igloos

That's right, IGLOOS!!!  Tyler wasn't in town for the first April blizzard and I was so disappointed we couldn't play in the snow together.  Thankfully another blizzard was just around the corner.  Some of my church friends were talking about how much fun they had making igloos.  Igloos?  How in the world do you make igloos?  I was hooked on finding out.  After detailed conversations with co-workers (remember, guys, I have never experienced snow), I knew Ty and I could make a killer igloo.  

Inside our igloo.  We fit, our dogs fit, and our mimosas fit. 

The very beginning.  Step 1: find a huge snow mound.  

Step 2: Keep the champagne and OJ cold until ready to serve.

Step 3: Shovel.

Step 4: Shovel. 

I was very apprehensive to sit inside the igloo for fear of it falling in on top of me.  However, we created such a large space that I didn't mind it.  Yes, for all you non-Eskimos, it was much, much warmer in the igloo.  The infamous South Dakota wind was blowing hard and the snow was still coming down.  Inside our igloo I sat back with a mimosa in hand and admired our work.  I did shovel much snow...I just don't have photographic evidence.  

Step 5: Keep shoveling while taking breaks to admire your work.

Step 6: ENJOY!  Our igloo fit Tyler, Billie, Nola, and myself.  The dogs for some reason wanted to go and play out in the snow.  We had trouble making them stay.

Twins!

Celebrate with mimosas!  The cork shot out and into our Igloo.  We left our mark!

I'm really hoping one of our neighbors discovered our igloo and let their kids play in it.  Or better yet, they played in it.  Igloos are a must!  Snowmen are so hard to make here due to the dry snow; however, we discovered igloos are much more fun!

I have been dying to sled and finally got my chance after a long day at a technology conference.  As I was driving home I saw many people out on this hill sledding.  I stopped and asked the sweetest family if I could join in.  They laughed at me while I asked questions about how to sled. 

This was AMAZING!  Hint: don't do what I did and create your own path.  Go down a path already made in the snow for a faster sledding experience. 

And this my friends is how you stop.  Ha.  I lost my balance.  

Our last snow of the year wouldn't be complete without a baby snowman.  The snow came immediately and within an hour we had an inch on our balcony.  With our last snow, I can say I am still in awe of snow.  It's just so serene and beautiful.  Until next year...

after the blizzard

The snow finally subsided. I can finally say that I survived a snow blizzard and am living to tell about it.  Obviously the dogs and I loved the snow.  Here are a few pictures for all you southern folk who have never seen anything like it. 

Want a good work out?  Trek through 4 feet of snow. 

After having to ask my neighbor where to put the snow, I was on a roll.  Took an hour or two but I'm proud to have a clear driveway!

Billie kept forgetting that jumping on top of Nola in 4 feet of snow will cause Nola to "drown" in snow. 

Guess I won't be parking in my usual spot at work...

mk gets hitched

 Mary Kathryn is a Mrs. and I feel incredibly old.  The weekend was amazing.  Spending time in Monroe with family was what I had been wanting and needing for so long.  Between visiting Duck Commander (Duck Dynasty's warehouse), eating crawfish and Cane's, and just hanging out with my siblings made for an incredible weekend.  If only I could have stayed just a bit longer.  I didn't take many pictures at all.  I wanted to live in the moment and not worry about finding my phone to take pictures.  All of my family and their significant others were in one place...this has never occurred and I wanted to be sure to stay in the moment the entire time I was in LA. 

Arriving at the airport after 3 layovers was beyond exciting.  My dad and the groom-to-be, another MATT, were waiting for me and had beer icing in the car.  Yes, we cajuns go nowhere without out a good ice chest.  MK's house is precious and the Magnolia trees were all in full bloom.  I missed these trees more than I could have guessed.  I wonder if it's possible to grow a tree in the north.  There's got to be a way.  

Can you tell who is from the north???  I'm a ghost compared to these two hotties.

Waking up to crawfish as breakfast and then lunch at Raising Canes was what I had secretly (or not so secretly) been dreaming of for a very long time.  Two days before the wedding we had a girls day of manicures and tans.  The weather was actually cool, but the humidity hit me like a ton of bricks.  You forget just how bad it is until you step foot on southern ground.  

I can't get over how much I loved being home.  I knew I missed everyone mucho mucho; however, I was on cloud 9 the whole time.  Tyler hung out with all the guys and I got to hang out with all the girls and Brooks.  He's grown up way too fast!  After doing some serious decorating the day before the wedding, we all had a fabulous time at the rehearsal dinner.  MK and Matt have some pretty cool friends...maybe if we do get stationed in northern LA we can all hang out.  

The happy couple at the rehearsal.  Isn't she beautiful!  She must get her looks from me. 

THE fam.  

So mischievous. 

Again, I have zero pictures from the wedding.  I may still a few once MK's photog sends us some.  She was beautiful!!!  The wedding was a dream and the reception was insanely fun.  I can't wait for another Doucet wedding.  It was great seeing my extended family and one of my dear friends!  Hopefully our next trip to LA comes along quickly.  Nothing is better than family and Louisiana.  

Getting hair and make-up done on the big day!

Going to the chapel!

Thankfully we all have great hubbys and boyfriends.  Mine is especially sweet.  

geez...it's really snowing out there

Oh goodness.  This snow storm/blizzard is insane.  It hasn't stopped snowing since Monday afternoon and it's apparently going to last until tomorrow afternoon.  

Our front door is snowed in.  Our garage is blocked in by snow.  Our backyard gate is trapped with snow.  Yikes.  Trying to check out the snow, I trekked around the backyard and had to "wade" through at least 4 feet of snow in some areas.  It was a workout!  Especially when I had to carry Nola.  She kept getting stuck under the snow banks and running away from me.  She was some kind of little snow devil today.  She was covered in icicles and yet would NOT come in.  I almost left her under the snow a few times.  Billie has always welcomed sleeping in the snow so she was in her element.  Maybe a bit too much.  She did not want to come in either.  

Only the beginning.  The very beginning.

About 3 hours later...

Decided to venture out with the puppies.  I have on so many layers.  If only I had a beard mask.  You know, those ski hats that have a yarn beard sewn on.  I'd totally rock it in the snow until the hubby would steal it for himself.

I was a little worried about our little Nola.  She was struggling so much to run in the snow. 

Shaking them snowflakes off.

24 hours later.  Taller than me!  I'm afraid of having to shovel all of this snow.  Where do you shovel it to?  Middle of the yard?  Neighbors yard?  This southern girl was not ready for this April "shower."

Billie didn't realize that she was drowning Nola.  Nola fought back. 

Yikes.  Yikes to the amount of snow.  Yikes to me having to shovel this out of the way so that I can drive.  Yikes to us still having a strand of Christmas lights hanging on our house.

This is when I lost the dogs.

I've been shut in for over 24 hours and am bored.  I'm also binging on junk food.  I've already called a gym (they weren't open, of course) and am planning to start eating better once this snow stops.  Ice cream and chocolate just go so well with snow storms.  If only I could have some crawfish and Raising Cane's again.  This is definitely gumbo weather.  Someone send some to me, please!