We have reached the season where I begin to blog about our cold winter weather. I just cannot help it this time of year. It is always a topic of conversation. Last night and this morning on the prairie we are experiencing somewhere between -35 to -50 below zero wind chill. Indeed it is true. The weather report is on every five minutes when I actually peel myself out of bed in the morning and exercise. Air temperature of -16 and wind chill of -40. What? It is like living in Arizona when it is 120 degrees above zero. No one is outside and you just dash from your car into your house, place of work or school. Or you do not leave your house at all. But hardy prairie dwellers carry on with their lives in the cold, just wearing long underwear and down parkas. We also keep our cars running to stay warm outside the post office or grocery store. Unlocked. And no one steals them. Cold temps keep the crime to a minimum.
Nathan keeps a fire going for me and the fan is blasting out heat. There is a daily supply of wood in the house and more in the garage. The house is a toasty 74 degrees. Of course our furnace works just fine too but the fire is cozy. I love warmth but I noticed last night Nathan slept without the blankets on which means he is way too hot but not complaining. My mom told me as a child that God accidentally put me in the wrong family because I really belonged on a California beach. I have never liked winter. I do not appreciate the cold. But I am a North Dakota girl through and through so eventually maybe I will learn to appreciate the cold winters? I am still waiting and pretending I live in Arizona, not on the frozen tundra. The news anchor said to the weather man this morning said “this is why people are scared to move here”. North Dakota is often mentioned in the news now because our unemployment is at nationwide low and we have a state surplus of money. Two rarities in the United States. If below zero temperatures keeps people from moving here to work then my thought is we don’t want them! We need more hardy workers. Not wimps.
Most days Hunter gets a ride from me to school when I take the girls to daycare or to Nana’s house. Or when I come back from taking them he is waiting in the garage for me so before I can even pull in he is right there begging for a ride. But we can SEE the school from our house so unless there is -50 wind chill there is no harm in the boy walking. Last Friday our daycare was closed so the girls and I had a cozy morning in our jammies and Hunter walked to school. It was above zero thankfully. E pounded on the window and said “Hunter James wave to your sister!” in her two year old language version. I had to open the sliding door on the deck and holler at him to wave. E was thrilled. Then throughout the day she went to the window and knocked on it saying “Hunter James come home school! Wave!”
E has serious sisterly love for her brother and her sister. Actually once you are in Miss E’s camp you get plenty of love from her. She loves people. She talks about all the people she knows all the time–everyone from her grandparents, aunties, uncles, friends, dogs and even Sheyenne the horse (at the farm). Yes a love of people and talking constantly. There is a pattern here that I know well.
Anika gets sisterly love from E all the time whether she wants it or not. Tickling, holding, kisses and hugs.
E’s zest of life is contagious and her love is too. She keeps us smiling and warm…wind chill or not. Last night when we drove past our city pool. She said “Oh I wear my pool pull up. I go swimming with Hunter. Hot out. I swim. No swim now. Too cold! No park. Too cold.”
But not worry it will warm up eventually on the prairie. Hopes of above zero temperatures in the 20’s are on the horizon. And next summer that pool will be full of kids again with sweltering temperatures. And I expect someone will be convincing her big brother to take her with him to go swimming.
What sweet pictures of the girls.