Winter is coming. I'm not just quoting 'Game of Thrones'
here. I'm being serious. Winter officially doesn't begin until December 21st.
For the record, I can't actually tell you a single thing about 'Game of
Thrones'. I just know that's a line that's used on the show...or at least I
think that's the case.
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| Proof. |
Even though winter
isn't supposed to rear its ugly head for another three and a half weeks, it
seems no one told winter that is the case. If you haven't looked outside
lately, then step away from your phone/tablet/computer, walk to the window, and
look outside.
Odds are that if you're in the Midwest, you'll see white
stuff covering the ground. That's called snow and it's a very cold, icy,
powdery substance that occupies a state of matter somewhere between liquid and
solid (Thank you to Mrs. Tushaus and ninth grade science class for pounding that
into my memory banks).
Obviously, as adults, we know all of the basic facts about
snow. After all, one only has to scoop it off their driveway a few times before
getting the gist of it. However, for Ellie as a two-year-old, there is much,
much to learn about snow.
Lesson 1: Any trip
outside needs to include the proper attire.
For the record, despite what Ellie believes, proper attire
in snowy conditions does not include sandals. You laugh, but you try telling an
excited two-year-old that she can't wear her sandals in subzero conditions. Just
remember to follow this rule of thumb and you'll be ok. If your child has full
mobility, then it's time to add more layers.
For Ellie, the proper layers consist of a long-sleeve shirt
and jeans, a pair of snow pants, a warm winter coat, a stocking hat, two pairs
of gloves, and last, but not least, the snow boots. Once Ellie is adequately
covered, then the fun can begin.
Lesson 2: Riding a
sled is easier than walking in the snow.
The first thing any snow-crazed toddler wants to do upon
seeing five inches of frozen wonder in front of their faces is run headlong
into the drifts. That's exactly what Ellie did. What she didn't plan on was
just how hard it can be for a full-sized adult to make it through that amount
of snow, let alone a three-foot-tall toddler.
After several face plants and slip-ups, Ellie was feeling
defeated and was already wanting to call it quits on the snow day. Fortunately
for her sake, I had an ace in the hole: her sled. I hustled into the garage and
grabbed her disc sled and a dog leash before heading back outside. Why a dog
leash? Last year, I discovered that if we hooked a dog leash onto the hole on
the edge of her sled, we could easily pull Ellie around the yard until her
little heart was content. So that's exactly what we did.
Starting in the front yard, we made several circles around
the golden rain tree in our front yard before venturing to the back lawn. After
a couple of passes around the back yard, Ellie declared she was done and rolled
out of her sled, pushing herself to her feet. She then grabbed the leash out of
my hand and proudly marched around the back yard, dragging her sled behind her.
Lesson 3: The unattainable
dream.
As anyone who has ever played in the snow will know, there
is one snow time activity that will always end in soul-crushing disappointment.
What is this activity? Making snow angels.
Ah, yes, snow angels. A favorite winter pastime of children
and adults alike will always fall prey to one massive shortcoming. You see,
there is a complete and utter inability for one to make the perfect snow angel
without help from a friend. Otherwise there will always be that stray handprint
or footprint in the midst of otherwise pristine snow.
As Ellie had never made a snow angel before, I decided the
time was right for her to learn. First, I laid down on the ground myself and
pumped my arms and legs back and forth before climbing out of the snow (Side
note, snow angels are a poor decision if one is wearing jeans). It goes without
saying that the dreaded handprint was left in the midst of my creation.
Once Ellie watched me, I helped her lay down in the snow
before coaching her through the motions of making a snow angel. By coaching, I
mean that I had to physically pump her arms and legs for her. Then, as she was stuck
in the snow, I helped her out of the drifts. As we both stood and gazed at her
creation, I realized something. On her very first attempt, Ellie had lived the
dream: the perfect snow angel! No stray handprint. No stray footprint. Just
perfection.
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| I promise there's one there... |
Not long after that, we headed inside and bundled up
together under a blanket to partake in that last great wintertime activity:
watching Christmas movies on TV. Yes, it was 'A Very Monkey Christmas' indeed.
Side note: That last joke would have been better if we had
been watching 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Unfortunately, in the eyes of Ellie, George
Bailey and Curious George really don't compare. #DaddyWrite
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| I like to imagine that George Bailey is challenging Curious George to a fight in this collage and C.G. is fearful of what's about to happen. |
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