New Year's Freeze!

So, wow... um, it's cold here. I know we were warned, but nothing can really prepare you for this kind of cold. You go outside and your nostrils literally freeze, and it hurts to breathe. The kids are required to go to school during the winter months in their snow suits. And get this... guess what temperature it has to be before the school administrators say it's too cold for kids to go outside for recess??...... 40 BELOW!!!!!! Is that crazy or what?! So in other words, they are sent outside to play when it's 39 degrees below zero. But luckily there are only a couple bitterly cold days in a row here before it warms up. I never thought I would be thrilled when the weatherman forcasts a 20 degree day. :)


But I still love it here. Jon's really happy at his job, we love our house, our neighbors, our church callings (the exact same callings we had in Ohio!), and I'm grateful that we're starting to develop friendships with some wonderful people here. I just wish our families and our friends from Ohio were closer.


Anyway, on New Year's Eve, after we dropped my family off at the airport and after our sob fest, we took a trip to the zoo as a family. Luckily, it was about 25 degrees out, so it wasn't bad at all...


Daddy and Jakey pretending to be monkeys, although they didn't have to pretend much. ;)

Sweet little Snow Bunny

I think the kids are adapting well to the cold, don't you think?! I love animals. I could seriously spend days at the zoo simply observing and appreciating all that Heavenly Father has created. I am just in awe of the variety, and the beauty of every animal. What an imagination He must have! I love that curiousity that kids have naturally. They were absolutely fascinated by every animal we saw.

So after an emotional and adventurous day, we were all completely exhausted. I think all the festivities and excitement of the holidays finally caught up with the kids. Check out Charity in the back... going, going...
...gone!

Later on that evening, we watched "Polar Express" together, and then I have a confession... we celebrated New Years early. We pretended it was midnight at 9pm. The kids still got to bang pots and pans and run around yelling "Happy New Year!", but they also got to bed at a decent hour. Kind of pathetic I guess, but I just knew I wouldn't have the energy to put up with cranky kids the next day! So if the kids read this years from now... sorry guys!!! You'll understand when you're a mommy or daddy. :)

Happy New Year!