It really shouldn’t come as a surprise. This white stuff that falls upon us every year. It’s November 1st and it’s officially winter. If one couldn’t tell from the sound of the furnace kicking in all night, we certainly could check on the world of social media for friendly updates of first snow pics and temperature screenshots. I don’t rely on the weather channel, I get my weather updates straight from friends. The only surprise this year, was the beautiful warm fall we very rarely experience. Twenty degrees above one week, to a blanket of snow and below zero the next. On the upside, we made it into the wee hours the day following Halloween sans snow. The little ones moved around freely without having to stuff their parkas under their costumes. This Northern Canadian mom learned long ago when the littles were, well, little, to always buy one size up. Better yet, get the onesie costume that is warm and fuzzy and can be dual purposed to lounge around in on the days that even the air finds it too cold to move. In fact get matching family onesies and you can bring them out during the holidays for your family group pic. Okay, I have yet to actually do this. I tell myself after seeing all the holiday pictures that I want to try that next year. Next year comes, and goes, and I still have not tried it. However, unless the onesies come in Carhart style, I would be taking on a losing battle with my husband & son.

First snow of the year, get out and make that snowman while the snow is still wet and the temperatures are still bearable . There will always be that 20:80 mix of grass to snow, but it adds to the ambiance of country chic. I’m in the country so it’s a right of passage. It takes about a week for my 3 gentle giants to either realize that they aren’t real or that snowmen don’t put up much of a fight. The barking and sniffing will eventually come to a stop and we can all go back to a sound sleep at night, until the coyotes start talking to them. So while the kids (even though they are all teens) enjoy a snow ball fight or the snowman creating process, I will use this time to brush off the snow and do the old switcheroo with the decorations. See you next year Sammy Ribcage and welcome back Frosty. No need for debate, but while I do enjoy halloween and seeing all the kids dressed up, my heart is and will forever be with Christmas. There is just something warm, cozy and uplifting about holiday lights, the smell of pine and the look of poinsettias.