Getting three children ready to go outside during the winter is not an easy task. It normally goes something like this, you start with one, get them dressed, catch the 2nd one, get them dressed then while you are catching child number 3 the first 2 are taking their coats off. I guess my children are hot blooded because Two tends to take off coat and shoes as soon as he gets in the car or wherever our destination is.

While I had good intentions to go outdoors more this winter it hasn’t happened, mainly for the above reason. But also because until just recently Mavis who will be 17 months old this month has been scooting on her butt and not walking. Now she is a proud walker. So yesterday with temps in the mid- 20s and a new layer of beautiful snow on the ground and a driveway to be shoveled I decided maybe it would be a good time to venture into the outdoors.

We had bought 2 children’s shovels at Fleet Farm this year but they hadn’t seen much action. However Two loves working with his father so when Proeun said he was going outside to shovel Two quickly asked to go too and then Avril. So we made a family outing of it.

So while Proeun snow blowed the driveway we worked on the sidewalk and front steps.

The concept was a little much for Avril who was shoveling snow from the snowbank on one side of the sidewalk to the other. But heh she felt helpful.

Even Mavis was enjoying being outside and the snow.

There was even time of a little fun, then it was inside for a hot bath and hot cocoa. Days like today I can hardly wait to live in the country and be tramping through the woods.