I Will Be Paying for This Tomorrow

My muscles are already starting to rebel, confirming the sad shape I am in. Can't spend a few hours shoveling snow without needing to pop a few ibuprofen. Sad, sad indeed. It's like I'm getting old or something!

Yep, got quite a workout today! The kids and I went outside to shovel the driveway and walkways and quickly discovered that this snow/ice combo was vastly different than the precipitation from the last storm. Last time I could have cleared the driveway with a broom, the snow was so fine, light and fluffy. This time each shovel full weighed about 120 pounds. And of course, I just had to make things more difficult for myself....

I had been hoping we would get at least one good snowstorm this winter (something the kids could remember after we move to Austin and much milder winters). I figured this might be it; the last snow they would be able to play in for years and years! So I just had to make it special and help them build a big snow cave/fort!

Yes, so I hauled each shovel full of snow and ice over to one side of the driveway so we could make the largest possible snow pile. As you can see, we ended up with a pile 4 or 5 feet high.

And of course I had to show them how to dig it out and pack down the sides. And when they couldn't both fit in the little cave, I had to dig a second one... and then a connecting tunnel. Finally my wife came out and suggested I stop micromanaging the project and just let them play. "You're not 4 feet tall, you know. It's not your fort!"

So I went back to my tedious task of clearing the driveway, taking frequent breaks to rest my weary body and smile as I watched the kids enjoying themselves. Yes, my ankles, knees, back, shoulders, neck are sore and sure to be stiff in the morning, but just look at that smile!

Tags: parenting; snow; snow fort