Winter

Today is officially the first day of winter, but we all know that winter has begun if it dips below -10 (Celsius), and that has already happened here and in most of the rest of Canada. It has dipped well below just -10. Yesterday it was -31 in the morning. Brrrrr.

Seriously, she posed this way without prompting.

Zoe has divided the four seasons among our family members, so that we each have a season. She likes winter (?) or so she says, summer is my season (it is my favourite, unless you could count on spring, but since you can't always count on it to be different/better than winter, summer wins), fall is Dan's season (also true), so by default spring is Simon's season; it was also the season in which he was born (on the last day). But really, Zoe likes winter on TV. She likes all the things you can do with snow, were it to snow when it was also warm enough to go out and enjoy it, instead of freeze your skin in mere minutes. That leaves the first and last snow falls of the season. Zoe doesn't like it when Mr Wind comes out, but lately it hasn't mattered much if the wind blows or not, it's just VERY cold.

The other day she said to me, "Mommy, I like your season."

That's right, child. That's right.

The thing about winter is that when people describe what they like about it, it sounds an awful lot like the winter carol, "Let it Snow"

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow.

People don't really like winter. They like an excuse to stay inside. They like GETTING WARM. People talk about cuddling up in front of a fire, drinking hot cocoa, pulling out the wool sweaters and cozy toques and mitts. Now, I realize that were you to do these things in summer, you would be sweaty and gross and crazy, but still.