"My Family Needs Me"

John has been working some pretty long hours the past week or so. I successfully encouraged him to take a little time off this morning, because we were going skiing. A bit cold - very windy, but so much fun. It is too bad John has a real office these days and not just a cubicle, I would love to hear him explain why he was grinning all afternoon.

Play

I am so glad we dedicated yesterday to playing in the snow. With a high of two degrees today, and -20 windchill, I think today we'll stay in.
I think John and I might try in a few days to make an igloo by cutting blocks with a saw. The temps here are supposed to be mostly below zero for a few days so the snow should harden up quite a bit. Although below zero temps could curb our ambition.

Forecast - actually a little shy

It seems like the news casters are always warning about a "huge storm" that never seems to pan out. We'll get a few inches but it will never be as big as the ones you remember from growing up.
The forecast for last night/today was for 5-7 inches overnight with a possible 4-6" more today. It is hard to say what fell vs what blew and drifted but there is well over a foot of snow outside. The official word is 17" at the airport . . .
Soft fluffy fun to fly into snow. I am sure for many it was terrible to drive in and shovel, but for us pure joy.











We went out this morning to meet Santa at the Y -partly to jet John drive in the snow and partly to eat pancakes and meet Santa. Odin talked to him, but didn't get too close.

Skiing!

I had a fantastic day skiing with my son today. All over (our tiny) mid-western ski hill. All morning he was holding onto my ski poles and skiing along side of me, then one time I let go (the pole wasn't doing much) and he did the rest of the run holding my pole horizontally in front of him making turns. After that he was on his own. Off the chair lifts down the runs. While getting back into our gear after a short break he was looking at the area map and wanting to go on a black diamond run, like it was the ultimate prize to be won. In the end we did a run on the far side on some steeper terrain, no black diamond this time, but maybe next (?).

It is so easy to forget the he is not invincible. He shows no fear at the hill, he can conquer anything. While I load the car he is attacking snow mounds taller taller than me. Sometimes I forget that when he speeds up it really means that he needs to slow down. Sledding this afternoon wasn't the best idea. He was wiped out tonight - and put up a very loud fight before surrendering to sleep.

The train

A few weeks ago Odin saw an ad with a gingerbread train kit in it. He really liked it, he liked it so much that we cut the picture out and he has been carrying it around for a few weeks. Yesterday we decided to make one. Going only from the picture, this is what we came up it.





We also made some cookies. Today I wondered why red tastes so bad. I remember it from growing up that red tasted super gross. It hasn't changed a bit. But meringue powder is still oh so lovely.

Shhhhhh.

Don't tell but last night I made THE COOLEST CAPE for his birthday. Trying it on I felt like a superhero. Pics after his birthday (likely in early Jan). But I just had to share. It's black satin with a velcro closure.