Winter Wonderland

Getting hit in the face is "snow" fun at all!
A little TLC from Mom makes it all better.
This makes two years in a row for a White Christmas in Connecticut! There were a flurry of reports about the impending blizzard yesterday, so we were ready and waiting. It's so easy to prepare for a holiday blizzard when you have absolutely nowhere you have to be, though. Being stuck inside with family is a good thing, especially when you don't see each other but once or twice a year.
All bundled up and nowhere to go!Makin' a path...

Holding on for dear life!
We came prepared again this year, with our giant box of snowboots, snowpants, mittens, hats and mufflers. Last year's snowstorm was one the Little Nguyens remember so fondly -- even if we were snowed in in Washington, D.C. for two days. After the Blizzard of December 2009, I swore I would never again eat a gingerbread man nor would I drink hot spiced cider since that's all the hotel we were stuck in would serve. But by the time November rolled around, I was so over it, and I happily ate the legs off a few gingerbread men.

Miss Audrey, tunneling in the snow bank...
Rosy cheeks in the snow...
The Little Nguyens had fun playing with their aunts, uncles and cousin, Audrey. The First Little Nguyen loves some heavy snow action -- he is all about pummeling anyone and everyone with snowballs. What can I say? He's 8 going on 9, and he's all boy! The Second Little Nguyen, unfortunately, likes to throw snowballs, too, but gets a little frustrated when he is caught in the heavy crossfire! As always, he wants to run with the big dogs, but he doesn't want to play like one quite yet. He and Audrey are two peas in a pod, though, being near the same age and both full of fun and innocence. They loved sledding down the hill best on the little red sled. It was so cold when the wind came up!Digging out the cars Cover your ears, Mr. Nguyen! A snow-covered yard

The snow flies back...
While the grown-ups cleared the walks and the driveway, the Little Nguyens started tunneling through a massive pile of snow. Thomas and Benjamin have listened to me tell story after story of digging through huge mountains of snow when I was a little girl. They always listen with wide eyes and then whine, "WHY can't WE ever get that much snow?" Finally they got to try it, using shovel handles, wooden baseball bats, and even just their little hands to carve a three-way entry system in a big pile of white stuff. What fun!Tunneler #1, carving his way through a massive snow bank
Tunnel worker #2Such intense work!My Little Sweet Cheeks
I took special care of my 40th birthday present and made sure her windows were cleaned off and she was free of the major piles of snow. My Baby bravely made it through her first blizzard! My job? Brushing the snow off... My Baby's First Snow
After finishing their shoveling, the uncles were ready to play! Big boys are really just little boys in big clothes, aren't they!? Thomas, Benjamin and Audrey had fun learning some new sledding skills and, of course, throwing a few more snowballs!

Just all out rolling in it!

This is what snow pants are for!A sweet, snowy smile
Thien & Chi -- The Two Big Nguyens

T*R*O*U*B*L*E

Thomas sleds with Uncle Thien

The end of the road!
The Mother of All Snowballs A little snow in the face!

Ready, aim, fire!

The snow was a little late Christmas present of sorts. Snow is fun all the time, but it's even more fun when you have a lot of people to enjoy it with. When the Little Nguyens are old and gray, I know this is one of the memories they will love most.