it's winter

Slowly - but surely - we are coming to grips with the fact that it's winter here in Montana.  As we had been winter-free for nearly four years, we weren't exactly sure how we'd adjust to the cold slap in the face that is a Montana winter.  We've braced for it, and made adequate preparations.  We've bought our winter coats, snow tires, shovels, and dusted off our mittens and hats.  It kind of seems comical that we even owned a pair living in Los Angeles.

Something that was ironically fortunate, was that the first "real" cold week was a string of days that were in the negatives.  It was serious cold.   It has since warmed up... and now we find ourselves enjoying the 20's and 30's quite well.  We have got a lot of snow (at least two feet I'd reckon) since it started, and I am now a firm believer that if you want to enjoy snow, there's got to be a lot of it.  A couple of inches and it's just annoying.  A couple of feet - now there's a party!  We've got several strategies in place for enjoying the winter... with more to come I'm sure:

Ashley and George pause from a fun day in the snow.  When the sun comes out and its 30, it's quite easy to spend a comfortable few hours out playing.  We go as long as George can handle it... wear him out.  And just when we think he's ready to go in...

... we put him to work shoveling the snow.  Nothing like burning off the ole "Thanksgiving five" with some manual labor!

We cut down this beauty, for the steep figure of $5 smackers.  It is probably about 7 feet or so (our first full sized tree) and I'm absolutely in love with it.  At night we turn off the lights and though I'm supposed to be watching season four of prison break (a death march right now), I can't help but look at this beautiful tree.  It's got everything I want.  The look, the feel, the smell of a family tree.

We also are experimenting with George's housewear and lounge looks... everything from the...

German tourist at the beach, to the...

Indie hipster in Brooklyn picking up a redbox rental for him and his sweetheart.

Last Saturday they closed down Main Street for the "Winter Stroll."  Bozeman has a great civic scene... lots of events and tons of kids out.  We meandered our way through the caroling and crowds and settled in on some delicious fry bread, pizza by the slice, and hot apple cider.  So much fun.

George enjoying fry bread

Ashley caught this spectacle on Sunday afternoon.  It was quite cold, but the sun was out. It had completely frozen everything on the tree... reminding me of an image of bronchioli from a 7th grade biology book.

I'm sure there are more adventures to come.  We're kicking around the idea of becoming snowshoe or cross country ski-enthusiasts... though I may also take up snow-sculpture.  We hope you all are enjoying your winters, near and far.