Winter Blues

I hate winter.

I feel like once Christmas and New Year's have come and gone, it really serves no purpose. 

I know that we here in the Pacific Northwest may not exactly have that much of a right to complain, as opposed to those in the midwest who completely get buried by FEET of snow, and are expected to - not only survive - but actually be productive human beings in sub-zero degree temperatures. But, our winter can be just as depressing. When January arrives we are shrouded in a grayness that gets into your very soul. Even though winter days are supposedly "short", they seem to be never-ending, becoming one really long, depressing day.

Every once in awhile we get a bit of a tease with a bright, sunny - albeit cold - day, and everyone starts smiling again, and talking about how we will hopefully have an early spring. But then, just as our optimism and hope begin to come out of hibernation - BAM! We get sneak-attacked by some random snow storm when on the very cusp of springtime.

Really, Weather?! This was uncalled for.

You know when I would love some snow? 


December. 


When I am sitting in my house, drinking hot chocolate, decorating the Christmas tree and listening to holiday music. I would love a nice snowfall as we pack the kids in the car and drive around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights, (okay, well, technically we could still do this one, and just drive back and forth in front of our black sheep neighbor who HASN'T TAKEN HIS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DOWN YET. But it's not the same).

I do not enjoy snow when we are four months into this wintry season and the kids have had cabin fever for three months of it. On a normal day we can't go outside to play because things are too wet and cold, and now we can't even just go for a drive somewhere to cheer us all up because this stupid snow has made us prisoners in our own house.

I considered taking the boys out in the snow to play, but the last time we went outside Binker ran for our not-childproofed deck, and Ryan ran straight down the hill in our backyard, coming within inches of the ditch at the bottom. Trying to stay in control of the two of them outside by myself just seemed kind of exhausting to me.

Watching the snow fall

So now we're stuck. I am desperately trying to think of fun, new activities to keep the boys entertained within the confines of our house, but when you're dealing with five minute attention spans, it can be tough. Any suggestions on some things that would keep two toddler boys happy?

Alternately, I am also open to prayers for spring. As far as we're concerned, it can't get here fast enough.