...in the mountains. But I can't not say anything about this beautiful weather outside. Excuse the plethora of seasonal blog posts for the next few months.
Why do I love this weather so much? I remember growing up and waking up to the sound of my dad's tractor shoveling snow right outside my bedroom window. He would make a huge pile of it right outside the kitchen and that's what we would play in all winter long. We tried making forts by carving mazes, but we never were patient enough to make it deeper than a foot. Sarah's glasses would get fogged up and that shaggy hair would get in her face while trying to distinguish herself as the general contractor. Nicole would try to push everyone off the top of "her" castle, and Jake would just sit there and watch, content as a blue marshmallow with dark pink cheeks cratered with dimples.
Half of us now are grown up and moved out of the house. One thing that brings us back together is this anticipation for the winter season to come. The leaves are changing, I can smell the hot chocolate, I'm planning what to surprise everyone with for Christmas, and I get a chance to spend a lot of time with my family. Since we're getting older, it's actually calm at the Hawkes' house now-a-days, so the Holidays will be relaxing and rejuvenating. Our cabin will even be (somewhat) complete to have Thanksgiving in! It will be the first of many Thanksgiving dinners in that pioneer-looking home on our farm in Idaho with a magnificent view of the Tetons. The size of the cabin also reflects my parent's excitement for grandchildren. Maybe we'll have a big snowbank there for them to play on. Nicole?
Halloween '97. A Spanish queen (?), a bear, and a...I have no idea.
Dad showing me what I got from Santa. Oh how I wish I could find another nightgown like that in my size...
Let's be honest, I think this weather is just getting me more excited for Christmas break to be here already. 10 weeks from tomorrow and I'll be out of my last final on my way home with a huge smile on my face.
