My Real Life

February 21, 2023

Where’s the Snow?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 6:00 am
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If you are of a certain age (my age) you are hopefully saying the title of today’s post in a Clara Peller voice.

(If you don’t know who Clara Peller is, you probably aren’t old enough for this blog.)

Grumpy old lady voice aside, it’s the question I have been asking myself all winter.

Where’s the snow?

I know many of you have had a freezing, snowy, stormy winter, and I am sorry for all of the trauma that has caused those of you who are struggling with this.

And please know that my desire for true winter weather does not diminish my sympathy for the issues that many of you are having with the same thing that I am wishing for.

I just miss my snow.

I live in New Jersey for a reason.

Well, for a lot of reasons, I guess, but one of the main ones is that I love the seasons.

Anyone who buys the hype of New Jersey being a highway only, over-crowded, armpit of America has never really been here. You might have flown into Newark airport and considered that to be New Jersey. You may have visited one city and taken that to be representative of the entire state.

It’s the equivalent of thinking that New York City is all that massive state has to offer and it’s just wrong.

I love watching New Jersey come alive in the spring, luxuriating in the summer sun on the beaches, and taking drives to see the amazing fall foliage that just doesn’t happen globally.

And in the winter, I love the snow.

I have always loved the snow.

Fall is my favorite season, but winter is a close second.

But only when there is snow.

My childhood winters were spent in snow forts, sled, having snowball fights, making snow angels, skating on Burnham Pond.

We’d suit up in the morning, feet in trash bags before our boots went on, snow pants, jackets, mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, and…being the 80’s…we knew we had to get ourselves geared up for a long, cold day with maybe one hot chocolate break in the middle of the day.

If we were lucky.

And we loved it.

In the snow, the world was new and the neighborhood, of which we already knew every inch, was transformed into a wonderland, full of new adventures.

My friend, Gail, had a backyard that was a straight down hill. We would spend hours sledding down that hill, slamming into the fence at the bottom, until her mother would come out and make us move before we broke the fence…again.

Then we would just find other hills to sled down, and after hours, finally exhausted of climbing back up the hills, we would lay in the snow and make angels.

With her brother, Greg, and the neighbors, Jennifer and Nicky, we would fashion, what we imagined to be, massive igloos and forts, in which we would take shelter from the ensuing snowball fight.

And finally, at the end of the day, we’d return to our homes, peel off our gear, watch the piles of snow, that had crept their way into our pant legs and sleeves, fall on the floor and melt.

Faces red, fingers numb, and bodies thoroughly exhausted from the physical joy of the day.

Gail (left) and me (right), circa 1981(?)

As an adult, I still enjoy the sledding, although I don’t have the same stamina for the climb up the hill.

And I’ve been known to pack a mean snowball and to hold my own in a snowball fight.

But, today, I love watching my kids do all the things that I used to do; not to live vicariously, but because they seem to get the same joy out of it.

They actively measure the snow on the deck, and giggle with glee once it surpasses the step up from the deck to the kitchen, and even further, the base of the sliding door. Because that, my friends, is “playing snow.”

They, too, don’t feel the cold, as they are caught up in the wonder of the moment, as evidenced by the time I looked out onto the deck to see how they were faring and found both of Tiny’s boots on the deck, and Tiny in the snow in his socks.

“They got stuck, Mama, but I still play. I not cold.” – Tiny, circa 2014

Our backyard, neglected for the majority of the year, becomes a slalom, a luge, a bobsled track, and for hours, they will play.

(I should clarify that the “they” which I discuss has dwindled down to Tiny and Baby Monkey, who always makes sure Tiny has someone to play with in the snow.)

I love standing outside and listening to the silence when the snow falls.

The world just settles and everything is muffled and quiet and for just a moment, the world feels at peace.

And, to be fully transparent, I love the anticipation of a snow day call.

Gone are the days of having to wake up at the crack of dawn to listen to 1250 am WMTR to see if they called our district off for the day, but I can find the same satisfaction in hearing my phone buzz with that lovely text.

And when it does, I can never fall back to sleep, but instead, I silently creep downstairs, make a cup of tea, build a fire in the fireplace, open a book, and settle in for the day under a blanket.

Can I build a fire any day of the year? Sure can.

Can I drink tea and read under a blanket any day? Of course.

But it just hits differently, knowing that there is nowhere I have to be, and even if there is, I probably shouldn’t brave the roads.

On a snowy day, I fully feel the hygge that I connect with my Danish ancestors. Outside it is cold and snowy, but inside, it is warm, and cozy, and calm.

I love looking up from my story every now and then, and seeing this in my backyard:

Just give me one, solid, good day of snow. At least 6″ of playing snow. Let my kids get the call that the day belongs to them, let me build my fire, and let me snuggle up and read.

However, not to be picky, but… let it happen after March 4 so we don’t have to cancel play practice.

Please, and thank you.

January 22, 2012

Best Day Ever

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 6:00 am
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Okay, my wedding day and the days that the monkeys were born are probably the best days ever, but today was right up there.

We woke to snow on the ground.

Tiny and I enjoyed a quiet breakfast, watching the snow fall.

Once the big monkeys were up, they suited up and headed right outside while Real Man took care of the driveway.

While they were out there, Tiny played with toys in the living room, while I sat on the couch with my book and had second breakfast.

Tiny decided to watch his siblings outside.

Which was, apparently, exhausting.

The big kids came in for some Spaghettio’s…a snow day favorite.

While Real Man and I had fried egg sandwiches.

The monkeys headed back outside after lunch.

I played a little piano, and found I had an audience from the other room (with some help from Real Man).

Then, Monkey Girl came in and decided to play.

I baked some brownies.

Monkey Girl baked her first batch of chocolate chip cookies on her own.

And learned a valuable lesson about how unevenly our oven bakes things.

Real Man and Monkey Girl went to the Girl Scout Father/Daughter Hoe Down.

The monkey big boys played on the computer.

Tiny played with his kitchen.

And Mama played some Wii Glee Karaoke.

 

After Tiny went to bed, Monkey in the Middle “taught” Baby Monkey how to play chess, I played some Words With Friends, and we chilled until my girl and my man came home.

It was truly a great day and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

I got none of the things I wanted to get done accomplished, but somehow, I just don’t care.

February 26, 2010

Snow Days, in a Nutshell

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 9:54 am
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Yesterday and today were snow days.

Northern New Jersey has been hit with a storm that has made the, normally, level-headed Jerseyans lose their minds.

I thought “Snowmaggedon” was a funny name for the last storm.

However, this storm has pushed people’s creativity too far.

Snowzilla.  Snowicane. Snowvelations.

Real Man made up “Judgement Snow.”

We crack ourselves up.

Anyway, these snow days have been awesome because I’ve had two days, non-stop of monkey time.

Yesterday morning, around 5:30 am, I was sound asleep, when I felt eyes upon me.

I opened my eyes and there stood Baby Monkey.

As our eyes met, he said, (in his best 4-year old evil villain voice), “Ah…so we meet again!”

Are. You. Kidding. Me?

This morning, I was dozing in bed, listening to the sounds of Real Man fight with the snowblower when the bed started to shake.

I started to get a little nervous because of the small earthquake that hit our area last week (I kid you not…look it up!) but then I realized that it was more of a rythmic bumping.

I popped my head out from under the covers and was greeted with this:

Mr. Garbage Can Head.

Again, I say…

Are. You. Kidding. Me?

Yesterday was full of games.

Monkey in the Middle and I played countless games of air hockey on the mini-air hockey table he got from a friend for his birthday last week.

Love that toy!

We played “pedicure” and everyone had their toenails done.

The big monkeys had a Wii Fit Plus tournament.

Baby Monkey and I built Lego cities.

We napped.

The monkeys snuggled in Baby Monkey’s bed and watched movies.

Another side effect of snow days (actually of most days of my recovery) is that I’ve watched a lot of the Food Network.

Not a big deal, on its own.

However, when discussing me, it is important to always remember that I am an only child of two only children.

Although I had my “sisters-by-choice” Kim, Erin, and Michaela, when growing up, I was also on my own quite a bit.

I’m used to entertaining myself.

And so, as I prepared dinner last night, I turned to see Monkey Girl standing in the doorway, laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked her.  Dinner looked good.  I wasn’t sure what was so funny.

“Who are you talking to?” she asked.

Yes, after all these hours with the Food Network, I’ve fallen back into old habits from childhood and from before Real Man and I were married and I had my own place.

When I cook, I like to play “cooking show.”

What that means is that I explain every step along the way, make corny jokes, talk about the importance of one spice over the other, etc.

I imagine it actually might be quite entertaining to watch.

Hmmm…perhaps if I knew how to cook interesting foods, I might have another career.

However, I’m not sure how many people would want to watch last nights show on baked chicken and brussel sprouts.

We’re relaxing.

We’re enjoying each other.

I’m not sure what we’ll do today to enjoy our time together.

There will be cupcake baking and preparations for Monkey Girl’s birthday party, which we are holding tomorrow.

There will be games.

There will be naps.

Hope you are all enjoying your days, whether it’s in the snow or not.

Most of all, I hope you are spending it with those you love and cherishing every second!

February 10, 2010

Snowmaggedon

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:58 pm
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Okay, I almost didn’t make that the title because it is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. 

Comparing a snow storm (one that isn’t even that bad) to the end of the world is nonsense.

Yet…

I can’t stop saying it.

Snowmaggedon.

It makes me giggle.

Say it with me.

Snowmaggedon.

It makes you giggle, too, right?

You don’t have to say it.  I know it does.

So, as the world came to an end, outside, pounded by the softly drifting snow, the monkeys and I enjoyed a perfectly fabulous snow day.

There was hot chocolate, movies, and birthday cake baking.

There was also some playing in the snow.

It had stopped snowing for a while, and I had asked the monkeys if they wanted to go play outside.

They weren’t quite ready, yet.

However, once the snow started again and turned into what I would almost call “blizzard-like conditions,” they decided it was time to go outside.

Snow fun was always my favorite fun as a kid, so I bundled them up and sent them out.

As they walked into the driving snow I called, “If it gets so bad you can’t see each other, it’s time to come back in!”

Then, I toyed with the idea of tying them all together with a rope like they did in the episode of Little House on the Prairie where there was the terrible storm in Walnut Grove, and then again, when the students from the blind school had to get through a storm (but I think that might have been a dust storm).

I decided to take our chances.

Instead, I took pictures of the snow.

Here’s the deck.  No hockey today.

We also decided to have lunch in the kitchen and not on the deck.

Maybe some barbeque for dinner?

Then again, maybe not.

The view of the woods was beautiful.

At one point, the monkeys called me to look because they had cleaned off the van.

However, by the time I walked down the five stairs to the front door, it was pretty well covered again.

The guy across the street used his snow blower seven times.  I kid you not…seven times throughout the day.

Didn’t make a dent.

The monkeys came in after not too long in the snow.

They don’t have the snow constitution of their old mom.

Or, at least the snow constitution that their old mom had when she was their age.

I’d play in the snow until I turned blue.

So, they came inside, peeled off the wet clothes, put on some dry ones and snuggled under a blanket for a movie.

They took baths and got on their jammies after the movie, we ate dinner, and I was just about to start our bedtime routine when the calls came.

Snowmaggedon has taken another victim.

No school tomorrow.

Two snow days in a row?

Unheard of!

However, I’m sure we’ll find a way to pass the time.

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