Our Snowy Fun

Early Thursday morning, this is what I saw outside our front door.

And this gave me a blog-relief moment. Why? Because I've been sitting on pictures of the kids in the snow from, well, when it was still officially winter. And now I feel sanctioned to share them. "But--but--but snowfall in April?" you sputter. How about ice and sleet, heavy-dump white clod free-falls when tulips should be popping up in our front mulch bed instead? Ah, no matter. For I can give thanks in this circumstance--that snow, for the second/third/fifth time in two weeks, including just a few hours ago, hath extended my negligence from guilt into comfort. Besides, when life hands you snowstorms in April, they say, make hot chocolate. And it's about time for more hot chocolate, I say.

"Can't we go outside now, Mom? PLEEEEEASE?! Okay. CHEEEEEEEESE!"

 

"Here's my snowball. Can I go back and play now?

Can't...stop....eating...snow... 

C, thinking: What are you doing?!

We all looked! Amazing.

After making his sixth snow angel. Note the white stuff in his ear...and the smile!

"I'm cuuuuuld."

Best buds.

No sledding pics but this one. Papa's got the rest filed in his memory.

Superman, who seemed to prefer this kind of snow-pose.

AND...

Yes, she made it outside to play in the snow! Once!

She loved it.

You can't hear her, but she's humming. Yep, a Minnesota girl. 

Minnesota, mid-April.

The contrast between last Friday--balmy 70s, sweet breeze, baseball openers and wind-chime peals--and today, specifically right now, is starkly darkly depressing. It's 32 degrees Fahrenheit outside (that's ZERO degrees Centigrade--old school term for Celsius--which really puts things in perspective). It's beautiful--until I remember that it's April, nearly a month after the official beginning of spring, and at least six months since we began seeing snow at the beginning of last winter. That last little bit makes me want to cry.

 

But I know this snow will not last. April snows here are always wet, heavy, blow-hard-idly truculent, wanting to be taken seriously but never achieving a greater status than that of a temporary nuisance--sort of like the last throw from a weak and black-eyed fighter, the last insult hurled in a lost debate. Because, of course, these snows melt away quickly on the already-green grass, disappear in the softened black earth, their hardier and grainier sisters long disappeared from the months and months of sitting in drifts on the frozen ground. The thaw is already here. The daylight extends well into the early evening. The birds have returned. And though they stand still and silent now, snow blanketing their backs, this snow just reminds them, and us, that cold likes to hang on here, but even it can't last forever.

 

Thanks to Papa, who always takes such lovely pictures.

Winter Landscapes -- The Long Farm

Don and Faye Long graciously invited us over to dinner yesterday. We went out to their farm, which has been in Don's family for around 100 years. He was born there! The sky was deep blue and crystal clear; the cozy smell of woodsmoke from Don's stove in the little room attached to the original farmhouse mingled with the dry, not-too-cold air. Once we crossed the threshold the aroma of corn casserole greeted us. Few things in life are as comforting as homey places and smells! Here's some views from our approach to the farm.







P also got to enjoy his first sled ride with Daddy's help and Don looking on. What fun! The pics were through the Long's front window, so I couldn't always focus the way I wanted (S was on my lap, too.) But you can still see how delighted he was! We hope we get to go out again soon so both he and Daddy (and S and Mommy) can have a blast! And thanks to the Long's for a lovely afternoon and evening.

Playtime in Minnesota

We headed out to the playground yesterday, as the temps were balmy (20s), the sun was shining, no winds plagued us, and P had to try the "new" red snowpants. S even loved the sun (despite appearances to the contrary). Today we rolled around in the backyard, but alas, no pics of that (except in my memory). What fun are boys and snow!