Deep freeze

We have just entered the first real cool-down of the season. It's not supposed to get above freezing, or for that matter even UP TO freezing, for the next week. Nights will be below zero. As I type this, it's currently 8 degrees on our patio thermometer. I keep telling myself it's colder in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Actually, I just checked and they're about the same as us right now.)

We got maybe 6 inches of snow last night and are getting a few more today. It's not a HUGE snow, but a significant one. The most significant aspect of it is that it won't melt, because it's going to stay so cold for so long.

Getting the twins off to school this morning was challenging. I had a terrible time getting them all bundled up. Baby A's new warm gloves got stuck in his coat sleeves, so we had to take everything off and start over. Here they are watching Dad shovel the sidewalk.

We were running so late that we had to drive. The roads were not bad, though, as long as I drove slowly.

But it was so hard getting the twins in and out of the car, all bundled up. Here we are trying to get out of the car in the school parking lot.

On snow days I have to send sneakers along in their backpacks. Boos have learned how to take off and put on their own snow boots and sneakers -- not my doing, bad Mom, but they've learned at school because they have to switch back and forth during the day. Teachers can't do it all for everyone in the class.

Now I am home trying to get stuff done. Our new furnace is keeping the house toasty warm (trying not to think about next month's Xcel bill). I did a lot of Christmas and grocery shopping Monday and Tuesday, knowing I wouldn't want to be out and about much for a while.

But it's very pretty outside. Maybe I'll take a walk later. I have a lot of natural insulation, so the cold doesn't bother me too much.

I wonder if I'll still think it's pretty a week from now...