Almost Winter

The days of grey skies, grey ground, grey trees, and a vast grey Lake Superior have arrived.  Inside, we huddle around our fireplaces more.  Our big fluffy fleece blankets get a workout as we snuggle together on the futon reading books more.  There are three down comforters on our bed, even though Dr. Peds tosses one to the floor when he climbs in because he claims they are so heavy he can't sleep. At 4:30 p.m. daily my children go completely crazy from being cooped up inside for so many more hours during the day.  The sun sets before five o'clock.  The rain comes with a mixture of sleet and snow.  Puffy winter coats make it impossible to buckle toddlers into carseats without a struggle.  Because it sometimes snows, I have to shut the windows and turn the furnace on, and the prospect of no fresh air indoors for the next five months is grim.  The days of static electricity in abundance have arrived, and they bring along with them the days of dry, cracked skin, of multiple applications of Vanicream daily.  We have stocked up on vaseline for our lips, and already the baby skin in the household is red and chapped on my little ones' faces, and we haven't even been through the first set of runny noses yet.  

Yet it's good.  We're looking forward to snow angels, to downhill sledding, to hikes in the winter woods.  We have fun reading and reading and reading.  There is the luxury of warm naps in between flannel sheets.  We can wear multiple layers of clothing, and drink hot cocoa in the middle of the afternoon.  I love my blue winter coat, and I have new red mittens to match its trim.  An evening sauna becomes a more regular treat.  I warm up every part of myself and then run two flights of stairs up to my bed, jump in and stay toasty warm until the first child wakes up in the morning.