Snow Day 2009 - Lessons from Michelle

Step #1 - Enlist the help of someone "not Michael." Before really the first flake had fallen, Michael arrived home from work and I said, "Katie offered to go sledding with us, so you are off the hook!" to which he replied, "huh?!" I told him that he would have the option to go o stay, but that he could stay at home with the babies and nap if he wanted.

The next day, while walking to church, he got upset with the girls for "improper snow play" at least ...hmmm... the entire walk! He was also frozen to the bones since he did not bring his hat or scarf. He made a pot of coffee and stated, "I think I will stay home while Cecilia naps."

Step #2 - Dress warm. When I say warm, I mean no piece of skin should EVER show. I have learned the hard way that kids do not understand the concept of "don't take your gloves off!" Therefore, our snow day always starts with a pair of footie pajamas for each person. Next we get waterproof gloves and attach them with packing tape to the wrists of the pajamas. The one-piece style of the pajamas prevents snow from ever going down your boots or pants and the tape sticks nicely and prevents the girls from removing gloves or getting snow in their wrists. Next don snow pants, boots, hat, and lastly a coat.

Step #3 - Know your hill. The happening place to sled in St. Louis is supposedly Art Hill. This gigantic hill in forest park that dumps into a giant pond. We did NOT go there. The playground we are familiar with has a small, but steep hill that the girls rolled down each day int he summer. That is where we went. No crowds.


Step #4 - Unbury the car first. There is no reason to get EVERYONE cold waiting for the car to get swept and scraped. Just do it. Start it so it is warm.

Step #5 - Bring the camera. The downside to this is that you will likely have to remove those ever-so-important gloves in order to take a picture. It will be worth it. Telling sledding stories is not really much fun unless you have the pictures to back it up. It also re-enforces the "happy memory" in our minds instead of the bitter cold.

Step #6 - Leave before it is too late. My last words to Michael as we headed out the door were, "see you in 20 min!" Now, this was a bit of exaggeration, but I knew the fact was, that even with all waterproof, taped-on snow gear - we were bound to get snow in our face, injured on the hill, or just plain COLD. Afterall, we were talking about a 2 year old, a 4 year old, and a 6 year old. We needed to get home before lunch and nap time as well.

Step #7 - have warm food ready. We actually failed at this, so we stopped at the store on the way home to pick up ingredients for chili. It hit the spot. The girls did not even ask for hot chocolate, so we must have done a nice job keeping them warm.

Step #8 - Re-tell all stories like it was the best day of your life.