Day: January 11, 2007

Winter Weather

Snow.

I could probably stop there since the word “snow” is a fairly good descriptor of our current winter weather. But then I would be neglecting the word “cold” and we can’t leave such a serviceable word out in the…cold. Wait, maybe that would actually be a good idea since I’d prefer that the cold stay outside rather than in the house.

It’s funny how snow in November and December is greeted with cries of glee from the children. Today they all looked at the white falling from the sky and wished for spring. Link wants to be able to wear shorts again. Gleek is tired of being stuck indoors. Patches gets cold easily and has been living in sweatshirts and sweaters. Kiki is just afraid that there will be so much snow that it prevents her from going to school next week when her class has activities planned that she really wants to do. Kiki’s wish is the only one that is likely to be granted. I’ve had kids in school for 7 years now and I’ve yet to experience a snow day. I’m pretty sure the snow has to be measured in feet before they’ll close Utah schools.

So we’ve all been striving to entertain ourselves indoors. Twilight Princess has been a huge help with this. Anyone who claims that video games isolate children have not watched my kids. Kiki is the one who actually plays. She mans the controller and beats the challenges. The other three kids treat it as sort of an interactive movie. They watch the story unfold and shout suggestions. Sometimes they decide that rather than continuing the adventure they’ll spend some time with Link-as-wolf scaring all the townspeople. This is apparently the height of hilarity. They did the same sort of thing with Ocarina of Time, only the entertainment there was attacking chickens. I love sitting down here in my office and hearing all that joyful laughter.

The laughter won’t end today either. In my my mind’s eye I can see these kids grown to adults back together again for a reunion. They’ll laugh again over the frightened townspeople. We’re not hiding from the weather, we’re building memories.