More Snow

As was forecast, we did indeed get more snow. According to my unscientific measurement using a good, old-fashioned ruler in a fairly protected area, I measured it to be nine inches deep. The wind was up today, and some of the drifts covering the driveway were at least two feet deep. This, of course, was after the drive had been completely shoveled off... oh well, it reduces the amount of time I feel I need to spend at the gym.

The daytime temperatures are still hovering around 30 degrees, so we've spent hours over the last two days sledding and playing outside. It was so sunny today that the trees cast shadows!

The Ruler and the Shadows

Ethan and Andrew are climbing up one of the smaller snow piles made from shoveling the driveway (three times, I think, in the last two days). Closer to the road, the piles are almost as tall as the mailbox.

Caleb joined us for a little while to get some fresh air and sunshine. More often, though, he stays inside and naps while we play. In a few years I imagine he will be in the thick of things. He seems to be remarkably tolerant of the cold.

So the older boys and I spent a long time sledding today. They asked me to go sledding "monster jam style", and like a fool I said yes. It turned out that this means I lie down on the sled on my stomach, Ethan lies on my back, and Andrew in turn lies on top of Ethan. I reckon that's supposed to represent a monster truck crushing cars (?). And then we all go flying down the hill. The catch is that, at the bottom of the hill, there's a little bump that sends you airborne for a bit. Then the sled lands with Mommy at the bottom of the heap. They absolutely love it!

What would I do for entertainment without my boys? Ahh, the winter weather brings back many memories of my childhood in northern Illinois. Honestly, I never minded the snow and cold growing up. It was a time for adventure; my siblings and I spent many an hour traipsing around outside until our frozen fingers couldn't stand it anymore. I think as my kids get older and can handle the cold better - not to mention get their own outdoor gear on faster - I am not minding it as much as an adult either.