Sunday, January 13, 2013

when it's cold outside...

zero.
as in, degrees.
fahrenheit.
you know, collllddd.

Growing up on the blustery plains of Montana, icy cold winters are something that we experienced every year....but you still never get used to it. Waiting for the school bus in below zero temperatures, nose freezing shut and fear your face will never thaw.

School was only canceled if the buses wouldn't start or if the roads were too drifted over with snow. Some people may not realize that we actually plugged our cars in so they would start in the morning.....have you ever heard of such a thing?! If it got to be colder than 20 below (20 degrees below zero!!) my mom wouldn't make us go to school....isn't that...nice...of her...?

Despite the fact that I basically grew up in Antarctica, I have still really struggled with winters in the past. A few years ago I hated.....HATED winter. I'd sit inside and wish for spring, ignoring the freshly powdered mountains outside my windows. When the temperatures dropped down I would curl up with a blanket and never leave the house.

But last year.... last year we decided to get out and play more--why not? And this year we are enjoying winter even more. We had planned on spending Saturday inside--the kids had a pajama party at our church in the morning, and afterwards we came home with no intention of getting dressed for the rest of day....I mean weekend. But doing things as we do, we made (very) last minute plans, and after lunch headed up to the hills where friends were waiting to play.

Ali and I decided to try our hand feet at cross country skiing. eeeeeeeek!! 
So much fun--I was laughing and screaming, loving the climbing, and falling down the hills. 

The kids got to sled and freeeeeeeze their faces off....but loved it.
And we did it all in zero degrees. 
And survived!
It was such a fun day and I'm so happy that we've decided to venture out beyond the couch when the world is frozen over.
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photos from mine and ali's phones

Sunday was adventurous in it's own way--walking to church wearing heels was harder than my afternoon skiing. 
We hunkered down in the afternoon with soup, cookies and a fire.
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www.inthelittleredhouse.blogspot.com 
My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle
(also blogged here)

2 sticks of butter (1c), at room temp
1/2 c white sugar
1 3/4 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 c all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups of chocolate chips
(this time I used half milk chocolate and half dark chocolate)

Cream the butter and the sugars until light and fluffy. Scrape down the side of the bowl. Continue mixing while adding the eggs one at time--mix each egg for about a minute. Add the vanilla. Scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Combine the flour, soda and salt in another bowl, and slowly add flour mixture. Mix until just combined, taking care not to over mix. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Drop by spoonful onto parchment lined cookie sheet.

Give a little sprinkle of sea salt before you pop them in the oven......PERFECTION!

Bake at 350° for 11-13 minutes. They should be lightly golden on the outside, but still a bit soft in the middle.


How was your weekend? Do you get out and play in the winter?
ps. thank you thank you for tagging all your weekend instagram photos #howweweekend. 
I've loved peeking at all of them and can't wait to share a few here and there. 

9 comments:

Ali said...

So happy we shared that cold last minute adventure. Can't wait until our next one! 4 more days! ❤Ya.

in dreams said...

i LOVE winter! mostly because i'm able to get outside, in the snow, and just crunch through the drifts to wherever i'm headed (usually nowhere - it's more fun that way!). i recently went cross-country skiing, for the first time in 16 years, when i visited my parents in ottawa...and it was absolutely the best. all the trees were covered with snow, the sun was shining, and there was no breeze. perfect! i'm more inclined to go again than i have been in years...and the pictures i got will make up for it until i'm able to go. :)

Laura said...

I find it hard to get out and embrace the weather when it's THAT COLD too. I grew up in AB, so... yeah. But I love cross country skiing!! And sledding! So, getting off the couch and out from under the blankets is the hardest part. :) Thanks for sharing your fun!

Katie said...
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Katie said...

i was on my high school's cross country ski team (wyoming). and now my husband and i go every year. i LOVE it!

Anonymous said...

you brave soul! i would hide underneath piles of blankets while sitting beside the fire and drinking hot chocolate in zero degrees :P

M. Marley said...

It isn't that cold here in Eastern Washington, a balmy 20 degrees, but cold enough to warrant baking those delicious looking chocolate chip cookies (I added a bit of oatmeal and flaxseed that I wanted to use up, they turned out very tasty).

sapna said...
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kassidi bridge said...

We made your cookie recipe today, and I just have to same THANKYOU! They're deelish. And the sprinkle of sea salt on top?!?! AMAZING!