SNOW DAY!!!

Perhaps you've heard, Iowa is in the midst of a two-day long snow storm. Julio was able to use some "use it or lose it" vacation time to stay home today, and he'll be working from home tomorrow, so we've been able to really enjoy the beauty of the snow without worry.

It really wasn't too bad today. The roads were cleared by 10am, so Julio, Harrison and Keigon (the only daycare kid whose parents had to work today) joined Mom and Dad and me for our daily walk.

What do I mean "our daily walk"? Well, as of the middle of last week, after I drop the last of my daycare kids at school, I swing by to pick up Mom & Dad and we head over to St. Luke's hospital. In the cardiac rehab area of the hospital, there is a cushioned walking track that circles a rehab fitness center. Use of the track is free, and there is a small fee to use the fitness center, which will be the next step in our workout regimen.

Anyway, the boys joined us on our walk and it was a good workout for all. Mom doubled her original number of laps, Dad increased his original number by half, and Julio & I worked up a sweat trying to catch up to the two boys, who trounced the rest of us by completing 32 laps (the equivalent of 2 miles).

Feeling far too fit and healthy, we all went to Ryan's buffet for lunch.

Julio took the boys sledding when we got home, then we hunkered down to watch our new DVD of Disney/Pixar's "UP", while chugging hot cocoa and snarfing down popcorn.

It was a most excellent snow day.

It is now just past midnight and Harrison and I are winding down from walking Zuki (it is hysterical to watch her loping through snow which is deeper than her legs are long) and doing a quick "once-over" on the driveway. It's a lot like using a child's toy bucket to empty the ocean, but we figure that's another 3 inches of snow that won't have piled up by morning.

Harrison stayed outside to build a "snowbaby" (the snow isn't sticking well enough for a full-sized snowman just yet) while I came in to take a warm shower. There's a special fun to building a snowman when it's nearly midnight and the snow is illuminating the earth, making everything bright as day, but in its unique, ethereal manner. I strongly advise everyone to take time to build a midnight snowman sometime this winter, if you get the chance. You'll be glad you did!

Speaking of midnight, I need to get Harrison and myself to bed. Thank goodness there's no school tomorrow!