Winter Reprieve

Yesterday, we had a nice break in the weather. It warmed up over forty degrees for the first time in weeks. D2, the boy and I were out chipping ice off the bottom of the driveway. There was water streaming by and pooling in one corner of the driveway. As the ice was chipped away, I would take a snow shovel and push the ice and water out into the street with the boy’s help. At one point the boy launched into a full out run at the ice with his shovel on the ground. He hit the ice, the handle hit his chest and he landed flat on his butt. I fought the urge to laugh because it looked painful. He looked up, smiled and said “I didn’t see that coming”.

After lunch we were back outside. D2 was determined to chip away all of the ice in the driveway. The boy was determined to see his third change of clothes. I put soccer socks on him and slid his feet into wading boots. I figured it would be more than adequate in the 2 inches of standing water. It would have been but, I forgot how high water splashes when a three year old jumps in a puddle.

Before dinner we got out the bikes. D2 has moved up this year to a larger bike. She adapted quickly to the new bike despite not being able to sit on the seat and touch the ground with both feet. She spent about an hour riding circles in the driveway, practicing starting and stopping by moving on and off of the seat in a fluid motion. The boy followed her on his micro-bike and somehow managed to tip the bike over every third or fourth trip around the driveway.

Since the kids were fully set on staying outside, I pulled the grill out into the driveway and fired it up. I cooked up some steaks and turkey burgers for dinner. I love grilled food. Not only does it taste great it is a healthy preparation option. We have figured out how to grill almost anything. My grill sees as many vegetables as it does meat. Asparagus and corn on the grill are fantastic.

It was refreshing to spend some time outdoors in a function other than snow removal. Of course I got to do that again this morning. The gods are laughing at Wisconsin with another day of snow in a record season of snowfall for the area. I have never looked forward to spring as much I am this year.