A Real Snow Day

Here we are just days away from springing the clocks forward and welcoming an early spring when we get the most significant snowfall of the season.

The kids had Monday off from school. Overnight from Sunday to Monday it snowed a solid ten to twelve inches of fresh, wet, fluffy snow. The perfect kind of snow for building all the things, sledding, and having a good old snow ball fight. My kids could not wait to get their gear on and head outside. My husband and I wished they had slept in as we had mentioned ‘NO SCHOOL’ during bedtime routines, but I guess too much excitement.

It seems the closer we get to spring, the more real winter days we have. So weird. I’m hopeful though. I hear the birds chirping and see the sunrise in the morning. I really feel that those spring days are near.

Those are the faces of three kids who can independently play outside as long as they can bear it without a parent supervising. We moved here to this town for that sense of safety, to have the big yard and privacy from too close neighbors and to let our kids feel the freedom and safety of playing outside. I have longed for this day and it is amazing. Sure, I helped bundle them into all that gear, but I opened the door, and let them walk out of the mud room and said, “have fun”, took a picture and closed the door.

Sure, I like the snow, but when I have the freedom to stay inside and sip some tea in the quiet, I’m not going to hesitate.

It was sunny and fairy mild for a snow day so they stayed out there for longer than I expected. They ate lots of snow, threw snow at each other and the dog, and toted their shovels all over the yard doing their thing. They have been waiting all winter for this day and they finally got it.

Most of the snow we’ve had so far this winter has been ice. So, not much fun to play in ice or stay outside for extended amounts of time.

If you are interested in the snow gear my kids are wearing I ordered most of it just after Christmas from Lands End.

Anthony and Valentina’s Snow Bibs // Anthony and Valentina’s Snow Jackets // Gabriella’s Snow Boots // Anthony and Valentina’s Snow Boots

The pants and jackets run a bit large. Both are in a 5t but I’m thinking they will both be able to wear them again next winter too. The boots run true to size. I like that they are easy for them to put on and off themselves and have a cinched top so the snow pants can tuck in and not budge from the boot.

I’m glad my kids are healthy (knock on wood right now) and were able to get outside and enjoy the freshly fallen snow. We had an awful stomach flu go right through the whole family just two weeks ago. You might have noticed the silence here. And that came after two kids had ear infections. This winter has been brutal for sickness, but it has come in waves all at once and believe it or not I am thankful for that. I really didn’t think parents could go down with the kids, but never say never. T.J. and I were totally bedridden a full day at the same time trying to recover from the stomach flu and recover from spending overnights with sick kids. That was a week I certainly am ready to forget.

How has the weather been where you are? Fingers crossed winter is on its way out and spring is near!