Snow...

Snow...

There's no way to describe how we feel about the snow...
The expressions on kids' faces say it all--LOVE, JOY, EXCITEMENT, EXPLORATION, CONTENTMENT, RESTLESSNESS!!! ;)
I think it's similar to our feelings about the beach...we can hang there for hours, and the kids act pretty much the same way--they lie relaxed in the snow or sand, they make snow/sand angels, they throw it, build with it, eat it, bury themselves in it, climb it, pretend play with it--they LOVE it.

The humid heat and freezing cold might be annoying and inconvenient, I won't deny that. But once we get to experience other aspects of the seasons, other than temperatures, (like going outside to shovel or sled... or drive to the beach... or set up a pool in the backyard), all of a sudden we only see the fun and happiness these "inconvenient" seasonal circumstances bring to our kids. 

And, since it's pretty much a done deal that the seasons will repeat next year, and the year after that, and, surprise, the year after that, duh, we might as well get used to them and teach our kids the tolerance and, better yet, gracious acceptance of all seasons we are so fortunate to experience here in PA.

We lead by example, and least of all I want my children to mimic my grumpiness and say things like "I hate winter", "I can't stand this stinking heat"...because, let's face it, the truth is--I really truly don't hate the cold or the heat. "Hate" is a pretty strong word, in my opinion, for that...Instead I choose to roll with the punches, and as a result, I genuinely do get to enjoy ALL seasons.

So why teach them useless whining about things you can't change??
I won't.
I will be right there with them, building sandcastles and jumping in ocean waves, looking for pretty fall leaves and embracing the never-ending rain by having fun in puddles, building a snowman and going down the hill screaming in a sled, looking for worms in the garden while planting spring flowers and catching bugs...
I will enjoy life and nature and seasons, and I will do so with a happy heart!
Bring on the blizzards and monsoons!
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This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24, ESV)

...and when we  woke up, the world was covered in white...

the biting wind caught her off guard...

blizzard madness

they made an igloo with a tunnel, haha :)

brave and restless!

cold but happy :)