Snowy Sunday

The kids and I had a wonderful time outside today. When we attempted this same activity yesterday it was way the heck too cold to really enjoy the snow unless we all had snowpants. The kids sure do, but I don't... And my legs and rear were practically numb by the time I convinced them to come back inside! But today it's not too cold out there, there's lots of fluffy snow, and of course they again had plenty of energy to burn off.

I used to love playing in the snow when I was a kid. Winter outdoor activities are some of my favorite memories. And not just sledding, either. I loved quietly sitting under the big pine tree in my parent's front yard and listening to the birds jump around from branch to branch. I remember cross-country skiing down to the elementary school and breaking off gigantic icicles off the gutters to lick like popsicles. I loved building snow forts and tossing a few snowballs around.

Today, my kids focused on sledding while I was outside with them. But when Haley and I came in to warm up and check on Caroline, Dylan and Daniel stayed out. Through the big front window I watched them wrestle each other like a pair of puppies, build a snowball fort to chuck snowballs at invisible attackers, and run around with absolutely no direction... kind of like the not-so-proverbial-around-here chickens with their heads chopped off. Eww... That was too gross. Sorry. Anyway, they literally ran around to point of exhaustion. When they came in, they actually decided on their own to lay down in their room and do some school-style workbooks from Nana.

They're quietly talking back and forth during a self-inflicted rest time in the top bunk of their room, but as I type I can hear Haley shushing them in her bossy little way. She can be like a mother hen sometimes, so disapproving of them. She's standing on the floor looking way up to them and saying, "Be quiet, I said, guys... Guys, I said be quiet... Guys! BE---QUI---ET! And guys, give the book to me... Give that book to me, guys." She cracks me up. They're not even being a tiny bit loud. And she's bascially trying to make them be silent. She's in their room, on their turf, and she still thinks she's the boss. It would be different if they were "bugging" her in her own room. But as it stands right now, she can bark at them all she wants and she's not going to get a lick of back-up from me. And she's getting zero response from them. But she just keeps at it. It sure is funny to listen to them completely tune her out. No comments directed at her, no change in volume level or activity... They are just completely ignoring her silliness. I love it. :)

Here's the pictures from today. Hope everyone is staying warm and dry. Wish I could share a mug of our hot chocolate with each one of you!