I haven’t been able to write all winter. So it’s time for me to embrace spring.

Looking out my window, there is glimmering snow in every direction–so bright I can’t handle the glare–but that doesn’t matter. This is what spring in Yellowstone is like.

Last time I blogged (last November), we were getting ready to leave the park for the winter. During our stay in Chicagoland, I worked on wikiHow articles, Lydia turned 2, and Rafal remodeled his parents’ bathroom. We spent a lot of time with family and a little time with friends. I turned 33. I said hello to sweet Carbondale and its inhabitants. I performed The Interior at Villanova University.

Then, at the beginning of March we drove westward across the country again. Just like last year, we stayed in Omaha, Cheyenne, and Jackson. But unlike last year, when we left Jackson, we drove north to Flagg Ranch, where we parked our car indefinitely and climbed into a mattrack truck. For the past two years (three for Rafal), we’d arrived in May after the roads had been cleared. This year, we rode atop seven feet of packed snow.

Getting back into our old apartment was delicious. I made food, Rafal made a fire, Lydia made friends with forgotten toys. The very next day, Rafal and I learned to drive snowmobiles, and by that weekend we were ready to ride as a family.

These days have been filled with records, tea, cross-country skiing, walks, finger paint, early morning workouts, West Thumb geyser basin, seeing friends, and sharing smiles. We celebrated Rafal’s birthday by hiking the Old Faithful geyser basin, sledding, and eating homemade peanut butter cups.

I can’t say how I would feel if I had been snow-locked like this for the past 3 months, but for the past 3 weeks, it has been so awesome. Such a pleasing contrast of warm, cozy comforts and rugged adventures: our life in Grant Village is good.