Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Last weekend, we got a big snow that was perfect for providing lots of entertainment all weekend long. This current weekend, the weather has warmed up quite a bit and much of the snow has melted, but I hear that - luckily - there is more snow to come this week. So last Saturday, Misha and Sebby bundled up to bound around in all of that pristine, fluffy snow. Misha made paths that wove around trees, with Sebby following like a little puppy. The tree branches, bending from the moisture, were coated in a thick, beautiful layer of white.

Ready for more. We love snowpants!

The next day, the sun came out and warmed up the snow to exactly the right temperature for building snowmen and snowforts. Since a significant amount of sticky snow is somewhat rare in Bishkek (it's often hard to scrounge up enough for a decent-sized snowman), we took advantage of the excellent conditions and spent more than two hours working up a sweat and creating snow forts.

First, Misha made a little fort that Sebby loved to sit inside.

Then we decided to do something on a much grander scale. We started by rolling huge balls (which took no time at all!) and making a super sturdy igloo of sorts. The dvor (communal yard) was filled with children all rolling their own snowballs, many of which became too large to push and got stranded somewhere. Other children quickly flocked to join our cause (with cries of "Smotri chto Mishina mama delaet!" - Look what Misha's mom is doing!) and soon there were so many children squeezed into our little fort that Misha wanted to make another, separate one.

Heave ho!

Thus, we made Fort Number Two. Sebby liked to sit inside and guard it while Misha and I rolled balls and packed the cracks with snow. But eventually, the same thing happened - so many kids joined in that Misha thought it would be really great if we had a third fort.

Defending the castle.

Our third fort turned out to be the best, the strongest, and the tallest, complete with a little window for firing on enemies.

Kids busy working on their kreposti - fortresses.

Misha and some neighborhood boys pose by our tallest fort.

After all that fun in the snow, we were not only exhausted but completely soaked. Time to head in for hot chocolate!

 Other snowman projects:

And a visit to our little sledding hill:

A few weeks ago, before there was snow, we visited this little park. The boys loved the merry-go-round and the teeter totter.

They are finally big enough to do it together!

Father and son.

Swinging in style.