Snow

So we had an amazing fall. It seemed to be more mild than others in the past and really stuck around with all the leaves and fall color. I was enjoying being able to run. I pulled off 19 miles in a week (Thanksgiving week) but that soon ended when, while still in fall mind you, our temps dropped off quick and we had freezing weather that was really consistent. Like 60 one day (we went to see temple lights that night while it was still in the 50s) to like somewhere in the 20s with snow the next. We didn't ease into winter at all. We just jumped right in. No adjustment period or anything. The kids have liked it though. Since Scott had still been driving my car until his was legal again I was stuck at home and wanted to shovel since my car sits lower than his and doesn't have as easy as a time in a lot of snow. So I shovel and the kids play. I took a few pics:

 This was from our first big snow storm. Jackson gets pink boots this year. I can't justify spending almost $20 on snow boots he'll only wear to play in the snow with. These were Charlotte's old ones and they're in perfect condition and he's not going to know the difference. At least I got him a boy snow suit on clearance last year! :)

 This was our second big storm. It started out as freezing rain then turned to snow and dropped about 4 in by noon. It was so hard to shovel. I had to shovel twice this day. The first drop was so dense at the bottom. It took an hour and a half to clear our driveway and make a path for the trashcans since it was trash day. This was an insane day on the roads so trash never showed up. But they were there bright and early the next morning. By like 7:30am! Normally its not until 2pm or so. Below is after I had done the first shovel. The snow was piled almost as high as the trashcans.

It kept snowing all day and dropped at least another couple inches. I had to clear it all off so Scott could make it home. This was the Thursday before Christmas so my sister and I were going shopping with my dad. It was the only time he had. I had to be sure Scott could get the car in the driveway. The problem was the street! I watched our neighbor struggle multiple times trying to come home from work. She couldn't get up the street and when she did she had to turn around and while trying to get in her driveway almost lost control into her husbands truck. Luckily her tires gripped the driveway just in time to pull her car up and away from the truck. I tried make a slide on the bank to the right of the driveway that the kids could play on. My muscles in my forearms were so strained I could hardly lift the shovel as I tried to make the slide. Maybe with the next big snow I'll do better. They still had fun though.

So that night as I shopped with my dad it was so crazy on the freeway. I80 was a mess! We saw multiple cars slid off the road. We witnessed more slide offs. One was a guy right behind us. He was driving too close for the conditions and then my dad saw him starting to lose control. I turned around and watched him slide on the road only to go off into the shoulder then his truck tips on the side, driver side down. He was probably only going between 30-40 mph and there was a lot of snow to cushion him so we figured he probably wasn't injured. We didn't pull over there because of passing traffic (which people were going way too fast for the conditions) but did see a UHP about a quarter mile ahead at another slide off and pulled over there. My dad got out and let him know so he could radio in for more help. Meanwhile the other side of the freeway was backed up for a mile or more because a semi spun around and was facing the opposite direction. It was just crazy. Then as my dad got in the car and the UHP waited for some cars to pass to get back in his, another truck that was following too close to a car tried to get over in the left lane to give the UHP room and started to lose control and almost slide into the UHP but recovered and was able to keep going. Dummy! People up here say people from CA are dangerous drivers because they've never driven in snow but I'm telling you not growing up in it makes you much more aware and safer. I will go as slow as I feel necessary to stay safe in bad weather. But we saw at least 20 slide offs that night and all those people were driving recklessly and I can guarantee most of them are native Utahns and think they know better. Never underestimate UT weather and road conditions. Better safe than sorry! We made it to WVC in one piece and ate at Zupas. The plan was to go to the Valley Fair mall. As we were walking in I found a $20 on the ground and nobody around. Score! But then all these people walking out told us the mall was closing due to a power outage. Great. So back on the dangerous roads to Fashion Place which has really turned into a high end mall. When I think of Murray/Midvale area I don't necessarily think super high end. It's not like its a South Salt Lake or Rose Park but they're really trying to build it up I think. I felt a little out of place. Kind of like when we roam City Creek. So out of place there! We're pretty simple folk. But we got some shopping done and the roads home were much better and safer. Thank goodness. And now we are having a break from snow which is nice but I'm looking forward to another storm! :)