Just Kidding! If we make it to the weekend, without rising above 32 degrees F., Minnesota will have the fourth month on record, since the 1880s, to not have a single day above freezing.

When the air is colder than cold, and the sun is brighter than bright, just upon the mere suggestion to go play outside, you will get a “you have got to be kidding me” look. As seen below.

So we hibernate…(Molly in cave on left and Ryan in space ship on right)

Here is a run down, of some silly indoor things, we do to prevent the winter blues and nature deficit disorder from running rampant in our home.

1. We bring snow into the bath tub, cause baby it’s cold outside!

2. We use a bread loaf pan full of lentils for a sandbox and spoons for shovels

3. We wear our coats indoors to blow bubbles out of the patio door.

5.  We watch TV together. Our current fav is Sid the Science Kid on PBS. Hey at least we are learning about nature!

6. We hibernate some more. Hamper kennels for kids that think they are puppies and act like animals.

7. We exercise with extreme games of make believe, hide-n-seek and follow-the-leader. Jump Up! Get Down! Get Silly!

I look forward to the days of sprinklers in the lawn, freeze-pops on the front step and sweaty games of tag. But for now we are getting above this miserable, below freezing, just enough, to see the fun in it!

How do you beat the winter blues and nature deficit?