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Day 356: Outside!

Love to watch them plan and execute!

Teamwork! Pictures are dark because it was supper time. 
We survived our first polar vortex, or whatever the h*** it was that kept our temps below zero for the first real week of winter. The boys were just d y i n g to get outside to play, and this weeks temperatures were in the 20s and 30s, which is prime outside playing weather.

They've been working on this little fort for 3 days now, for a half hour to an hour a day. The oldest kid is definitely the ring leader in most of what happens here and this is no exception. This choleric kid evaluates quickly, makes a plan, and gets after it. Often, that tendency drives me crazy, but here, I really got to see it work for good. He has a fantastic work ethic, especially if the idea is his idea or something he cares about. He six, so his planning and engineering leave a little to be desired, but his commitment does not. I really enjoy watching him blossom in this way. 

I was also afraid we wouldn't really be able to play outside at the apartment, but it's been fine so far. The space between the building and the garages is a little bit sheltered from the wind and gives them a good place for an out-of-the-way fort. The plowing of the parking lot made excellent piles for climbing, sledding, and making bricks for the fort.

The worst part is going up and down two flights of steps in snow gear, and the fact that they can't go out without me (and the two-year-old who gets cold very quickly). Overall, though, it's been better than I expected, and I'm happy with that. 

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