Snow Days ! Portland Snow Days. Snowing in Portland! Snow Day Adventure.
SNOW days!
We have been snowed in for three days now. Three days of no mail. Three days of eating soup made with bone broth. Three days of no school for Simon (7), who on the first day woke up and said – and I quote – “mom, I need to go outside, I have cabin fever”. Sigh
Then, it was time to find a sled. One broke last year and the other was used as a target practice by my brother- in-laws. So, I called Walmart, Rite Aid, Costco, Target, Safeway, both Fred Myers, those are all the store in the area. Nobody had sleds, because they were SOLD OUT! what was I to do? my boys needed a sled ASAP! There was one last store I didn't call and it is New Season. They have everything I need at all times, so I called them. They are the nicest, like always and said to call Ace Hardware. I didn't even know there was one in Happy Valley, but there is, next to the library. I hurry up and call them, and the sales rep tell me they have three left. I ask him to hold it, but he refused, saying he had already sold 40 and it was only 10:30am! The boys went right away. As soon as they got there a woman in front of them had one in her hands and my son grabbed two, and the person behind them took the last one. That was the day Happy Valley sold out of sleds.
These three days have been packed with snow adventures, fort building, snowmen making, hot chocolate drinking, snow slushy (ice-cream) eating, crafting away. Three days of no mail. Three days of eating soup made with bone broth. Its been fun... I'm kinda over it. kinda.
We live on a hill, a very long, big hill. When I look outside at the road, I see cars driving five miles per hour or abandoning their cars altogether. But, even if I wanted to brave it out and pile my boys in the car and feel secure because my car has all-wheel drive and chains on the wheels, it’s the other drivers that are on little civics with bald tires, with no chains that are doing wheelies all over the road, is why I choose to stay in.
Jasper's favorite thing about snow days is icecream from snow. He is astonished that I can take a bowl, fill it with snow and pour his favorite home made juice (kampot) on it. He points to the snow all day and says "bowl". To make kampot: we use frozen berries or fruit that we picked in the summer and froze. Bring a big pot of water to a boil, add sugar is using, it's to taste, start with a cup and allow the sugar to dissolve. We use honey, about 2 table spoons, we don't like it too sweet. As soon as the water boils add the fruits or berries or both, again, this is to taste, we use about 4 cups of fruit or berries. Take off heat and allow to completely cool before straining the fruit and bottling up the liquid. We go through that big pot in a day or two.
Simon's favorite thing about snow day has been having his friends over. They are our next door neighbor girls. They boys and girls had a blast. Played in the sow, watched movies, played games, and then made sugar free pepermint marshmallows. About half made it on to the pan to actually cool and set because those little fingers were all over it. I'll be posting a recipe for these soon.
And what was my favorite thing about snow days? The day this whole snow thing started I received my first Kiwi Crate for Jasper. You know those crates or boxes that everyone has been getting with beauty products in them?. This one is for kids! They are age specific and just perfect for boys that need to build and use their little hands. I ordered one each for both boys. Simon's is stuck with the mail man. But, I sure am glad I got Jasper's. We have done a little project every day. He needs that extra something because he is not very verbal still. He absolutely loves it. I think he loves that it's just his. That it's something just him and I can do together. He has learned that he has to share everything with both brothers. His, toys, mom, dad, room, but not his. In the last three days he said a new word! it's very exciting to me because for a very long time he just screamed and screamed... gosh its a whole other blog post, and I promise I will post. You can check them out here kiwi crate and get $10 off your first month. :)
Any ways, the box for this month is all about rainbows and color. It has helped me be a little more sane in teaching him. OH, the word. He said "poolpy" that means purple, and pointed at the color. I cried you guys!
These crazy, fun, and exhausting days had me in a bath tub soaking in Ebson salts nightly. My body aches from sled pulling, fort building, every 2 hour nursing, 6am waking, breakfast/lunch and dinner making, oh - and packing. sigh. life.
Special thanks to ( not an ad , I'm just thankful ) -
