“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”

— Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass

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Every year I wish for snow. Just one snow day to say we had one, a day to get out and have fun with the kids, to make snow angels, pull each other in the sled and to feel like the snow gear we bought this year was worth it! Some years we get a snow day and some years we don’t. I’m happy to report that 2021 has just given us our first snow day – several days in fact! Perfect timing too, as it came right as a holiday weekend was approaching.

There is something magical about the snow beginning to fall. It leaves us watching in wonder “Will it stick? Is it just going to melt? How deep is it going to get?”. The joy and wonder of the world becoming white, something that happens so infrequently where we live, makes the child inside us reemerge for a few days. Thoughts of snowball fights and building snowmen, then coming inside to enjoy some hot cocoa and thawing out by the fireplace.

There is also such beauty in the once green trees, gently covered in white. White accents all along the trees, outlining each branch as if it was painted on.

The hush that comes over the neighborhood is so peaceful. Fewer cars are driving past, the birds are tucked away in their nests keeping warm, the hum of the nearby freeway suddenly quiet…the only sound left is the snow gently falling, getting deeper and deeper. So quiet in fact, that even the young ones take notice!

And of course the kids just love the snow! They love nothing more than to run through the deep snow, to have an adventure they can only have during winter. Appreciative that they finally have the snow gear which allows them to stay out longer without becoming wet and cold, and new sleds to pull each other around in! Even our dog who normally doesn’t like wearing a jacket, seemed extra appreciative of the additional warmth it added.

Snow also gives us an excuse to get outside during Winter – to romp and play without getting soaked! It can be tough to get fresh air and exercise most days during winter, with the amount of rain that comes down in Western Washington. My favorite form of exercise comes in the form of play and yes, the snow delivered! When the snow gets deep, it takes much more effort to walk through, not to mention run through. Those little darlings are just so sweet when they ask you to pull them in the sled, but when they ask for you to go faster? Of course you just go! You get that heart pumping and thigh burn in, why? Because it’s fun! There is no better reason to be sore the next day, than to say it was because of the fun you had!

Now if I’m being completely honest here, I am also glad when the snow days are over. I wonder if some of some of the magic is lost when all of the adult responsibility comes into play? Wondering if you’ll be able to make it to work the next day, concerned about icy roads because you have to drive, making sure your kids aren’t too cold and their clothes are dry. Another thing I watch and monitor are the roads. Just how thick and slippery are the roads? Should we drive or should we stay home?

We are completely excited for the snow when it comes, and I feel just as excited when it starts to melt and the world begins to reemerge again. And despite it all, I keep secretly hoping for another snow day next year!