Yup, we are done with winter. YOU HEAR US MOTHER NATURE!? DONE!!

So, this winter has lasted WAY too long. Apparently this is an unusual winter with all the snow. We are hoping that is correct. I never thought I would be bad-talking winter like this as I am a fan of the white stuff and the cold but this area has finally broken me. Two Mondays in a row we have been locked up in the house watching the wind blow snow all over. This was entertaining at first but now..........it just sucks. Hard to believe that we would not be hoping for snow days anymore. I would actually prefer going to work! How sick is that? Karley actually fought through unplowed streets and a base lock down to get into work! Had to get permission from Security Forces to drive on the streets to get off base! Pres helped me shovel the snow this morn after the plows burried the driveway. I got finished and was putting the shovel away and thought Pres was right behind me but then I heard "Hot! Hot!". I turned around to see Pres standing in the huge puddle at the end of the driveway where the runoff was all damed up. Would have been ok but his snow shoes are at school. Fun.
So, with all this time in the house, we gave in to let Pres watch much more TV than usual. Noggin is great. Pres loves that channel. He actually runs to the TV when the Backyardigans song comes on. Surprisingly enough, we never get sick of hearing "Almost Everything is Boinga". We also can thank that channel for introducing us to "Nuttin but Stringz". Pretty cool stuff for a toddler channel!!
Thanks to the weather, we have missed Gymnastics class 2 weeks in a row. We did however make it to Mom, Pop, and Tot aerobics which we thought was going to be a snap. A kind of, get-the-kids-moving-while-getting-a-little-exercise type of thing. Wrong. It was more of a let-the-kids-run-around-while-we-kill-the-parents type thing. We can't climb stairs and it's been days. If anyone is looking to try the P-90X workout.......don't. It's torture in disguise.
We also found some time to get Pres in for some 'professional' pics and a visit with the Easter Bunny. The bunny pics are already up but be on the lookout for the formal pics. Should be up soon. We are hoping the weather settles down as we are supposed to be driving to Denver next week so we can fly to Cali for Easter. You listening Mother Nature? Oh and believe it or not, Pres starts swim class again next week! Crazy.

Stay warm!

Regan, Karley, and Master Shoveler Preston.

Blizzard still Blizzard-ing

Day 2 of the blizzard:

Have to say I did not think that the blizzard would last through the night but this thing has some staying power. Per the reports we have accumulated 8-10 inches, sustained winds in the 50 mph range and gusts of 80mph! This has hit both the Dakotas and Wyoming.

I know I have asked this questions many times but why did folks settle here? The 2 answers I have gotten which have made the most sense were 1) free land to homestead & 2) this is where the livestock froze to the ground while headed west.

Anyway we are home again, the base and city are shut down as is I-90. We get to wait it out until about 6 tonight but I am sure it will clear up before then. I took some more pictures this morning which show where the 8-10 inches landed...our worst is the deck...woohoo. Regan says he will be going out a bit later to get some pictures that are not from the inside looking out. We can get out the garage easily which Coulee really appreciates.

xoxo
SoDak Shut-ins

Mother Nature's Bipolar

Yesterday we were in short sleeves, shorts & wearing sunglasses. It was a gorgeous day! We went on a bike ride, played in the park, walked with the Ingles and BBQ'd. Such a perfect day. So perfect that Karl got a little color and Regan is a little burnt (pink is a color though, right?)

Today we started business as usual. Troops were to work/daycare by 730. At 9 we were all back at home, sent home in fact to beat the blizzard. Yes we are now in a full scale blizzard, that is weather channel lingo for those of you interested. The blizzard warning remains in effect until 6pm tomorrow. Good thing we all like being indoors for long periods of time. Stickers, finger paints and vids are on the docket.


There is currently no visibility out the windows and the wind is howling. Reg made sure to stock the house with groceries in case base takes a while to dig us out (2.5 days last blizzard). At some point in time Rapid City made Mother Nature very mad and now she is holding a grudge! Spring...ha!

We put up pictures of us clowning around and some of the blizzard pics. Quite mild as it only started up at around 12:45pm. We are looking towards going to Cali for Easter to see fam and meet Baby Asher, Traci is due April 8th. If you are in the neighborhood 5 of us girls will be together as the Benavidez will also be home. July we are headed to Spokane for some PVA games, lets-go-Seany, lets-go!

love from the Daks,
Nanook & fam

p.s. Karl is currently losing to Reg in the brackets...upsets are garbage!

In the year 2000....

Nothing huge going on in the life of Us. So I thought I better generate some news in case someone gives up on checking this thing.

Today is Coulee's 9th birthday! Dog-dog has taken a back seat to Preston, I feel a little bad. Poor guy doesn't get to travel as much or get loved on as much. Yet he never fails to keep his end of the bargain...cleans up after ANY food we drop (even with the extra load Preston puts on him) , he always greets every guest equally with the same amount of enthusiasm day-in/day-out, always brings back whatever is thrown for him, is nice to Pres even while being bounced up & down upon or while having his ears pulled/eyes poked and he is always there for a lick. Happy Birthday dog-dog, the burger is on me tonight.

Simple fact - Engineers love destruction as much as they like creating things. Sad but true...when disasters hit every engineer I know wants to see pictures. With that, here is 3min and 36sec of amazing!

http://www.wmtw.com/video/17144859/index.html

I was recently told by an architect that civil engineering is "just common sense", I sent him this link ;)

Happy Friday the 13th.