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?

New Years can often represent a fresh start in a new look, attitude, or plan. Goals are thrown about; some serious, some ridiculous.

I just plain want to have more, freshness. Fresh foods to eat,  laundry to hang, and goodness sakes, I’d love fresh bread, daily…with butter.

Most of all, however, I am bone-breaking, heart-longing for, dying without one thing…Fresh Air!

It is my goal this year to be in nature, for 30 minutes or more, everyday. Yes, thank you for the reminder, I know where I live, snowy Minnesota. I think I want to tackle it anyway. Okay, I’ll let myself off the hook for anything below 0 degrees; those days I’ll just do 2-3 minutes before frost bite kicks in, eating away my very skin.

So nature, here I come again, returning to you for some much needed, bigger-than me, time. Time to see, feel, and hear the work of God all around me. Time for my lungs, heart and every inch of me to say…I am alive and well, take me to see the world (though I am sure many of my adventures will begin and end in my very own yard).

Today, I took the kids on a sled-walk. No need for bicycles or strollers to transport us around. The streets are covered in ice. I am not exaggerating. We traveled the neighborhood with binoculars in tow, searching for snow-birds. Then we played at the park followed by some cocoa, pretzels, and chocolate snowmen.

Here are some delightful images from less than a week ago that are infused with warmness. So I say “Nee-ner-Nee-ner” to today’s weather!

Ryan running the 'surf' on Prior Lake.

Molly went tubing with Mommy in Big Bertha.

Molly's favorite hobby is rock picking.

Ryan and Mom at the Swing Bar at Captain Jack's lakeside restaurant.

Peter and Ryan watching the lake.

A great way to end a boat day! Fresh corn and Davanni's Pizza.

Mom and Molly on the Lake Superior Shore in Duluth's Sandy Beach

Please stop over here to see an entire blog entry by the Kobies about our lovely afternoon on the North Shore.