help, but the snow shovels were just too big for her to handle. The next best thing we could come up with was a very long piece of wood that was like a yard stick, only about two yards long. She pushed it around for awhile, but had difficulty picking it up when she dropped it. After more searching in the garage we found a little plastic children's croquet mallet. She pushed it all around the driveway and was happy as a clam (we are in Maine after all!).

Playing in the Snow

40 degrees never felt so good! With above freezing temperatures here in Maine, Gwen and Mom spent some time outside playing in the snow. Gwen enjoyed swinging (something she hasn't done in awhile) and was even able to stay on a big girl swing all by herself!

Gwen was excited to build a snowman...

until she got comfy in her snow chair and

just wanted to eat a snowball.

So Mom made Gwen her first snow friend.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a delicious feast with family and a few friends.

Gwen looked precious in her Christmas jammies.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Let It Snow!

It snowed this past weekend and then lots more today. After standing on the couch and watching the snow fall, Gwen wanted to check out the "show" (as she calls it). One of Gwen's favorite outside activities is playing in the driveway with her little car, so she pulled it out and pushed it around despite the snow. The snow was falling quickly and she kept wiping it off the car, but it was difficult to keep up! Later our neighbor, Lucia, came outside to enjoy her snow day. Lucia and Gwen went sledding in the backyard. This was Gwen's first time sledding this winter.

Winter Weather

We've gotten quite a lot of snow this winter! It seems that every other week or so there is another winter storm. This past week it snowed about eight inches and then the freezing rain fell, covering the snow with a layer of ice. Our little old snow blower had a difficult time with this combination of snow and ice, so Jared's job of clearing the driveway became more of a chore than the usual walk up and down the driveway behind the snow blower. (He had to muscle the snow blower along and got so hot that he took off his jacket and was snow blowing in a short sleeved shirt as it continued to snow! Our little neighbor girl told me the next day, "Your husband wasn't wearing his jacket!" Are you kidding? Jared was made for this weather!) With all the snow it has also been very cold, so Gwen hasn't really been outside much lately. But today, when the temperature reached 40 degrees, we headed out for a walk. It had been awhile since Gwen had been in her stroller, and she has grown! She couldn't move much in her snowsuit, but she was quite content as we strolled through the neighborhood. There were some other walkers and she got excited when she saw two dogs. However, we probably won't be walking again soon as the forecast says more snow tomorrow!

Let It Snow!

Last weekend our house was without electricity (and thus heat) for three days due to Ice Storm 2008. We stayed warm, cozy, and very happy thanks to the generosity and hospitality of some friends. This weekend we're snowed in, but still warm, cozy, and very happy.

Jared got the snow blower working just in time and is keeping the driveway in tip top condition.

Gwen dislikes her winter coat, so we thought this snowsuit would probably be her worst nightmare.

But instead of putting up a fuss, she just became sullen Gwen and stayed that way throughout her excursion into the winter wonderland.

Our little snow angel