The First Snow Day

Today was a snow day and it's also a day that I have no help with the boys. It was just the boys and I all day long, while a freezing blizzard raged outside.

There were some good times..... we did crafts and I hid items around the house for the boys to find. We played trains and trucks and bristle blocks and pretended to have a band together. We made cookies.

Still, there were so many hours to fill and in between the easy breezy times were fights over turn taking and whining out of boredom and boo boos and an 18 month old who didn't want to nap even though it would have been the perfect day for him to take a great nap.

Really the kids were just being kids. They're just little boys and it's important to always remember that. But sometimes the noise and the constant activity and being climbed on and needed EVERY SECOND FOR HOURS ON END, starts to feel so overstimulating to me. Did I mention the noise volume??

When Chris finally pulled into the driveway, the boys were running laps around the first floor while making truck noises and tackling each other. When Chris finally walked through the front door, I couldn't help but burst into tears. All the hard of the day, let out in that moment, in those tears.

Chris took the boys outside to shovel the driveway, while I cooked dinner and re-calibrated. He is a good man and knows when I need a break! Dinner was followed by bath and books and bed. By the time the boys were tucked in their beds, I felt completely spent and guilt ridden for the moments that I was less than patient with the boys. I sat in their room listening to them one by one fall asleep (because if one of us doesn't sit in their room they'll fool around!).

 I thought they were all asleep but still had to say it. One more time today.

"I love you all so much."

And little Everett half asleep, who coincidentally gave me the most run for my money today, quietly and with certainty said. "And me love you too, Mommy. So much me love you too."

"And, again, I can’t repeat this too much: If you try to be perfect, you’re trying to be nonhuman. The most important human quality you have as a family is your warmth and your spontaneity and your emotionality and if you try to be perfect, you’re going to do it in a rigid way. So, to be human is to be emotional. If you do the important things it means that you’re going to also have both strengths and weaknesses and life is an ongoing process of keeping these in balance. So, that’s what you need to remember."

Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. Web-based Radio Show December 2, 2004

(A therapist friend of mine recently posted the above quote from Dr. Stanley Greenspan, a child development specialist and someone who was a huge influence in many people's lives and careers, including mine. I first read his words as a young therapist, with the families I work with in mind. Today, I read his words and think about my own family too. He was such a wise and gentle man.)

Winter Wonderland

So yesterday school was cancelled AGAIN. It was deemed too cold around here. And it was, it was COLD. However, the afternoon also ended up being sunny with bright blue skies. For so many days it's been so cloudy, snowy and grey that seeing bright blue sky and rays of sun beaming through the windows felt almost spring-like. I know that's weird to say "spring-like" on a cold winter snow day but it kinda was. The temperature got up to a whopping 19 degrees and so I ended up taking the boys outside.

So here's the thing. I am not a cold weather girl. I used to enjoy skiing and I do enjoy the look of a snowy day (heck I even chose to get married in December) but the older I get, the less I tolerate cold well. And it's so much work to get four (or five) kids suited up to go outside. Truthfully, Chris is more often the parent that takes the boys outside to built snow forts, snowmen and shovel the driveway. But yesterday, I took them out. And what do you know?.... It was SO much fun.

The snow was deep and beautiful and fluffy. We kept falling back into the snow like it was a snow ball-pit and then staring up at the blue sunny sky. We made snow angels and went sledding off the hills piled high from shoveling. It was truly a winter wonderland.

We stayed out a long time, way longer than planned. But eventually snow leaked into gloves and boots, kids got cold and with that the fun was over.

But while it lasted? Man, that was FUN.

Carter

Colin and Carter

Snow Day

Today was a snow day. I woke up early with the boys and we marveled at all the now. Yes I'm using the word marveled. It was just beautiful!

All of the local schools were closed however, this doesn't affect us much as Colin is the only one in school and he only goes three days a week. At first we thought it was too cold to even go outside but by afternoon the boys were stir crazy, so out they went! It was very sunny and it took a lot of work to move through the snow so they warmed up quickly. Some lasted longer than others but I think they all had fun. There was so much snow! Just TONS!

The boys dug a tunnel through a huge pile of snow. They were so proud!

In other news, Owen is getting very close to crawling! Every day he gets a little closer.... 

The other night Colin happened to pick out the same pajamas that unbeknownst to him we'd already dressed Owen in too. They were new for Owen (size 12 mo!) and it was fun to watch how excited Colin got that they were dressed the same. 

I haven't been consistent about blogging lately.... and I hope to get better about that.... but I assure you, life is good.