Hush you Muskies

Well winter was here for even the most ardent supporters of autumn. With about 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground and winds recorded at 30 mph gusts on Saturday there is just no denying that December 21 is not really the first day of winter. Friday night we played in the back yard which really means I drag the kids over a three foot jump we made of piled up snow. Of course the real problem of piling up snow in your back yard around here is that when you have exposed grass in your back yard, people tend to give you ten dollars, leave their cars and walk over to 'the field." By Saturday the kids had bored of the bunny hill and we drove a couple of blocks from the house to a larger hill behind an elementary school. Even in the gusts there were about 30 people milling around while the hill was not large it was large enough for about a 200 yard run out. Merrick would barely stop when he would start saying more, although his voice was ridicously muffled by the 4 feet of scarf wrapped around his head in the same fashion as the kid brother from "Christmas story." Merrick still has the good life and gets to sled both down and up hills--Sophia on the other hand has reached the rite of passage and is required to walk up the hill. The wind was enough of a factor that we were only out there for a little over an hour.
Much of the weekend has been dealt with the Sophia's growing excitement at the small number of wrapped gifts that are starting to arrive under the tree. She is also very concerned, and to my chagrin continually asks Lisa, as to why there are not any presents for Mom under the tree. Lisa just replies "ask your father."