Our Winter is Your Summer

It's been an awful winter for most of the country.  Cities and states have more than doubled their annual yearly snowfall.  Ice storms have cancelled school and shut down towns.  Mothers with children are pulling out their hair trying to keep everyone sane and entertained.

It's times like these, I don't miss living in a cold climate.

I admit it.  My blood has thinned.  I think anything in the 60s is cold, and anything below 90 warrants the wearing of pants.  Of course, that last one could be because I can't stand my "summer clothes".

Now, I am not writing this to gloat.  In another few months, most of you will be enjoying the beautiful outdoors, while for us it will be hot enough to fry an egg on our cars, showers will become pointless unless you take three a day, and I will be tearing out my hair trying to keep my children (and myself) sane and entertained.  But for now, we are enjoying what might be the best time of the year in Arizona.

Last winter was wonderful.  Kyle was finally old enough to play in the backyard without me hovering six inches away from him.  (If you could see him climb and jump with reckless abandon, you'd stay that close too!)  Drew was young enough that he couldn't move, so I could just sit with the kids and enjoy the weather, or let them go out and play by themselves.

This year, I had to start over.  With a 16 month old, I am back to hovering, as he climbs the slide and tries to figure out how to sit down without falling off the top.

He finally tolerates grass enough to explore the lawn,

and he is learning the joy of digging in the sand/rocks.

Emma is getting bored with our lack of a playset in the yard, so she mostly sits around and complains that there's nothing to do.  I point her to the giant tub of outside toys and tell her to get busy.  Or, I grab the older two and play "Bump the Ball" or "Red Light, Green Light" (our version just involves running and stopping- that's it.)  The slide and swing are also favorites, even though Emma and Kyle are too big for both.

The kids are either asleep or in quiet time, right now, so I think I'll go sit outside and read.

Okay, maybe that passed the line into gloating.  Sorry......


P.S.  If you haven't noticed, my craft blog is hosting a giveaway that ends tonight!  If you'd like some cute hair accessories, or have a friend who would, go on over and enter!