When you’re from Wisconsin like my family is, you have to have some thick blood. The winters here are long and cold. People here are well versed on driving on icy roads and having fun in the snow. A blizzard doesn’t scare us and school closings are few and far between. We are tough.
I shouldn’t actually lump us all together. I used to be tough. I could stay outside for hours upon end playing in the below 0 degree weather when I was a kid. After many years of extended outings and near frost bite several times; my feet and hands ache if I spend more than 15 minutes out in the conditions. I tend to stay home when the roads are bad after so many spin outs in my lifetime (I almost always got them under control though because I am a Wisconsinite after all) to keep the kids and I out of harm’s way.
My kids have proven this year that their blood is getting thicker. In years past I would send them outside and 10 minutes later they would be back in, dragging snow all over the house and requesting hot chocolate immediately to warm them up. I thought I had produced wimps and that they had their Dad’s New Mexican blood coursing through their veins instead of mine.
Last week, Iris and Bency built snowmen outside for 1 ½ hours. I gave them their leftover Halloween candy and they decorated their snowmen with Starburst eyes, Whopper mouths and whatever else they could find.
The other day I took my kids and nieces sledding at my parent’s house. Everyone stayed out playing except for me and Cesar. I was cold after 15 minutes and Cesar’s face got dragged down the length of the hill when he wasn’t quite on the sled all the way when it started traveling downhill. He called it quits right after that.
My two older kids really earned their Wisconsin wings yesterday. They were outside for 2 hours and Iris only came in once to ask me for a plastic bowl and piece of paper.
Apparently after reading a book called Snow Babies they were inspired to build a fort for snow babies in our yard. Snow babies are similar to fairies but only live in the….snow. They made a sign that said, “All Snow babies Welcome! If you come inside, please put some coins in the bowl.”
And if the fort wasn’t enough for the snow babies they also built a wall around the perimeter of the yard to keep out the “Snow Baby Monster” (the Snow Baby Monster was completely made up by them because there are no monsters in the book we read).
In addition, Iris made booby traps (her words) out of icicles to fortify the safety of the snow babies. She said the Snow Monster would slip on the icicles that were placed strategically at different entrance points around the wall.
So yes, my children have finally got that thick Wisconsin blood. Snow and below 0 degree temperatures will not get in their way of having fun…until they get old like me and a warm heated house, blanket and a good book is equally exciting!
This brings fond memories for me, and a wish that my kids could enjoy that kind of weather once in a while! My son has been pouting occasion that he “will never get to play in the snow”. I have tried to look up where I might find snow in the South and every place is at least an 8 hour drive!
Oh, I feel for your son! It’s pretty fun when you’re a kid…I would gladly trade places with him though if I could!!
I totally relate to this, living in Sweden and all. I think my little boy has his dad’s Viking blood as he loves being outside no matter what the weather and is always warm ;)! Lovely photos of Iris and Bency! 🙂
Thank you! Oh yes, I’m sure you have some wonderful winters there! It’s amazing what kids can tolerate!
Wow! they look as if they had fun in the snow, I love, love snow too! when I was a kid I used to spend hours playing outside but I used to get so sick after 🙂 & Now look at me, I’m always cold and can’t spend too much time outside, btw last Thursday I spent 3 hours outside shovelling and I now have a small flu 🙂 ha!ha! We had a huge snow storm and it looks beautiful outside, we are in Montreal and I think it gets as cold as you guys in Wisconsin 🙂 Hope you guys will have a very Happy New Year, wish you and your family the best ! xxx
Oh gosh, I bet Montreal can get even colder than us! My husband finally got a snow blower this year! We are so happy not having to shovel anymore! Happy New Year to you and your family too!
Great POST!!! Working with children as a Nanny, Childcare Provider, and as a Grandparent, that is one fun outdoor activity children enjoy. We got a little snow yesterday, but not enough for such fun as you all did. I’m sure we are going to get our share to be able to have such fun. Thanks for the idea of leftover candies for a Snowman, Snowboy, Snowgirl, or Snowwoman. Those candies would make a nice Candy Castle, and so much more. Thanks to the children for wanting to have such fun for a Great Post. Be Blessed, Mtetar
Thank you Mtetar! I’m glad they are finally at the age where being outside is so much fun! The candy decorations were definitely a hit and from now on I’ll make sure to have candy set aside just for that reason…so much better than them actually eating it all!!! Have a wonderful New Year! Melissa
Save the the leftover Easter Candy also. Now we have something different besides Carrot Nose, Twig Arms, Buttons, etc. Have a Blessed New Year, and each day thereafter. Kind regards to the children, and hubby. Mtetar
Great post. What a different world. I am 43 and have never seen snow in real life. Here in South Africa we have to protect the children from sunburn when they play outside. My children are late teens already and I still have to remind them to put sun protection on when going outside. It’s lovely to see there are children that can still play outside and invent monsters instead of just sitting in front of the tv monster. Well done Mom!
Oh my goodness! I didn’t realize you were in South Africa! I’m glad I got to experience the snow when I was a kid but could definitely handle moving somewhere where there wasn’t any snow now!!!
Well dear, don’t move here. I don’t think you will handle the heat. The past few days we have been over the 100 degrees F…. Sweltering I tell you! On the other hand, I will surely die in that cold. LOL
This has been a good year for playing in the snow…
Wow! That looks like a lot of fun. Snow forts are the best.
Yeah, I remember building tons of snow forts when I was a kid! They definitely were the best!
I love the way your kids thinks. I hope some of those snow babies left some coins!
I couldn’t believe they were making the snow babies pay to come in for shelter! That just seems wrong! I’m hoping they can use this money-making mindset when they get to be adults so their parents can retire somewhere warm!!
Well, maybe they were/are going to use the money to help the Snow Babies with more needs? We can hope! Or to stash away for parent care later. 😉
I used to like the cold weather when I was younger and enjoy playing in the snow. These days, while I still like the snow, I hate cold weather. I see myself as the retiring to Floriday type.
I definitely would not mind retiring to Florida or really any place warm for that matter! I don’t need to wait for retirement age either…now is good!
I hear that!!!
I am a Florida girl through and through so just looking at these pictures makes me shiver! We think anything below 60 is equivalent to a snowstorm so your kids are amazing for being able to last so long! haha!
I forgot that you lived in Florida! For some reason I was thinking you were in the Midwest too! So yes, we are living the same life in that fact that all of our kids are the same age but you don’t have the added joy of everyone getting suited up in snow pants and your house being demolished as they come in and track snow all over! You’re really missing out!!
we do have TONS of summer rain and mud though (sunshine state is a bit of a misnomer)! It can be almost as fun to run around in and smudge all over the house! we just do it in a different season! haha!
Awh, great post and pics. My son wil take more time to be a Wisconsin Winter boy, but my daughter is having fun in the snow this year! Enjoy!
Oh yes, I remember us talking about that a few weeks ago when you shared those gorgeous photos! I wish my photos would have turned out brighter like yours!
My kids are excited about the snow, but are such WEENIES! I love the fact that your kids are putting such imagination along with their enjoyment of the white stuff! 😀
Keep trying! My kids were weenies before! Actually last year Iris wanted to stay out longer but Bency didn’t, so she would come in too because it’s no fun if you don’t have someone with you freezing your butt off too!
It is so great you kids have such a great time playing in the snow. I am a snow wuss, I just hate being cold and wet.
I sure hope those Snow Babies got a couple coins in their basket. 😉
To take the pictures of the kids I just had to stand on our covered porch. In order to go put coins in the bowl, I am going to have to put on boots and go trudging through the snow….okay, okay…..I will go do it!!!! What we won’t do for our kids, right?!!
I love this post, I am also a Wisconsinite and my children have earned their WI badges this winter as well!
That’s awesome I found another Wisconsinite! This winter has had some good snow! Last year was a weird winter…too mild for a typical Wisconsin winter!
I’m with you…15 minutes tops is as long as I last when it’s cold outside. Kids just amaze me!
Yeah, as much as I try to channel my inner child I just can’t do it….now give me some sand and warm weather and it’s a different story!
Incidentally, I “met” our husband last night. Love, love, love his stuff! Thanks for sharing his blog on your blog. You’re a better woman than I am. Fang? He’d be on his own. LOL!
Yeah, he mentioned you had stopped by his blog! He told me he absolutely loves your blog and was really impressed with your writing! It’s pretty interesting reading his writing because I had a little inclination that he had deep thoughts but it’s more profound in his writing. He’s more of grunter at home or has a glazed over look in his eyes when I talk to him!
LOL… it’s because our husbands don’t need to impress us.
Oh man, I would NOT last. Not even for a minute. Here on the West Coast, we start whinning and complaining if it’s below 60 degrees. We’re total wimps!
haha! It’s always so funny to us cold blooded folks when we travel to “warm” states and see people in winter coats when it’s 60 degrees and we are in t-shirts and shorts! Here in the Spring, when it hits 45 degrees it’s not uncommon for people to wear shorts…but even I think that is weird!
Too much fun! Kind of makes me sad that my kids no longer want to go out and play in the snow. They still don’t mind the cold but they aren’t interested in snowmen any longer. I too am like you – 15 minutes and I’m done. I swear my inner thermostat broke on my 40th birthday…..
That’s why I felt so much sympathy for you when you said you had to go shovel the other day…not a fun activity plus being out in the cold…not a great combo!!
I hear you! Living in Montreal all my life, it seems like the winters are getting colder… Or is it just me getting older? I am so ready to move to New Mexico or Arizona. Have never been but the dry heat really does appeal to me. Unfortunately, my daughters have my parent’s southern Italian blood and are kind of wimpy like me! We had 47 cm of snow last Thursday (19 inches) and I am done with winter!!!
We are going to go visit our family in New Mexico this summer…I wish it was now!! We are getting more snow today!!! Ugh!!!
We are from Michigan and my grandkids are building snow forts and sledding too.They also got their swimsuits on and went to Slash Village so they got the cold and the warm.I hope Collin doesn’t go to Wisconsin because your Snowman will be faceless.
You are too funny! I’m pretty sure my kids snuck some candy as well during the building of their snowmen!!
I just happened to mention this on momtimes4 this morning and I thought about this post you did. You should go over to Something Clever 2.0 and add this post to her Theme Thursday tomorrow. The theme is winter! http://www.somethingclever2point0.com/ There is a blue Theme Thursday link on the right sidebar if you want to read up on it for more information! 😀
Thanks! I will check it out! I just sat down to catch up on some blog reading! The past couple of days have been so busy around here….need to sit down and take a breather!
I’m hoping things will calm down around here too! I go to the dr this afternoon and Ezra goes back to school tomorrow. Oh wait, we have Ezra’s birthday Friday. Maybe not so calm!
Okay, I just checked it out and it said this weeks was New Year’s Resolutions. I must be looking in the wrong area. I’ll have more time this afternoon (I think) to check it out or if not, I’ll try to get in on the next one! Thanks!
If you go to the link, somewhere on there it says next week’s (which is tomorrow) is winter. It confused me the first time too!
Another great post. Formally a Massachusetts girl myself, I miss snow !!!! Such great pics from you. Happy New Year ….. to you, your family, and your husbands new blog !! 🙂 (cyber new year hug) Ellie
I so wish my kids were young enough to doodle on the walls. I had no idea how much I would miss those days! Now they are sassy but sweet teenage boys.