Four dirty cups are lined up on the counter. We just came in from playing in the snow. It is sunny and cold here so Torey and I threw the kids outside then put on our gear and followed them.

We have a steep hill that is part of our yard and if you are careful to avoid the garage, a tree, a raised garden bed and whatever car is in the driveway, you can have quite a ride. Unfortunately the snow was sort of thickly powdery and not conducive to sledding. Fortunately Torey has a lot of energy, physical strength and thinks like a kid. Soon she was towing the Legumes around on a cool new sled of Christopher’s. She ran up and down our drive making a circuit. The big kids lined up to take a turn too. Whenever the kid fell off the ride ended. The Legumes usually doubled up. The first turn would get one of them and the second the other. Both of them were tough, laughing when they picked themselves up and brushed off the snow.

Finally, when we were all exhausted we lay on the driveway with our faces in the sun and breathed deeply the fresh, cold air.

And then we came in and had hot chocolate.