Snowed In

We spent the weekend up at Brighton with some friends - we planned on Friday night, but then stayed Saturday night too - it was kinda spur of the moment, kinda cause we were snowed in. (Isn't Mel cute?)

Joseph's teacher had arranged a game night on Friday for the kids in his age - they had two games of Diplomacy going on, fun stuff for teenagers.

Our whole crew was invited to come hang out for the night. We don't let the kids have sleepovers. But family sleepovers? We love those - everyone has a friend to play with.

And maybe we'd find some time to get in a little skiing? And of course we know what Corey's answer is to that.

After an hour and a few runs, Corey declared it to be the best day of skiing he's ever had. He said there was so much powder, it was like skiing in a big pillow. He loved it.  

Corey came prepared for the kids to join him on the slopes, but when the moment arrived, they all opted for digging holes in the snow like little snow gophers instead. They were having so much fun digging caves and tunnels. The snow was soooo deep! It was up to the windows, the kids would laugh when they went walking in what looked like secure snow ~ only to find themselves falling straight down into it up to their armpits. Off to explore Narnia!

The kids were having so much fun that we kept delaying our departure time for another hour, then another hour... 

When our friends decided to stay another night, we accepted their invitation to join them. So much fun. Thus we didn't return to the valley until this morning. We figured if we're gonna claim to be snowed in, we might as well really go for it. Last night we probably could have gotten out fine, but this morning... now that was deep snow!

We were out for an hour digging out the cars and clearing off the stairs to the driveway. The snow on either side of the stairs/pathway to the cabin was taller than I was. Pretty cool. I didn't get a picture of that, but I will next time. So as we dug ourselves out there was hardly any place to throw the snow, which I think is why the little HOA maintenance guy there just packs it down with the snowcat rather than plow it.  We were very grateful our cars weren't towed. After gathering all the sleeping bags and snowpants and gloves and oh. everything else that 9 kids need or can think of bringing on a weekend outing, we were ready to brave the snow and wind and head to the cars. Everyone was loaded in, we said a prayer asking to be delivered from accident, and then our little non-4 wheel drive sissy vehicles slowly made it safely out of the canyon.

And what do you know, we arrived earlier for church than we do when we start the day off in our own beds!