Sunday was a snow day. Church was canceled. (Yes, our whole congregation trudged through the dangerous blizzard for the Christmas party...but sacred Sunday services? No way.)
In our family, we decided to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, which, fortunately, we hadn't yet remembered to watch.
Look how sweet and perfect my children are being, quietly listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, as they draw pictures for Missionary Uncle Daniel.
That lasted about 3 minutes. The remainder of the devotional was paused every 6 minutes due to bickering, bugging, threats, yelling, and time-outs. But David did complete his major work, The Star Wars Christmas Book, complete with Endor, an Imperial Cruiser, Darth Vader, and a scene entitled, "Star Wars Christmas Party," where Yoda and a Storm Trooper party under a window rimmed with Christmas lights. Awesome. And on its way to Chile. Between tantrums, Mary drew a picture for Uncle Daniel which she named, "Snake and boat." Also on its way to Chile.
While some families love nothing better than a cozy day inside, this here family goes stir-crazy after about 45 minutes.
With the Christmas Devotional under our belts, it seemed time for some snowman building.
Here is a funny/sad story. What fell from the sky was a heavy, wet, sticky, sleety mixture. It was killer for Greg to shovel. But perfect for building a snowman, something which Mary has been anxiously awaiting. By the time the kids made it outside that afternoon, the cloud cover had lifted, the temperature had plummeted, and the cold dry air had sucked the moisture out of the snow, leaving a blanket of fluffy light powder. Useless for snowman building. Poor Mary.
Greg and the kids did, however, get to work on a snow fort, and then they moved to the side of the house for a little sledding.
Greg is Super Dad, and he shoveled the kids a walkway through the yard to their little sledding hill. The path also came in handy as an escape route in certain emergencies. This is Mary hurrying back inside to shed all those layers for a potty break.
Whenever I start feeling bitter about kindergartners in more temperate climes, who do not have to put on snow pants every day, I remember that they also do not get to play in the snow all winter long.
Sledding puts a happy face on this kindergartner:
After a good snow storm, I usually think the world is so quiet and peaceful. But this time it was bitter cold and the wind so piercing; it made the world feel desolate and lonely.
Still pretty though.
