the magic of "snow" days...

Snow days are so much more interesting with little ones around. i remember being so excited that it may snow and the possibility of school being cancelled. i also remember my little brother getting so angry if the weather man's predictions were not exactly correct. my parents used to avoid letting him see the news because any word from larry sprinkle's mouth was considered truth and nicholas could not quite reconcile nature's failed attempts to make good on the man's word. it has not been since those days that snow has been such a charmed joy. i've always thought snow is beautiful, but it is different to look at the experience through a child's eyes. wednesday night i told harper that it may snow and could possibly be snow in the morning when she woke up. obviously i had forgotten how that one little word could stir up such excitement! the next morning she came into our room and climbed up to my side of the bed and said, "the top of the house is normally black but now it is white!" she climbed in the bed with me for about 30 minutes and i finally said, after 30 minutes of squirming, that she could choose to lay in the bed quietly or go and watch the snow. she looked out the window and watched the snow for at least 45 minutes! she did not make a sound; she just quietly sat and watched the snow fall. thursday was rather dreary because the snow stopped falling and was mostly rain. i let the kids play outside for a about 15 minutes just so that the snow did not pass without giving them a chance to play...but after that it was a day without school or any escapes! we were left to our creativity to embrace the fun of the day. after cleaning, which is everyone's idea of a good time, we put up a tent in the living room and watched a movie. at one point we even turned laundry baskets into little beds. the second snow fall was a little disappointing because we waited around all day for the 5 inches promised (kyle began to remind me of my little brother at this point) only to watch the rain give way to snow around 4 pm. once again, not wanting this opportunityto pass us by, i dressed the kids and we ventured into the dark to enjoy the snow. we have had a great time and every moment that we have like this reminds me more and more how wonderful it is to be a mother. everytime i think about the wonderful things that my mother did for us to help us make snow days magical have helped me realize how essential parents are for creating the joy of childhood. i hope that i can remember this as i attempt to help my children have truly magical memories.