Winter Weary

Winnie enjoying our most recent snowstorm!

I'm tired. Bone tired. We're all tapped out of vitamin D up here in the frozen tundra. I've heard from one source that this winter (2013-2014) has been the 9th coldest winter on record, and from another, the 5th. Not sure who's coming up with either rating, but in any case, it's been brutal. The kids ask every day if they can play outside, only to hear me respond, every day, "No, it's too cold out." I think we've been out about 3 times this entire winter- we're all about to start climbing the walls! If only we could hibernate from about November through March every year: just snuggle up under a huge pile of cozy quilts and not emerge until spring.
Winnie is the only one who is enjoying the snow, though on the coldest days even she's been pretty quick at doing her business outside and getting back in. (BTW, I just learned the term that describes Winnie's different colored eyes: sectoral heterochromia).
We've had to get creative with keeping everyone occupied. I taught the kids the meaning of irony while taking them to see the movie "Frozen" on the 4th of our 6 snow days off from school. We spent one weekday evening at Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America (that'll be the last time we stay there until 9pm- we had some tired and crabby kids the next day). And, despite the cold, we finally went to Hudson's Hot Air Affair - something we've been meaning to do for a long time. The balloons were awesome, especially when lit at night!