JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. -- Runny noses, shivering hands and cold feet didn't stop them from grinning ear to ear as the snow flew everywhere.
With weather bad enough to delay military operations, close down schools and block some roads on JBLM, the families who live here still managed to enjoy the "snow days" Jan. 17-20.
Most of the hills in base housing looked like miniature ski resorts as children had their first chance this year to use their snow sleds on base. Some families made forts for their snowball fights while others took the time to dress up the snowmen they created.
"I love this weather," said Jamie Lopez, a military spouse on JBLM. "The kids are sledding, building snowmen and having a great time."
A lot of the parents played just as hard as the kids as they "tested" the hills to make sure they were safe. Many people used make shift sleds from cardboard, storage containers and even inner tubes.
"I love the weather and the snow," said Spc. Manuel Lopez, C Company, Warrior Transition Battalion. "I suffer from depression and anxiety so to get my mind off the world at home and see these kids have this much fun brightens up my day."
The snow is fun for a lot of people but can create hardships as well.
"I was having a great time playing in the snow with my son until my car wouldn't start," said Jennifer Wells, a military spouse on JBLM. "My husband is deployed right now and I didn't know how to fix cars but luckily one of the soldiers who was out here playing with his kids was able to look at it and see that the battery terminals just needed tightened or something and it started right up."
When the weather causes the road conditions to get bad, JBLM commanders have to make the difficult decisions as to whether their mission can wait or if Soldiers need to risk driving to work. The kids on the other hand say they want it to snow for the rest of the school year.
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