I still have fingers, right?

Yesterday (Monday) was an ugly day. Rare to say about this beautiful place, but it really was. Hazy, ugly, dank. It must have snowed last night, however, because this morning, the sky dazzled me with its bright beauty, so blue behind the vivid white of fresh snow on the trees. Also, it's very cold! Living in Alaska has shown me how adaptable we humans can be. Now 40 degrees feels downright warm, somewhere around 20 degrees is perfect winter weather, but 10 and under like today is enough to get me noticing.

By the time Wolf got home from school, it was almost dusk and we bundled up to do some sledding. I absolutely love winter! I love the quiet, the cold, the beauty. I love sledding and (though I haven't done it in years and years) skiing. I love the way that life has to revolve around the season. I love watching the snow fall. Last year I was pregnant with Bethany and I couldn't do any sledding so tonight was a great opportunity to get back out there and be crazy with my kids. I didn't last too long. I had to admit that my dinky gloves were sorely lacking in functionality. Wolfgang had a snowboarding lesson tonight with Dad and it went very well! I can't wait to head to a "real" sledding hill and get some distance and speed going.

Auntie Jen, you'll be interested to know that the orange sled has met its match in the kids, as a piece is starting to come off the front. Recently, Zoya and Wolf headed down the hill in our front yard and went right over the wall onto the snowy pavement (much softer than the black kind, by the way). Zoya came in the house and announced how great it was and that "it could have killed me, Mom!" They told me the next jump caused pieces to fly off, although it's still usable. We also had a rather spectacular shattering of a snow disk tonight, at which point Alex was left to slide down the hill on his rear holding only a plastic handle.

Here is some footage. I'm sure I'm overestimating the entertainment value of these films but it's a blessing to be able to catch these moments on camera. One moment I didn't get on camera involved Psalm. Those of you who know Psalm can vouch that he is the loviest boy in the world. He is a cuddler to the nth degree, and has the sweetest heart. He absolutely loves to hug and smooch on his baby sister and tells her frequently that she is the most adorable baby in the world.

However, that also puts Bethany at risk of being overwhelmed by Psalm's love which often brimmeth over. At one point tonight, he gave her such a big hug that her whole stroller tipped over. GASP! A big part of parenting is reaction-control. I felt thankful that my first response was NOT to flip out on Psalm. He really is like an overexcited puppy dog, the big variety who doesn't know his own weight...and of course he's a little human, which puts his precious little heart at risk of being hurt. Alex started walking her for about 20 feet in the stroller and then called out to me that she was happy and smiling again. Phew.