A rare abundance of snow

Early last week we got hit with a nice, big snow storm. A wonderful, continuous, gorgeous snowfall that lasted for a very long time and left about 12 or 13 inches of white, packable puffy stuff in its wake. We have not had this much snow in our area for 12 or 13 years. Cary and I were both seniors in high school when we remember it being like this. And it's the GOOD snow too. You know, lasts for a long time, wet, slick, just screaming to be slid on by a bunch of kiddies and those needing to feel like kiddies again. So, Sunday we hit the park in an attempt to introduce our son to the wonderful stuff and to make two 30 year olds feel like 12 year olds again.

The trip was a success. We'd planned on trying earlier in the week, but it was too cold and we were all still so sick with this nasty 'stomach flu'. Anyway, McKinley cried a little bit when we first put him on a sled to pull him around. He wasn't having it, thank you. But when he took that first ride down the hill with his Daddy he giggled the entire time. I'll never forget it! I think Cary and I forgot how much fun it was to go sledding. It was great to just let loose with reckless abandon and send our no-longer-a-teenager bodies down a steep hill at break-neck speeds. Seriously.

We took turns racing up the hill and back down with McKinley, giggling all the while. And McKinley would watch as the other parent came barreling behind each time --- again giggling at the sight of his otherwise controlled, adult parents on their bellies, screaming at the top of their lungs. God, that was fun.

In anticipation of some hesitation from McKinley, we brought along some fun toys to use in the snow in hopes of warming him up to it (shovel, bucket, scoop, dump truck). We didn't need it to fend off a grumpy mood, but we did break it out so that we could all play together. We even built a snow castle!

Today was perfect. It wasn't too cold and unbearable to play, the sun was shining brightly, we were all feeling so much better and the snow had melted just enough to make it super slick so we traveled very far (and very fast!) on the sleds. Besides that, snow play was always a huge deal in my house when I was growing up. To be able to pass that on and to see McKinley begin to enjoy it just as much as I did - and to see Cary and I both reminisce and feel like kids again...well, it was just what the doctor ordered! And don't be fooled by our red cheeks - we didn't stay out too long, that was from exertion! Ha!

Don't ya just love a baby in a snowsuit?

Lynn












***note - to hear the video better turn off or pause music at the bottom of the page