Snow Sweeper

"No Mama! I do it!" In reference to cleaning the snow off of the front steps while I shoveled the front walk.

I am so glad I invested in some serious winter gear this year instead of just going to Target for snowpants and jacket. They are seriously waterproof and she came in warm except her face (failed snow angel attempt).

Amelia Sprout's Rules for Winter in Minnesota

1. It happens. It really shouldn't be a surprise since it has been happening relatively like this since, oh, the Ice Age. Quit your whining or move to Texas.

2. Fashion doesn't count when the wind chill is below zero. Quit acting like it does.

3. Own the following items and use them often when it is cold.

• A parka. As in a warm coat the goes at least to your ass.
• A pair of proper boots. Carry your shoes for indoors with you, but wear the boots. Your frost bitten toes will thank you. My personal favorite, Sorel Pacs. Mine are retro black and purple and I love them. They make cool looking ones that keep your feet warm too though.
  
• A hat. Seriously, own a hat. If you're like my husband, wear the earmuffs in the morning when you care about your hair, but a hat when it is really cold. Everyone else will have hat hair so it won't matter. My hat, totally goofy elfin looking one I knit myself. It is warm though, so I don't care how silly I look.
  

4. Mittens are better than gloves. Fingers stay warmer when together.

5. If it is icy, four wheel drive doesn't do you much better than two wheel drive. Drive accordingly. That being said, if the roads are dry, chill already. It is winter, not the end of the world.

6. If you are a parent of a child, please for the love of pete, dress them accordingly. Dress yourself accordingly and set a good example too.

7. Bake cookies. Warms the house and yummy too.

Really, it is a dry cold. It isn't that bad.

For those of you not in Minnesota, lucky you. It is cold here. Colder than it should be in December. Which is sort of a cruel joke because the weather is all messed up and last weekend it was warmer than it should be in Minnesota. Global warming sort of sucks. And we might lose all of our moose because of it. Which is too bad, because M now says "moose" but it comes out more like "mooshe".

I actually like winter. It is one of the reasons I moved back here. I really do like the seasons. However, I can't help but think that mother nature just likes messing with us here. It is silly hot and humid in summer, and in winter your snot freezes halfway up your nose. Sure, there are all kinds of fun winter things to do like ice skating. However, by the time it is cold enough to actually skate on any of our 10,000+ bodies of water, you don't want to be outside because more than your snot is freezing. Then it warms up enough to be comfy but you may fall through the ice. Those wonderful western European/New England scenes of girls wearing fifteen skirts and skating around the lake with their hands in a muff just don't seem possible when the high temp is somewhere around -15.

M can actually tell that the lake pond we drive by regularly is actually still water, despite it being frozen. That she remembers and makes the connection pretty much amazes me. It makes me a little sad that I can't let her out to play on the ice or anything. It is just too cold. Because of that I'm thinking about taking a class with this winter. Either the Y or maybe Little Gym. Anyone local have anything they've liked? If I don't find a way for her to get some exercise this winter, you may find me in the loony bin again come March. (which is when it turns out she'll be moving up to older toddlers at daycare. *sniff* so fast...)