The Deep Freeze

Or so that's what I'm calling it here. We have had below freezing temperatures for the last month without a hint of warmer weather approaching. Lows being in the single digits and nothing over 20 something degrees fahrenheit as of late. It hurts our already bundled up bodies to leave the house and kids often cry when we do step foot out the door. We don't usually leave the home unless something needs to get done. Like the necessities: grocery shopping, boys hair cuts, the gym or going to church. Even then, I would MUCH rather be snuggled up with a good book and a warm blanket next to the radiator than venture outside right now. It is just way too cold out there!!!

We especially don't like the 10 minutes a day we have to open up all of our windows to air out the apartment per housing instructions to prevent mold and such. We generally do this at the warmest part of the day, but still, it isn't warm and we get to hear lots of whining because of this unpleasant procedure. With four active children in desperate need to stay moving and be entertained at almost all hours of the day, we have been extremely busy being creative...

Building forts
Story time
Drinking hot chocolate
Going to basketball games
Entertaining + feeding the missionaries
Watching movies
Coloring and drawing
Cleaning
Kids showing off some karate moves - self learned of course :)
Playing with toys
Hide and go seek
Watching a nearby building being torn down
Board and card and wii games
Making a few treats, like apple cake (YUM!)
School projects
Writing thank you cards
More cleaning
Cooking dinners for friends
Hours of yo-yo fun
Play on iPods or DS's
Having pretend food picnics
Looking out the window longing for warmer weather
(and did I mention cleaning?) ;)

I have been helping the kids find positive reasons during this extreme cold weather. Other times of the year we are outside doing things away from home. Toys aren't played with much and movies get left on the shelf in exchange for bike rides and long summer days and nights having bbqs and trips to the nearby playground or pool. So while it's hard not being a tad bit jealous of other warmer parts of the world right now that we'd much rather be in, we are doing our best to deal with what we have. Because that's all we can really do anyways! :)

And as I write, it appears that it has started snowing again! The kids absolutely love it (as well as I) and go crazy watching it come down. It's falling really slow and blowing around like it does in a snow globe. So pretty! This will be the fourth time this winter it has snowed. Which I hear, this area usually gets a TON more! I do have to say though, while I'm trying to stay positive about the deep freeze, that this gray + cold weather starts to get old real fast! Oh sun and warmer days, how you are missed!! We love when you show up and give us a jolt of happiness! I hope we can (comfortably) get outside soon!