pretty snow

the past two days have had such pretty snowfalls - big flakes, steady and sticky/wet. not even half an inch fell yesterday so i let manning go stand in the falling snow when it was time to go pick up the boys. he was pretty excited about it. generally, he doesn't get to be in the snow because he refuses to wear the clothing items that would keep him from getting soaked.

but today, today we had a beautiful three inches. madelyn had to go to school when there was about an inch on the ground. the boys and i were able to enjoy watching the snow fall all morning. i offered to take them out in the falling snow, but they opted to wait until after lunch (i think they were happy to keep wearing their jammies).

i never get tired of looking out the window at a fresh snow.

every time i get the kids ready to go out in the snow (snow pants, waterproof gloves, heavy coats, etc.), manning and i disagree about what it good for him to wear until he cries and goes to his room to take a nap instead. today, i decided that he could wear whatever he wants - although i did explain that wearing his favorite shoes would mean that he could not wear them later in the day. he could not have been happier! seriously, the kid thought running around int he snow was the greatest thing ever! until he realized that he was wet, cold and in pain that is... he went inside crying and had peeled off all of his outerwear by the time i got into the house after him. and then he went to sleep. we will see if it was a lesson learned the next time i suggest snow gear.

the big boys and i were outside for at least two hours. they were quite the riot. they were pelting each other with snow, rolling in it, running all over and laughing almost the entire time. you would have thought that they would have fought or cried watching them play so rough, but they were having the best time. while they played, i shoveled. and shoveled. being on a corner is great until it comes to clearing snow! we have a snow blower, but i don't quite know how to work it and the shovel is slower and gives the kids more time to play. the city snow plow driver must have felt bad for me because he said, "i can't clear the whole thing but i can help you out a little," and then cleared the bottom of our driveway! that is always the worst part because it is usually heavily iced and high with snow because of the road being cleared.

before we headed in, i snapped a quick picture of the happy two boys. love.