Monday, December 1, 2008

winter memories

There are still sandals on the floor around the shoe shelf in the garage. Wasn't it JUST summer? Weren't we JUST wearing those sandals? Somehow, winter has snuck up on me. This morning as I tried to lay in bed an extra couple of hours in the hopes that a little extra rest will keep this little cold from turning into a big I can't breathe or see straight kind of snot filled head sickness, I heard some very excited children. I'm pretty sure they were trying to let the whole neighborhood know that there was snow on the ground. I think they all knew already seeing as how they go to work and their children go to "real school." Peter,Kate, and Maddie were ready to get out there at 7 am. You can't say no playing in the first snow so in my half awake state I said, yes, you can play in the snow after breakfast if you get all your chores done first. Well, they flew to retrieve the necessary sprays and wipes and paper towels and got everything done faster than I ever thought they could. I was looking forward to the time after breakfast when I would put Ella down for a nap, put Charlotte on her beloved Tiny Love mat, and send my bundled up children out to make snow angels. Then when the time came I remembered what it's really like to send small children out in the snow. First there's the bundling. I did make sure they all accomplished their potty needs first and amazingly enough not a one of them came in five minutes later to say they needed to poop. Back to the bundling- you have to do it just right. You know, everything tight enough to keep snow from getting in where the mittens and coat meet, but loose enough that they don't feel like they're going to suffocate. So once I got snow pants, mittens, coats, scarves, and hats on all I sent them on their way. Then I thougt I would sit and have a cup of tea, maybe do some knitting. Yeah right. This is where the memories come in- the memory of me just hanging out by the door. It doesn't take long until someone needs something- a tear stained face that had been pelted by snow needed to be wiped off, scarves retied, mittens retucked. Then there was the hollering at them not to climb on the "monument of unfinished landscaping projects" (I love you, honey) and "if you're going to throw snow at your sisters, how about you just throw it at their legs." I did manage to brush my teeth while they were out there so that was my big "the kids are going to play outside so I'll get a lot done" accomplishment. Too soon they were ready to come in and I was trying to find a place for all the wet wet wet snow pants, mittens, coats, scarves, and hats. It was fun while it lasted!

5 comments:

Sarah@Life in the Parsonage said...

I feel like winter has snuck up on me too. We have our first late start today because of snow!

Racine said...

did you take pictures?

Middle-Aged Moi said...

That was perfect and SOOOO my life. :-)

Anita said...

Don't feel too bad about the sandals...I've got 5 pairs of sandals hanging out right beside the winter boots at my house:)

Darlene said...

I just made Clayton take his sandals out of the frontroom today, too. They were parked next to the boots!
You know what else I dread about the bundling up? -- it the WET un-bundling! And the traditional hot chocolate to warm up little faces and hands when they come in. What was I thinking when I started that one! Really, it's precious and good memories for them, but messy, sticky and somewhat time consuming when other things need to be done!