Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Friday Mom – Erin:
We are sitting in the bulls-eye of this weekend’s “historic” blizzards.  While the snow isn’t slated to slide into the area until mid-day to early afternoon, the schools are closed, businesses are shuttered, and– to our frustration–the daycares are closed.  This week has been a hot-potato of family obligations.  Charlotte had a fever on Tuesday, but I had a presentation I couldn’t miss.  I came home mid-afternoon to try to backfill Blake, but spent the majority of the afternoon on conference calls.  Fortunately, Charlotte was much better on Wednesday, but I nevertheless had to spend the morning at home waiting on roofers to patch our leaking roof (a BIG must in advance of this weekend’s storm).  I tried to make up for the late arrival at the office, only to get stuck with the masses on a horribly snarled commute home that took nearly 3 hours.

Our to-do lists remain long, and the only truly available time is nap time and after dark.  Suffice it to say, it’s been quite a week.

Fortunately, Rory is SOOOO incredibly excited about the snow.  While snow as an adult means shoveling and trying to figure out how to respond to work demands that are not entirely eliminated by the influx of white stuff, snow as a parent means getting to see the true joy of your little ones as the big flakes come barreling down.  In one of Rory’s most frequently watched episodes of one of his favorite children’s shows, the main character and his little sister make a giant snow man.  Rory has been talking non-stop about making a snow man and going sledding since we first mentioned the possibility of snow.  I have a feeling it will be virtually impossible to contain his excitement when there is snow up to his waist outside.  Although, knowing him, he’ll end up too scared to play in it.

We have new boots, new snow suits, water proof gloves, and lots of energy to burn here.   As much as the elementary school kids are probably lamenting the fact that the storm is hitting over a weekend, I am thrilled that it is.  Because that means that I’ll get to set aside the computer for a good bit longer and go traipse about in the quite stillness of the snow with my son.  And I cannot wait.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
For the last several days, local meteorologists have been predicting a “dusting” of snow in our area.  This is a big deal in the South.  Everyone’s eyes – including my own – were peeled to the forecasts trying to get accurate information.  Schools sent home letters yesterday notifying parents to keep a close watch on the weather in case of school closings.

We woke up to very little precipitation, but horrendously cold temperatures. Within minutes, the snow started to fall and road conditions rapidly got worse.  Sure enough, I received a phone call from Jack’s school announcing it was closed.  The sheer excitement on my children’s faces was priceless.  They quickly scrambled to find their warmest clothes, jackets, snow boots, hats and gloves.  They saw pictures of snow at their grandparents’ houses earlier this winter and were so upset they couldn’t have snow of their own.  Well, their wish came true and today we took advantage of this rare snow day.  Even though only two inches of snow accumulated, this was a blizzard in the boys’ minds.

Jack and Tate were outside most of the day.  They caught snowflakes on their tongues, packed a few tiny snowballs, made snow ninjas (instead of angels), and attempted to make a snowman.  The temperatures were absolutely freezing.  With the wind chill, the highs were close to 14 degrees.  Did that stop them from playing?  No!  I couldn’t handle being outside quite as long.  Instead, I watched them play through the window.  I sipped some hot cocoa and couldn’t help but remember my childhood snow days and all the fun memories I made.

Coming up this weekend, the temperatures are to be near 70 degrees.  Only in the South do these wild weather patterns seem to occur in January.  One day you may get frostbite and the next day sunburn.  Whatever Mother Nature has up her sleeve, I’m happy my children were able to make their own memories of playing in the snow today.