::wompa cave::

Same awesome day, big snowstorm, church cancelled.  Kris takes the boys down to the sports court and builds a Wampa Cave.   Sandy is thrilled but at one point he tells Kris he's disappointed that the cave is so small--"why can't I stand up in it?"  Kris has to clarify that this is New Mexico, not Hoth and we can only do so much.



I took this picture because it just illustrates our life right now so keenly.  Kris is trying to get Sandy's boot on.  More than half of the life forms in the house are all gathered in the same few square inches there and crowding in so that whatever it is the parent is trying to do is basically impossible.  I mean, did the dog really need to be involved?



She is the cutest thing I've ever seen in this suit.  And she loves it because when it goes on she knows that it's time to go play in the snow.  She's an adventure girl.



Look out Lucy, here comes the dog!  He might bump into you!
"Noooooo!  DAWG!!!!!"



And here of course I tried to make the kids pose.  Our stupid baseboard heaters are always ruining things for me, and this one in the dining room is no exception.  It's a spot where I actually have good light and a plain background, but of course a heater.  And the kids always try to sit on it when I want them to pose.  Not good for the photo or the heater.



And what is going on here?  We'll never know.  Something tasty maybe?



And after all that prep and a photo session out we went.  There was tons of snow and all the steps were really slippery.  Of course I was the only one who actually ended up slipping, but luckily I survived.



I remember how awesome big snowstorms were when we were kids--it just changes the whole landscape and demeanor of your familiar place and makes everything strange and fun to explore again.

Sandy was very proud of the cave, and the plan was to expand it a bit.



Lucy was just so psyched up to run around outside that she could hardly handle herself.



In goes the cave boy.



I had such a hard time getting him to pose for me.  I don't know why he doesn't understand how important my photojournalism is.





Then I tried to get Lucy in there too but she hated it so much.  She couldn't crawl very well because of her boots, and she couldn't really turn around or stand up because of her snow suit, so at one point she was just stuck halfway in and halfway out.
She, for one, was NOT impressed with the wampa cave.



And then the best thing ever happened.  Sandy was able to make his Luke action figure stick into the roof of the cave.  He was so delighted.



The boy has a good imagination.



We'll see how much more snow we get this winter, if the El Nino performs like it's supposed to there might be more caves in our future!