Fun in the Snow!

Since this may very well be the last time we see snow in Apple Valley for awhile, and since school is cancelled, we decided to take advantage of the moment and play play play!

Yesterday, after we got home from school, we went to Mark's parents, about a mile up the street.  Do you see how that snow is coming down??  In fact, we almost got stuck there because we couldn't get out of the driveway.  After shoveling half the driveway and half the street and after letting some air out of our tires and spinning out for about 1/2 an hour we were able to make it out of the driveway and back home.  Anyway, while we were there we had a good ol' fashioned snowball fight.  A snowball fight that became a "GET MARK!" fight after being hit in the face by his rock hard snowballs again and again and again!  We also helped (well barely, it was practically done by the time we got there) make this snowman.  We will call this snowman #1.

The only reason Mark has goggles and the only reason he is holding on to me so tight is so that I don't reach down and hit him with snow full on in the face!  Don't worry, Nolan and I finally tackled him and shoved snow in his face, underneath his goggles, and down his pants!  HA TAKE THAT MARK!

Today Mark and I went over to our old apt complex to visit the Simpsons and have some snow fun with them.  This is their little toddler, Sariah.  Isn't she just so cute in her little snow outfit!?  I tried to show her the joy of sledding.  I'm not so sure she liked it very much.

Mark even brought his snowboard to try and help teach James the fine art of snowboarding down one of the little hills.  We tried to get a couple videos of Mark snowboarding down the driveway.  It didn't work very well, but it sure was funny.

And who can have a snowday without making snow angels?

Together we made snowman #2 at the Simpsons.  I don't know what's up with James's face though...

Sariah is helping with the snowman (I have no idea why this is underlined)

The final product.  Audra is a very crafty, very artistic person and her snowman proves it!  Perfectly round and white.

The Simpsons and snowman #2

We then came to our house for lunch and snowman #3.  We tried to roll the snow and only managed to get 3 lumpy, dirty snowballs.

Not quite as good as Audra's eh?

Snowman #3 in all its dirty, lumpy glory!

Unfortunately the snow is already melting (as you can probably tell in this last picture).  Snow doesn't stick around too long here I guess, but we sure had fun!

Winter Wonderland!

So, whoda thought that it could snow in Apple Valley?  Well yesterday morning when I awoke - what to my wondering eyes should appear?  But a sky full of clouds and millions of white snowflakes!  This picture was taken around 6:00 am.  It hadn't decided to stick yet and it wasn't snowing very hard, but it was snow!  Too bad school wasn't cancelled.  Can you see the tiny little flakes?

By the time I left the house around 7:30 it was starting to come down a bit harder and it was finally starting to stick.

By 10:00 it was a blizzard outside.  Teachers were starting to get concerned, but the admin promised that under no circumstances would they cancel school.  1 hour later, school was cancelled and teachers were told to contact all parents.  The drive home was rather frightening as the high desert doesn't employ snow plows or salters, but we made it safe and sound.  This is our house around 12:30.  Now you can really see the snow!

This is around 4:00 in front of Mark's parent's house.  Getting deeper!

This morning.  School is cancelled not only today, but tomorrow too!  Woohoo for no snow plows and salt!  It is about 6-8 inches depending on where you step.

I just thought these trees were cool looking.

And since everyone loved my rain video so much, I thought I would bring you the snow video.  Stay tuned for the sun video (just kidding).

Rah Rah Shish Boom Bah!!

The last two Saturdays my cheerleaders (PS did you all know that I coach cheerleading?) Anyway, my cheerleaders participated in two parades with the school's marching band.  One week it was hot and an easy 1.3 mile walk.  The second one (only a week apart mind you) was FREEZING and windy and a long 1.4 miles.  I know distance wise it was only .1 of a mile difference, but we moved at a snail's pace and we were at the back of the parade and it was cold enough to snow and well it was just miserable.  It took us 3 hours to finish a relatively short parade!!!  MISERY!  Anyway, although the cheerleading program at Riverside Prep has gone through a few bumps and bruises (such as not purchasing uniforms) we are working through it and are getting better.  Here are a few pictures from the warm parade day.  I forgot to take pictures yesterday - I was too cold to think about it.  Aren't they just so cute.  I actually have 13 girls, but only 9 could come to the parade.  

Here are a couple videos of our stunt groups.  One group has been working together for a couple months and the other group only about one month.  These videos were taken about a month ago so we have improved greatly just within the last month, but still you can get the idea.  One girl is doing a twist up and one girl is just doing regular prep.  Enjoy.  (By the way, does anyone know how to rotate video clips? - I couldn't figure it out so you might have turn your head a bit to get the full effect). 

Earthquakes!

Do you know that one of my biggest fears is earthquakes?  And rightly so, they are one of the most destructive and deadly natural disasters; and I just so happen to live along a major fault.  At school last month we had the "Great Shake Out" where we practiced a 7.8 earthquake and talked about the damage and death and all that would be the outcome.  That didn't do much to assuage my fears.  In fact, did you know that as a teacher you are STUCK at school until all students are accounted for and returned to parents????  And did you know that our school is situated out in the middle of nowhere, miles from any of the students' homes??  Do you know how long that would take???  Days!  WEEKS EVEN!!  What if Mark was at school and I was at home??  I would have no idea if he were alive or dead for possibly weeks!!  The phone lines would be dead, cell phones wouldn't work, food and water would be cut off.  And even if Mark could come home, infrastructure would be majorly damaged and he might not even be able to make it home!  Do you see why I fear?? 

Well, so we come to today.  Mark and I were just sitting here at home (thank heavens we were both at home) and the biggest earthquake I have ever felt struck!  I think my heart stopped for those 30 seconds.  It is a very unnerving feeling to feel what is supposed to be solid MOVE!  And now I know that if a big (well bigger) earthquake were to strike, I wouldn't move.  None of this drop and cover for me...I froze.  Not only until after the shaking stopped did I think...should I get under the table?  I guess I would just sit here and let the house fall on top of me. 

PS  the earthquake was a magnitude 5.5 at the epicenter and we were approximately 60-70 miles away from the epicenter so we only felt about a 3.5 or something...I don't know, Mark says 3.0....but it felt bigger to me.