So yesterday we finally got the snow everyone else in our family (ok, those in Illinois & Eastern KY & Virginia anyway) have gotten and bragged out. We didn't get nearly as much as they've had but it was enough for us. We hadn't asked for much anyway, just enough to go sledding.
I knew Ethan liked snow and sledding because from the time the very first flake fell this year, he's asked us to go sledding. Every morning he wakes up and looks outside and comes running to say, "Mama, it's snowing. It's snowing again, Mama," at which point I've usually had to break it to him that no, it isn't snowing - it snowed already and it's still out there. We got a little bit of ground cover but not enough to sled even for someone as light weight as Ethan and each time he sees that remaining snow on the ground, he thinks it is actually snowing. He even tried to argue the point with me one day saying, "Yes, it is, Mama - look, see, snow." I had to tell him yet again that it was not snowing - it snowed already and that was still on the ground from last time and had to stand at the window with him to show him there were no flakes in the air. That all changed yesterday.
I was getting ready for work and it was snowing. Ethan came downstairs and did the usual, "Mama, where's Daddy?" Me: "He's in bed sweetie." E: "Where you going, Mama." Me: "I've got to go work. But guess what." E (sleepily & rubbing his eyes): "What?" Me: "It's SNOWING!" E (not at all sleepily): "It's Snowing?" (runs to the window) "It's snowing a lot, Mama!" Then he started doing the pee-pee dance and since he hadn't been yet, I knew he meant it so I broke his heart and made him leave the window and go pee. Then he came out of the bathroom smiling and said, "Can we go sledding now, Mama?" I told him we would when I got home from work and he'd need to be good for Daddy and then we could go sledding when I got home. He promised he'd be good and was so excited he giggled behind his hand as he watched the snow.
Fast forward to lunch time - Steve & the boys came to see me for lunch cause we had errands to run and bills to pay and Steve had the day off. One of the errands was Walmart and Steve checked-out while I took the boys back to the car. I put Ethan in the car & shut his door and then turned back to the cart to see Alex sitting there smiling at the snow and waving his hands through the flakes that were falling on him. Until that moment, I had no idea that he liked snow until that moment. The look of sheer delight on his face as he waved through the snow flakes that were falling was so cute and funny at the same time. I picked him up and he laughed and laughed as I put him in the seat and buckled him in and he kept just staring at his hand as he flipped it back and forth looking for the snowflakes that had already melted. Then I went around to buckle Ethan who asked me if I wanted some snow. I told him I had enough and he asked if I was sure cause he had some right there in his cup holder - then he looked and so "Oops, it melted." Too funny.
Fast forward again to after work. Even though I left on time (for once), everyone was going about 10 miles an hour to get home so it was dark when I got there. Steve wasn't daunted by this - he was still determined that we should go to Shriner's Hospital where there's a nice hill to sled rather than in the front yard. So while I proceeded to put my cuddle duds and jeans on, Steve put the snow pants & boots & gloves & coats on the boys. He did Alex first and he truly looked like the boy from A Christmas Story - he kept taking a few steps and falling over - he could get back up but he had to roll over and waddle a little...too funny. I have a picture I'll post later. All of us bundled up, we loaded the boys in the car. Steve packed out the sled my dad made for me (all wooden) when I was little, which we learned last January is still excellent for sledding and I can still fit on it, and Ethan's tobogan (which I can't spell so not sure if that's right) & the rubber tube and loaded the trunk. We went first to blow up the tube at the gas station and seeing how dark it was, Steve said when getting back in the car, "maybe we should just sled at home,"...so back home we went (I personally think he should have just listened to me in the first place but oh well, it was snowing - who cares).
We went home and the boys were so excited. Ethan got out and went right over to the yard and waited, impatiently, for his tobogan. I got Alex out and we put a scarf on him. I sat him down and he started walking straight out into the yard. A few steps later he toppled over and started fussing. Turns out when he bends over or looked down, the scarf covered his whole face and that ticked him off. I took the scarf off and he went walking down the hill and made it halfway down before he fell. I went to help him up and turned him over (he was face first in the snow) and he was smiling ear-to-ear and laughing - had no problem with a face full of snow. Back up the hill, I went down first on my old sled with Alex on my lap and he laughed from top to bottom and couldn't wait to get off when we stopped so he could walk around more. I rounded him up (Steve was taking pictures) as Steve headed up the hill to try to help Ethan with his tobogan. With the wind Ethan couldn't quite get on it right (it's flimsy little thing and wasn't very cooperative for a 3 year old to deal with). I headed up the hill with Alex and then handed him off to Steve as I helped Ethan get on the tobogan good. Then down the hill he went and promptly turned sideways and stopped...I followed and turned him back around and gave him another push and he zipped down the little front yard and jumped right up to go again. But at the top of the hill, he decided he'd rather push Daddy than sled again himself. Steve tried to go down on the tube but the hill wasn't steep enough and the snow not deep enough for a tube yet so he gave up and played in the snow with Alex a little as I tried to get Ethan back on the sled. He was not interested though - he just wanted me to get on my sled and let him push me. Hey - I couldn't deny him his only wish so I had to go down the hill again...such a pain - oh well - I tried not to like it too much but wasn't very successful. Ethan followed all the way down and I asked if he was ready to sled now and he wasn't so I asked if he wanted me to pull him up the hill. He did want to do that but was trying to stand on the sled. When I told him he'd have to sit down, he decided he didn't want to. So instead he helped me pull it up the hill where Steve got on and rode it down the hill (possibly with Alex but I don't really remember). At some point, we put Alex inside the tube to keep him corralled a bit.
At this point, both boys were pretty cold but not interested yet in going in - it had been about 10-15 minutes outside by now (seemed longer but it wasn't really). We wanted to get the boys to go down together so we put Ethan on the tube and then put Alex on his lap - they ended up basically laid out flat with Alex laying fully over Ethan. I got beside them as they went down the hill to be able to see Ethan as well as Alex in the picture cause from the front, you only saw Alex. Then I ran down and got a good picture as they stopped of both of them. I'll post this, too, but Alex's expression is priceless - he absolutely loved it and laughed all the way down the hill. As Steve pulled Alex off Ethan, I got a good one of Ethan, too, and though you can only see a small piece of his face due to his hat & coat, you can see the total glee on his face, too. They had such a good time. As we walked back up the hill, Steve went ahead to open the door so we could usher both boys in. Ethan didn't quite realize that was the plan until we got right to the door. He had no intention of going in but sadly, it wasn't his call. Inside, we started peeling off layers and any piece of skin that was bare on any of us was bright red. We quickly warmed up the boys and yes, with us all being sick either now or recently (cause Ethan is much improved as is Alex already and Steve but I'm still coughing my head off daily), we probably shouldn't have gone out but we don't get many chances and the boys had so much fun, I couldn't deny them of it.
And the adventure seems not to have done too much damage. Alex's face is slightly chapped but otherwise, neither one is any worse for the wear. I am pretty sure I made myself worse but I can take it - the expressions and laughs from both boys made it all worth it. We had planned to go out again today but when I got home, Steve & Alex were still napping so I laid down while Ethan watched Dinosaur Train on KET and the next thing I knew it was 4:30 and Steve had to leave for work a little later so we have decided to wait and try again tomorrow. I realize, too, that it's going to be extremely cold tomorrow but Steve plans to get the boys face masks after work tonight to ensure they get full coverage and again, we'll make it a short outing. They enjoy it far too much to deny them so I'm going - cough or no cough (and there will be a cough). I can't wait! I love snow!!!
awwwww....the boys are sooooo cute!!!
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