Thankful Thursday

A little late, but still...

I haven't been out for a few days, but when I heard that it's snowing 5-8 inches tonight, I bundled Koko and Cheeky and went outside. Snow and the heavy cloud sky made me squint with its brightness and we reveled in the symphony of what seemed to be hundreds of birds, many swooping past me. This is unusual. We usually have to search a while to spot birds. They, too, must know about the impending snow.

I have to say, I love being outside. All my tangled thoughts about Christmas traditions and our young family's seeming lack of them dissolved in the cold air. I had to laugh at my mismatched mittens and Cheeky's knack of conversing with one syllable words. After gamely sitting in the snow, she looks at me with a grin and commands, "Up!" which means, come help me get up now.

Koko found some icicles and gave one to Cheeky. She tried to help Cheeky hold the icicle, coaching her with her mommy's voice, but Cheeky had these mittens, if you can even call them that--they're like hand socks without any entry spot for thumbs and the feat was proclaimed unsuccessful and Cheeky moved on to other activities such as swinging and "slide."

Despite Koko's protests, I insisted we go on a walk before heading in. After a block, I became cold and wanted to turn back. Cheeky said, "More." So we walked a few more steps. And then more. And then more. Finally, I carried Cheeky and by the time we were home, she was asleep in my arms.