Snow day!

Weather here is generally pretty mild--slightly colder in the winter and a bit warmer (and more humid) in the summer than the Bay Area. Snow isn't as rare, but still big news. Last night, we only got 3 inches, but apparently that's the most this area has seen in 6 years.





















It was enough to close schools and offices, and since not all the roadways would be cleared, I decided we'd just hang out here all morning. Mabes was so excited to play in snow for the first time that she tried run outside before breakfast, insisting she wasn't hungry.





















She forced down a pancake, and protested the layers of clothes I insisted she wear, but then we were on our way out.





















We spent the morning running around and playing in the snow. When we were too cold and wet to stay outside, we came in for some warm chocolate (Mabes doesn't like hot chocolate) and watched the inauguration.
I'd like to say that Mabes understood the gravity and historical significance of the day, but I think she tuned most of it out as she sat next to me with her crayons and coloring books. Every once in a while, she'd look up and point out the White House, Capitol building, Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial ("where I missed Rocket"), and I'm glad the few short days we had in DC made such a big impression on her. The political side of me is trying to instill in her a respect for our country, our democracy, the office of the President, and the hope that so many throughout our country and throughout the world are celebrating today. The realistic side of me says, "she's three. The highlight of her day was the marshmallows in her warm chocolate." I hope that she remembers more than that. If nothing else, she may just remember the fun she had and think that "inauguration" is a fancy word for snow day.