The frigid temperatures that descended upon Minnesota at the start of the month have relinquished their grasp, and a succession of mild, sunny days have put a spring in our step, and enabled me to bundle up the kids for an outing to the park. Pulling the girls in the yellow sled , I strolled along the snow-trodden sidewalk, with Zander scampering about, sometimes ahead of us, sometimes behind, plopping down occasionally to scoop up snow for tasting or lobbing at a squirrel. It felt so good to breathe the fresh air and feel the sun on my head, and the gleaming snow was picturesque. Such pleasant winter days can be few and far between here, and thus are the more heartening and enjoyable. At the park we slid around on the ice rink for a bit, then went to the playground where the kids climbed around looking for icicles to lick. It was good seeing them play and expend all that energy -- and needless to say, they slept very well that night!
