The guy on the news referred to the snowstorm as "snowpocalypse," while on
Twitter, people were referring to it as "#snOMG." In Stimeyland we referred to it mostly as, "Holy Christ, is it
still snowing out there?"
That's Jack. I'm 93...94% sure of it.So, yeah, it snowed this weekend. Like, a lot. I'm not going to quote you inches or anything, but all I know is that this morning, the day after the snow, when Alex was suffering from a Man Cold and I had to go shovel the driveway, it seemed like a lot.
Here's Alex yesterday, when his illness seemed less severe, in his ridiculous winter hat.
I will post a photo of this every year because I think it's such a humorous hat.
Except for the beaver that was skinned for it. (I know, I know.)You know how there's that story about the people who have heart attacks when they shovel their driveways because they're so out of shape and the snow is so very heavy and their husbands are too busy lying on the couch to help? That was almost me this year.
I have a long driveway. No, it's not like a mile long or anything, but when you pile more than a foot of snow on it, it seems really long. Sam was going to help me shovel the sidewalk, but he couldn't find it, so he gave up.
So I was out there in my hat, gloves, and t-shirt (shoveling snow is hot work, people!) shoveling away while every single person in the neighborhood commented on the fact that I was shoveling and not Alex.
Later, Alex told me he'd go to the store if I'd clean off the car.I told him he could just go ahead and drive the car with its little snowhat
and fuck you very much, by the way.To his credit, Sam did help by shoveling off the picnic table and the iron monkey that stands on it.
Yeah, it's weird. Alex has a thing about monkeys.I gotta tell you, the snow kinda wrecked my weekend. I had a whole list of things I was going to do, starting with an early-morning haircut on Saturday, which I had to cancel. If you've seen me in person with my hair down in the past couple months, you would probably agree that I sorely need that haircut.
Plus, I had some last minute shopping to do—teacher gifts and whatnot. Also I have to buy an electric pencil sharpener for Sam because he has one fewer gift than everyone else. And I know an electric pencil sharpener might not seem like the most exciting gift in the world, especially when you consider that Quinn's comparable present is
The Legendary Sword of Heroes (with authentic battle damage), but I think he's going to like it. But it's still living at the office supply store and now I can't even go get it tomorrow, because school is canceled and my kids will be with me and so, yeah, snowpocalypse indeed.
But the kids had fun.
In this next photo there are a few things you should notice. Thing the First: Quinn is standing on snow behind a chair. And his feet are at the same level as the chair seat. There's that much snow. Thing the Second: Jack is making a snowball. Thing the Third: That is Cassidy, a.k.a., The Target's, tail there in the photo.
Thing the Fourth: I took all these photos through a
glass door from inside the house.Here is Cassidy wistfully looking at the door to the house after she's been used for target practice.
Because I am benevolent and kind, I let her in.Sam continued his house maintenance by knocking "the hugest icicle in the world" off of the rain gutters.
Now if I could only get him to clean inside the rain gutters.If only he'd seen the icicle on our balcony when we lived in Alaska. That thing was huge. And it formed a stalagmite underneath it, until it became an entire column of ice connecting the balcony to the roof. It was badass.
Meanwhile, Quinn and Jack traversed the yard making and retracing paths with their footsteps.

Eventually Sam and Quinn came inside, but Jack stayed in the yard, marching back and forth and punching through the snow with the handle of his shovel. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for treasure. I don't think he found it. But he had a good time.

And when he was done, he had hot chocolate. Which is kind of like treasure if you're six, don't you think?
Late Breaking News: Alex just walked in the room and told me that his work seems to be canceled tomorrow, along with the kids' school. So I can go buy that pencil sharpener tomorrow after all! Well, hallelujah! Let the sun shine!!

Have a Happy Snowpocalypse!