Days 33

Jules and I had a great date this morning. We walked to the playground and, step-by-step, he taught me ("this is how you do it") how to "use" a tire swing and how to slide down the fireman's pole ("mom, you're good")... then we rescued old tennis balls from the half-frozen "crick" (which is how you say creek if you're from Western PA) using a stick we spend a good long time searching for.

Wheeee!

I wrote his name in the snow with my foot and he bunny-hopped from letter to letter shouting out each one as he landed. We visited with a black cat that crossed our path (which doesn't make me nervous) and sang songs as we scaled the hill home. (He walked nearly 2 miles without whining.) When we got back, I made him a cup of "cocoa with chocolate," explaining (nicely) why his name for the drink is redundant. 

In the winter, my inclination is to coze up inside with the boys, doing art projects, reading books, or baking--but I'm trying hard to help Jules and Kai become peeps who love being outside--in all seasons--much more than I do. (Speaking of getting kids outside, I'm looking forward to reading Last Child in the Woods, which my friend Lisa recommended to me recently...) To that end, my "shut up and go" mantra seems working for me right now. Of course, the fact that it was nearly 40 degrees today made it much easier for me to "go" - and for that, I am grateful. 

What gets you "going"?

Day 29

It was 9 degrees today. Did I mention that I'm not so much a fan of the cold? But in the spirit of being a good sport--a grateful, positive person, if you will--I decided to embrace this day.

To take advantage of the good fortune of my working from home on this frigid January Tuesday, I decided I'd "rock" what I'd like to call a cozy Burlington ballet outfit. I layered a comfy wool sweater over a soft turtleneck. I pulled on the new warm "boot socks" my mom bought me for Christmas and stretchy skinny jeans which aren't of the Pajama Jean label but are pretty much the same thing. Then I pulled on the leg warmers I knit myself a few years ago, one of which is longer than the other. Much better than the yoga pants and running shirt I'd been wearing since the night before, I decided. (Never mind that it was noon and I hadn't showered. Still haven't actually.)

Pleased that I'd chosen to "put myself together" for the sake of a mood boost, I put in a pair of cool earrings that I bought this summer at Sweet Lady Jane. If not quite stylish, this little ensemble that I'd assembled was definitely reflective of my style. (Think: I'm-leaving-dance class-but-too-lazy-to-get-fully-dressed.) Then I took this photo, angled to make my thigh look much smaller than it really is.

Why yes, I did knit that there leg warmer!

Mood boosted. After logging a few hours of writing (a story that I should be wrapping right about now), I left to pick up the boys. Having spent nearly two weeks hanging with them for full days, it felt a weird to have a whole day without them.

BUT.... My fingers remained frozen for the entire 15-minute drive. I could see my breath with every exhale. When I entered Kai's classroom, I noticed that the tips of my fingers were yellow. Yellow. I bundled Kai in clothes that made him wider than he was tall and we headed to Julian's classroom where I fought with him to put on his coat, hat and gloves. During this time, Kai ditched his hat. I let him enjoy the freedom of a bare head while I fought with his stupid (new) zip-up fatso toddler mittens that wouldn't zip. Finally, I conceded that they were too small and let him go outside with tiny bare hands, hoping that they, too, would not turn yellow or worse. I will spare you the interim details and skip to the part where Jules strips down on the ride home, causing me to have to repeat this entire process in our driveway. I hate winter. Today, I hate Vermont.

But, yes, I am grateful that once in a while it is warmer than 9 degrees in Vermont. And, for today, that's enough.