Snowy Sunday. - Mount Field National Park

Sunday we decided to go on a snowy adventure.  Rather then join the hundreds of other people doing just that on Mt Wellington we thought something a little more remote would do the trick.  

One of our favourite day trips, just an hour and a half away, (or more like 2 when you factor in the obligatory stop at McDonalds) is Mt Field National Park.

After dressing the boys in all of their layers, and packing the entire rear of the Tarago with snow suits, snow boots, hats, gloves, food and of course the camera equipment, we managed to get away by 10am.  

It wasn't long before the "are we there yet?"'s started, actually it was all of 5 minutes after we left home (when we stopped for petrol in Richmond).   And again 30 minutes later when we stopped at McDonalds, and then every 10 or so minutes after that.

We let out a collective parental sigh of relief when we came across those first few patches of snow along the side of the road.   We had promised snow, and were just slightly worried there just might now be any! 

It was pretty perfect to be honest.  It was a warmish winter day, the sun poked through the clouds here and there and the snow was a plenty. 

The big complication of the day was getting everyone into their snow gear in the protection of the car, but most of all, getting gloves on the boys!  What an ordeal that turned out to be, who would have thought getting 10 gloves on 8 hands would be so difficult! (Pichu had 2 pairs)

It has been almost a year since Pichu had a brief encounter with snow, and that was before he turned 2.  So this was pretty amazing for him!

 Snowball? For me Daddy?

As you will see, this is a pretty constant theme for Oshawott.

It was a bit slushy near the carpark, so we ventured up further a little

 bit after this.  Voltorb had discarded his snow gloves and was now wearing my leather gloves.  I was taking photos so I couldn't wear my proper snow gloves, so as you can imagine my hands were pretty cold!

The recurring glove problem strikes again.

Mmm hmm.

Arming the toddler was possibly not the best idea.

But still friends.

Uhh huh.

Duck!

Loving it!

Revenge is sweet!

But really, this looks so much worse then it really was.  Coder was actually aiming at Legoman, who was just out of the photo.

Watch your back Oshawott!  

He is still too busy eating snow to notice he is a target.

Ok Mummy, snow is great and all, but my hands are COLD!

The beginnings of a very inferior snowman.

Yep, still eating snow!

Still...

Pikachu snowman.

 What ya got there Oshawott?  Ah.. snow..

Headed back to the car, smuggling contraband.

I am linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT (I blog on Tuesdays).

Spring snowball fight (Father's Day part 2)

Following on from my last post, as promised, I have some snowball action shots to share with you.

Never a better way to welcome Spring then with a snowball fight!  Pichu unfortunately missed out completely on the snow play because he was asleep. 

There were a few moments where the boys worked together to ambush Daddy,  this was nice to see, as they usually make everything into a competition.  If there is ever an Olympic sport for being the first one to finish weeing in the toilet, touching the car first, climbing out of the bath first or being first off the trampoline, then book me a ticket now because I'm going to be an Olympians Mother!

Lesson learned: Sometimes your brothers can be an asset in boosting the fire power of a snowball attack.  

Lesson learned: Working together can bring down even the most fearsome snowball throwers.

Lesson learned: Turning around quickly prevents copping a snowball to your stomach.

Lesson learned: Fingers are warmer in your mouth then out.

Lesson learned: Snow is cold, pockets are good.

Lesson learned: Run Forest run!

Lesson learned: Daddy's snowball retaliation can be brutal. 

It was such a fun relaxing day (once you filter out all of the complaining).  And to give them credit it was a long way to walk and they did a great job.

Pichu had a 2 hour nap that afternoon, waking up just moments before being handed an icecream.  What a way to wake up! 

To snow or not to snow? That is the question.

One of my recent visitors was my 5 year old niece, Miss S. Miss S had just one request for her visit to Hobart in Winter (she had visited before in Summer). She had never seen snow before, and she wanted to see it. No problem, it's not unheard of here in Hobart to have snow at very random times, October, November, even December. So surely in the middle of winter we shouldn't have a problem!

But nothing is ever quite that simple is it.

The week before they arrived, Mount Wellington was covered in snow.  Even days before, you could still see light snow on the peak.   The day they arrived, sunny and bright.  No snow.  We then hoped for the next 6 days, that it would snow.  Instead, we had an unusually warm and dry winter week.

Expectations were high.  You see, on a previous visit, when Pichu was born, my sister visited with my nephew.  One of our friends also came, with her 2 children.  It was October, and unfortunately it coincided with Pichu and I being back in hospital.  He had an infection, at 2 weeks old, that required 3 nights in hospital.

Anyway, the weather was wretched, they were visiting us at hospital and decided to head up the Mountain.  They were extremely fortunate to not only be able to play in some snow that had been falling that day, but to end up in blizzard like conditions, yet on the sheltered side of the mountain, so fairly calm.  And magical.

So this time, we had hoped Mount Wellington would just rinse and repeat.  

On the last day, we conceded defeat and decided to take a drive up there in the morning in the hope of some snow, or even frost! 

What we got, was gale force winds buffeting the car, and even a bit of driving rain.  I stayed in the car with Pichu and Oshawott, it was just too cold and windy to take them out.  Even dressed like the Michelin Man, Oshawott decided he was not going to set foot outside of that car! 

The visitors braved the conditions and were rewarded with some week old left over snow patches! Hey.. you have to take what you can get.

After they were completely chilled to the bone we drove down a little way to another carpark, out of the wind so the little ones could get out and have a play.  In one, solitary metre patch of snow.  I realised after that it was actually the first time Pichu had seen snow also.

Let the throwing of snowballs begin!

 First feel of snow.

Pichu caught on quickly.

C'mere cousin!

Miss S, not so sure starting this was such a great idea. 

Pichu has decided that snow is too cold. 

What every mother dreams of.  No, not the heels on a snowy mountain... the throwing of massive snowball at daughter!

Making a snow marshmallow. 

Look at that view! It was plenty windy for me to confirm that, he is indeed, wearing something under that kilt! 

Oshawott and Miss S were happy with their (small) snow experience and after getting them each a chunk of snow to eat on the the down, we were off to the pretzel shop!