If it's not winter, you sure fooled me.....

The weather has been very varied (how's that for turn of phrase?) this month so far. We have had severe wind/snow storms up in Northern Idaho that closed roads, schools and sent about 50 claims our way in an area that gets 3-5 in that same time span. In the Boise area the temps have dropped into the low 30's but today were up into the high 60's, so very wierd. We are starting to get geared up for the winter months. We just got snow tires on the suburban, I've got our patio furniture stored away, and I started looking at snow shovels last weekend at the Home Depot.

We drove up to the lower summit of Bogus Basin last weekend to let the kids play in the snow. We were at about 6800 feet, and there was some pretty good snow up there. The resort is still closed, but we were able to play around enough for us to find out that we probably need some better snow clothes for us and the kids. Most of that snow has melted again, but there is still snow on the highest peaks up by Bogus and all around the Treasure Valley. We had a good time in the snow, but have some time until it's here in earnest.

Jake and I decided to camp out in the backyard last weekend before it really gets too cold. He was very excited for some Daddy/Jake time (I think Marisa was almost as excited for some ER/Survivor time). We bought some special snacks at the grocery store, set up the tents, brought out our sleeping bags and some books and flashlights, and set up camp. We went out to our tent after dinner, had some Hostess doughnuts for dessert, read a whole "mess of books" by flashlight, listed to some lullabies via iPod, and snuggled in with our ski caps on to keep us warm.

It got COLD. Jake lasted until about midnight when he woke up and asked if we could go inside and sleep, but he wanted to get up in the morning and go back out to the tent to have our morning snacks (that kid would scale Everest if you told him there were cookies at the top). We slept in the guest room and had a very good time. It was Daddy/Jake time well spent, and some good time out doors before we get cooped up for the winter.

"Well the weather outside is frightful...."