Meanwhile

I had great plans to blog everyday in January and then frequently in February. Well...It's the thought that counts, right? Except, of course, that it really isn't, but that's the way it goes sometimes!

Meanwhile, we spent our time enjoying or at least trying to enjoy many, many snow days and several bitter cold days. We got into the routine of driving rather than walking to school. In fact, today was the first day we walked since before Christmas Break! Spring can't come fast enough.

Perhaps my favorite part of all the snow days was the extra time I was able to spend reading with my children. We read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in a week. We celebrated finishing the story by baking cupcakes and watching the old movie with Gene Wilder. It was such fun! Little Jane has been walking around pretending to give everyone golden tickets. It's too cute!

The other thing I loved about all the snow days was the time my children spent getting reacquainted. They spend so much of their days in school that their time for free play together is limited. It was special to see them play together and use their imaginations. For the first time, Jane was truly in the mix as a nearly equal playmate.

Perhaps Jane was able to join in so well because she recently turned three. There is something about the time around a birthday when kids just start to act a bit older. Perhaps there is a secret memo that kids get that parents don't see? Anyways, little Jane is every bit the three year old and that is good and challenging!

For the past few weeks, Jane has been waking up just before six o' clock. This isn't much fun, but it is hard to complain when you hear a cheerful voice calling out, "The sun is shining!"

And so life with three still somewhat young children continues. It isn't getting quite as easy as I'd hoped it would be three years ago when we had three children three and under. However, I love them more everyday. Cheesy, but very, very true.