January Snow Day

Perhaps because it was our first 'real' {as in more than two inches} snowfall of the season. Perhaps because it started on Friday night allowing for an extremely cozy weekend. Perhaps because it started before dawn and ended after dusk so we actually got to watch the blizzard. Perhaps because I got to watch it all unfold through the eyes of my little boys, one in particular who is too young to remember the snow from last year. Whatever the reason, last weekend's snow storm felt magical.

Since I live in a bit of a cocoon and snow predictions are so often blown out of proportion, I didn't realize/take seriously the immensity of the storm we were about to get hit with until, well, Friday afternoon maybe? Even then I still had my doubts. Well, when I woke up to find the above scene out my front window I was pleasantly surprised.

As the wind howled and the snow fell silently outside, my three very excited boys and I spent the morning coloring valentines, making waffles, and reading books while we waited for my husband to wake up. After our delicious and satisfying breakfast of Wild Rice Waffles & Maple Syrup (direct from Wisconsin ;) all the boys were ready to get outside and shovel. My husband was the first one out of course so while I got the boys dressed he started clearing a safe path from the side door.

As I mentioned I didn't take the storm seriously, a perfect example is the fact that my 'tall for his age' 4 1/2 year old ended up wearing a size 3T snowsuit and my 'very tall for his age' 2 1/2 year old ended up wearing a size 12 months snowsuit! Their desire to get out in the snow far outweighed their comfort level so into those suits they squeezed. Since I did get them each a new pair of tall snow boots for Christmas this year, their lower legs were protected from the cold in spite of their 'floods.' ;)  I must say, I felt like such a real mom as I got the boys into their layers. What a time-consuming and physically exhausting production from the socks and underwear to the hats and scarves!

My Mother-in-Law had the genius idea to give each of the boys a snow shovel. Goodness did that keep them busy! With the big boys out shoveling, my littlest and I got the kitchen back in order and started with dinner preparations: pizza dough and tomato sauce. Once Round One of shoveling duty was complete I warmed warmed up with cocoa, coffee, ham and cheese sandwich melts & dinosaur egg oatmeal!

There was not much resistance from anyone when it came time for naps. With their tummies full and their bodies warm, sleep came quickly and the house was quiet for a bit while I washed and dried all the damp snow gear in preparation for round two of shoveling. Let me add that I am so thankful to be a girl! You could not pay me enough money to go out in that wind and snow to shovel! In the kitchen, making dinner is where I am happiest! ;)

Since our cozy snow day would not have been complete without a movie night, we had homemade pizza for dinner while watching Homeward Bound, which our oldest received for Christmas {my husband and I both grew up watching this movie}. The boys loved it even in spite of some nail-biting scenes {the woods at night, the mountain lion} They laughed hysterically at almost everything the bulldog 'Chance' said which made my husband and me exchange smiles ourselves. Before bed we read a couple of cozy 'snow' books from the library and played a round of Snakes and Ladders. With all the boys tucked in and sleeping soundly in their beds, my husband and I ate giant mugs of ice cream while watching Kate & Leopold all snuggled up, warm and cozy on the couch as the wind continued to howl and the snow continued to fall outside our snug little house.

A perfect snow day.