Ice, Ice Baby

After freezing rain yesterday and last night, our 8+ inches of snow was covered in a layer of 1/4-1/2 inch of ice. We had this freezing rain a few years ago, but it wasn't underneath several inches of snow. The snow is calling the kids to come out and play, but the Gorge winds certainly don't make it very fun. Yesterday we had gusts up to 30 mph, according to the news, and with the windchill it made it feel like -1. We have a school weather station right near us so it is interesting to watch the weather and have a really good indication of what it is really like at our house.

Our tree with ice coated windows from the freezing rain.

We should just be starting our winter vacation, but we are now starting week two of an extended vacation because of the weather. The kids are itching to burn some energy so occasionally, when the wind dies down, we bundle them up and get out to play. Here are some pictures from our backyard today. The thick layer of ice on top of snow made for interesting play in the back yard.
Can you see the ice on one side of the ball and all around? Check out that truck!
Easton breaking through the ice with a kiddie wheelbarrow behind him buried in the snow.

Ellie trying to make a snow angel. Can you make an ice angel?

This picture cracks me up! Easton looks taller than our 6 foot fence! The kids could sometimes walk on top of the ice in places, but break through in other places. Ellie just started crawling around on top of the ice so she wouldn't break through.

One crazy thing about this powdery snow and the Gorge winds is that before the freezing rain, the snow blew all around around our yard in swirls and made drifts. This drift is by our back sliding glass door.

This is an exposed part of our yard and all the snow was blown away by the wind, leaving only icy grass. I love Toby's icy beard! Despite the cold and ice Toby loves playing in it, catching snowballs and eating the ice and snow off the ground. He is a little confused on where to go to the bathroom or maybe it's just too cold.


Aaron put chains on the car and has been out and about checking things out and running a few errands to keep himself from going stir crazy. Today we drove on the freeway and ventured up to Felida this afternoon to take my mom dinner and shovel her driveway. We could hardly believe the difference from the top of Prune Hill in Camas to her house in Felida. Luckily, there is little ice for her, but a lot of snow accumulation, even on the freeway. We cannot remember a time when the accumulation was this high. While we were visiting for a few hours, the snow fell steadily. Aaron thought her accumulation was 10+ inches. When we got home all the footprints the kids made from the afternoon were covered again by fresh snow fall, increasing our accumulation. We almost got stuck in a drift by our house, but Aaron's tire chains and peeling out with flying snow and ice allowed us to make it home. As for tomorrow, we have Ellie's follow up appointment for her sleep study. We'll see if it happens.

*edited to note - just saw the news and KGW is reporting that Camas has had 17inches of snow fall. WOW. 4 more inches predicted tonight.