Oh What Fun it is to Snow Tube!

This winter, we've been waiting patiently for snow--the soft fluffy kind that's good for sledding or even the mildly wet and sticky kind that's good for making snowmen and snowballs.  Unfortunately, neither came our way.  Instead, the last four storms have been a combination of rain, ice, and sleet.  It's given us some delays and even one snow day, but it hasn't yielded much in terms of being able to play outdoors and have the usual winter fun.

Well, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and when life gives you crappy ice storms, find a place that makes snow.  We did.  We drove an hour and a half to the Berkshires to Ski Butternut, where they make their own snow, and we had an awesome day of snow tubing.  (Now, Ski Butternut is not new for us; it's become an annual trip.  However, this was our first time inviting Ryan, one of Little Lewie's friends, to join us.  The four of us had a great time, and we think it will now become an annual tradition with Ryan.  I can already picture them coming as teenagers, but right now, it's fun to have them as two entertaining ten year-olds.  And they are ENTERTAINING!)

After our two hour snow tubing excursion, we decided to drive to the Barrington Brewery and Restaurant, which is known for its solar-brewed beer.  We'd never been, but we soon learned that it's super rustic and charming.  Hubby had to try their beer while the two kiddos and me had brownie sundaes.  (Chocolate is my weakness.)  I think this restaurant will be now be part of our annual tradition, too.

Now that we're into March, I don't think there will be many more fun "snow days" ahead.  Even Ski Butternut will end their snow tubing next week.  Still, it looks like we may get more snow, rain, and sleet this evening, which has already closed Lewie's school.  (I'm hoping my college will cancel tomorrow, too.)  We'll try to enjoy it as long as it's not pure ice, like this:

Even if the fluffy snow still doesn't come our way, I'm grateful we were able to have this one day of winter fun.  It's hard to appreciate winter when all it yields is an icy mess.  Thank goodness for places like Ski Butternut.  Now, no matter what, we can say we're ready for spring.