Remember when you were a kid, I know for some of us that is ancient history but try to think way back to what it really felt like to be a kid. Can you remember the feeling of utter starvation after a hot summer day of swimming when it felt like you might really die of hunger en route from the pool to the dinner table? Did you ever come home from school on a snowy day, smell something amazing wafting from the kitchen and decide on the spot that your mom was the best mom…ever? Remember when you had to ask your parents before you turned on the tv or wore your new sweater or had another cookie? I can remember thinking, “When I grow up I will eat as many cookies as I want!” (a philosophy that has not served me well, I might add, but that is a story for another time). Oh, and Christmas! Remember Christmas as a kid…the smell of turkey (when you didn’t have to cook it!), the twinkling Christmas lights (everywhere!)…the anticipation levels so high you almost couldn’t take it, every wrapped gift had such possibility!

And do you remember that feeling of joy in its purest form when, once in a while, you were given the perfect toy? Not the toy you wanted because all your friends had it or the one you begged for because you saw it on tv but the toy that you got and instantly it became a beloved part of you, just like that. For me, it was a beautiful Madam Alexandra doll named Alex and for my kids, it’s been The Sled.

Who knew that when my parents gave my kids sleds, they would hit the Perfect Toy Jackpot?! I remember enjoying sledding when I was a kid, but I’d get cold pretty quickly and want to head inside…this is nothing like that. These guys are hardcore. The kids have officially become meteorologists…it’s like living with Al Roper. They check the forecast everyday, willing it to say “Snow”! In fact, they have become so interested in the weather that I have stopped checking altogether for myself, no need. If I need to know what the forecast is I just ask one of the kids. On Sunday, Lauren informed me that I was inappropriately dressed because the high was “going to be 50”. On Monday, Sam asked his dad if he thought his Wednesday evening cello lesson would be cancelled because it was going to snow (Adam had no idea it was going to snow on Wednesday).

When it snows, Sam and Lauren, who generally are not fast movers in the morning, get up early to hit the hill before breakfast and I do suppose that most of their physical education credits this year will be derived from the great sport of sledding.

Their sheer joy and elation has led me to believe that the only real advantage to growing up is that you get to get married and put together your own little brood of Sledders, or Snowboarders as they call themselves (even though they are usually seated and do not own any actual snow boards)…

Well, that and you can have a cookie any time you want…