Gifts of Winter

So the Spirits of Winter seem to have remembered Blacksburg. Or someone was listening to Miles' prayers. We have had a couple of good snowfalls this month, one of which gave us 8 inches in an evening. We've had a couple of early dismissals and late arrivals, though no outright cancellations of school. This is Virginia Tech, after all. But I took the opportunity the day after our big snowfall, when I had a delayed arrival, to record that this did happen, at long last!

A good snowfall is so transporting. It's like you have to walk upside down, just for that day. One sees everything familiar in a completely new way. It's a new landscape, new landmarks, some things obscured, other things brought into new relief. With a bright sunshine to illuminate it all, I feel I've stepped into Oz.

Our power held out- barely. We had lots of flickering!

I'll say this, one does need to be well rested to enjoy such as walk as this. The brilliant blues, the multicolored glittering in the snow, and the all around illumination- this could be overwhelming in a less favorable state of mind than I was in. Fortunately, I got a pretty good night's sleep due to the delay and some (rare) cooperation from Adele.

I had already planned to do my walkaround to see my classrooms for the spring semester on that day. The snow just made it that much more exciting and delightful. Bliss.

Miles and Adele got some more use out of their snowsuits.

A view from our yard.

See the moon?

Two days later, despite temperatures solidly in the 40s and a driving sun, there was still snow enough left to sled on. Here's the story.

We packed the sleds, snowsuits, etc, just in case our busy Sunday left room for a quick slide. I honestly didn't expect to get to it, but there was time at the end of it all, so we stopped at the large and majestic hill that's just a couple blocks from our apartment. I put both whining kids into their snowsuits (apparently it was "cold" and "windy" or some nonsense :-) ) and we marched to the Top.

I held Adele while I talked Miles into being brave enough to give it one run on the circle sled. You have to just imagine with me the adorable comedy of his whimpering protestations as he whirled around and around down the hill. It was great. And he instantly requested to go home, of course. But I wanted my go, so he held Adele tight as both of them watched in apparent astonishment and disapproval as I sped down the hill whooping.

Right, so you have the narrative, right? Mean mom, uncooperative, unadventurous kids, right? We drove away and Miles melted down dramatically: "I want to sled more! MOOORE! I want to go back! Go back!" Normally, I'd just put it down to the inconsistent and emotional nature of Three. But somehow he was able to convince me to go sledding again. :-)

I dropped Adele off at home, with Jon, and back we went. And Miles and I took a couple of the most exhilarating slides EVER down that hill.

View down the hill.

Here we go!

Can you see Miles' smile? It was there, promise.

Exchanging a high five after our first run. We had whooped and hollered and laughed our way down and of course, after some frolicking,

...we just had to go again.

We were so brave. I got my pants muddy (I hate that), Miles got his gloves wet (he hates that), we were a bit late and went a bit fast and got rather wet and we just threw back our heads and laughed about all of it. To do again, all winters henceforth: sunset sledding.

Most Brave and Valiant Sledders