I grew up where you don’t have to wear gloves or hats to keep warm. I never heard of moon boots or
snow shoes. Easter was always outside and I could ride my bike on Christmas. Ice fishing was unheard of and having a bonfire on the ice was the most insane thing we would have even heard of!! I’ve come to get used to most of these things being the norm around here. When I first moved here I thought, my goodness it would have sucked to grow up here. Going months without being able to swim outside or ride your bike. Having to walk in sometimes 0 degree weather to get to school or standing at the bus stop. Having to put layer upon layer to keep warm. The time it takes to get all that on just to go outside for 10 minutes because any longer than that is unsafe!!! At my sons age now I would not have even been able to fathom that! The one thing I still can’t get used to is driving on the lakes! On our way to bowling Monday Jason decides to veer off the road and onto a lake. I immediately roll my window down (I’ve been told to do that) try not to panic and remember to breath! Mean while Bailey’s in the back hootin and hollering!!
Raising Bailey here has made me change my outlook on growing up here. Growing up here would have been great. I see all the great things we can do during the winter. In all actuality I think it brings families closer. I’m in no way saying warm states aren’t close knit families. You have to find things to do to keep you busy. During the summer we’re almost always outside. Always together but usually with friends also. Winter times comes and we all kind of hibernate in a way. We’re obviously not out as much. On warm days we hit the hill over on the golf course to go sledding or build snowmen. For the most part we’re indoors, we play more board games. We go bowling or go to the movies or out to mom and dads house. Really other than that we don’t go anywhere. Which leaves lots of time to just be together. Bailey spends a lot of one on one time with his uncle because they both love to ice fish. Instead of reading the normal 20 minutes at night we can finish a whole chapter book in one day. We do more art projects. We spend so much more quality time together. I love spending time with my family. I guess I’m kind of selfish when it comes to them. So living here works out for me!!!
To be honest there was no point to this post. I think that’s my problem. I think there has to be a point to what I’m saying. Like I have to have a hot topic or something. These are just some of my thoughts, more are to come and I’m warning you…they may not all have a real point either! LOL
Us Girls..Our Views 
I grew up on the shores of a Great Lake, so about half the year is basically winter. It does get old after a while, but I can’t imagine never having the variety. It’s great to be able to wake up and wonder what it’s going to look like outside today.
This Christmas I bought my daughters toboggans, which they call their “snow boats.” They just love whizzing down the inclined front lawn. Making snow angels, snow balls . . . we haven’t gotten to snow men yet. They eat the snow every chance they get, even though I tell them not to. Icicles, ice palaces, sunsets on the iced-over lake – you just can’t “imagine” these things.
It’s a lot of work getting kids ready to go outside, so to be honest, we have hibernated more than we should have. Yes, it’s very nice to just huddle together and enjoy each other, instead of trying to make the most of every minute of sunlight. It’s great to have so many different things to experience with little ones. And it’s wonderful to look forward to those first daffodils and buds and new leaves in the spring. I really believe I’d regret taking all that from my kids. I suppose I’d find something interesting to take its place, but it’s hard to imagine that from here.
Lol you’re funny Nikki – there is a real point to this post, a really big big BIG one. Sounds like you are cherishing your child and your husband, cherishing the experiences you all have together – memory creating moments of a life moving forwards and together.
That right there is one of the most important things in life and better yet you have accepted this big change in your life, going from a warm climate to a below freezing one is not easy. Give yourself credit, not everyone can do that AND enjoy it.
Right here in your post is an important lesson for everyone, change can be good if you’re willing to accept it…
Beautiful post hun, reading a post about family connection always fills me with amazing warmth
@Nikki “We spend much more time blogging ’cause it’s to friggn cold to go outside and the internet is always warm and inviting!” 🙂
I lived in New Hampshire for 3 years in my early 20’s and I high tailed it back to Texas as quick as I could! You guys can have all that winter stuff. I would much rather spend my winters being able to still fish the bay waters and walk on the beach a little bit. Snow is fun for a day or two but that is my limit. I’ll take a rainy day for arts & crafts and board games any day! 🙂
By the way you guys need to keep your cold air to yourselves! I rode my bike in 27 degree air this morning! Please stop blowing it down here! 🙂
I pretty much agree with SKL. I love our seasons and while I don’t like the way it’s been the last few days, I enjoy the snow and winter. I also love spring, and fall. I’m not really a huge fan of summer except I really miss sitting on my deck. I feel once winter gets here, I lose a room. But I’ve also grown up here and have never lived in a warm year round climate. My dad’s relatives all live in Canada and they are even colder than we are.
I think Nikki is right and you just find more things to do inside. There are also a lot of things about winter that I love. I love watching the birds and rabbits. They really flock to the feeders now and really depend on us for food and water. I love four wheeling and the sound the snow makes under my feet. I also love the way the sun feels shining on my face through the window.
I would really miss the changing seasons. I like them all.
Sanity~ you’re right! Being close to our family and really enjoying each other and everything Mother Nature throws at us. (and she’s been throwing a lot lately) I like the different seasons here also. In Sacramento there are really only 2, sun and rain, and you get those 2 things just about any time of the year! I do remember I was probably in the 3rd or 4th grade and we got hail! You’d think it was the end of the world!
I love Spring the most, we all get that itch to get our hands in the dirt and start planting, watching the flowers come up and everything blooms. It’s like a new life for everything every year. And I love a thunderstorm, watching the rain come across the lake is the coolest thing ever!!!
Nikki, that post was wonderful, and I do hope you keep posting things like this – a blog is for you to use for your thoughts and opinions, you don’t have to make it about a certain topic!
I wish I’d grown up somewhere cold like that, I think it would have been wonderful. There is definitely something about the cold weather that makes families grow closer, huddled together at home with the heater on.
I grew up in Ohio, and it really freaked me out too when I came here and saw people driving on the ice. In Ohio, that would be asking to die. Although I’m sick of this extreme cold, I too like the change in seasons. I would rather have this than not have winter at all. You’re right that our patterns change with the seasons, and there is something I look forward to (and dislike) with each of them. The change is welcome.
I never LOVED winter, but I liked it as a kid. It was fun to go play out in the snow. Sled, make snowmen, snowball fights, build forts. I never did like ice fishing though. The ice creeps me out although I like ice skating. Snowshoeing is a lot of fun and there is just something very peaceful about a winter day. Fast forward to now and I’ll tell you I can’t stand the cold and am really sick of it!