Last in the Rat Race

The forecasts of 6-8 inches of the white stuff were not an embellishment. It was easily 8.

Off to work, off to school, but home early. And with a sled. The kid needed to experience sledding, and, frankly, I was stoked. I could barely contain my excitement as we bundled up for the weather.

I popped Kate on the sled, grabbed the tow rope and silently thanked the neighbors who were too lazy to shovel their sidewalks that morning. After a half-block, we found that the street on the next block over was a little icy, a little slippery and perfectly packed for proper sledding. I pulled Kate along and off she went, slowly and with my hand still grasping the rope.

After several tours, I realized it was my turn. We trekked to the top of the hill – yes in the middle of the road (I’ll earn my good-mom badge for that one, won’t I?) I hopped on, grabbed Kate, popped her on my lap, gave a shove and off we went. I was howling with laughter… Kate had the this-is-fun-but-scary laugh going.

By Sunday, we had completed the winter wonderland experience with not one, but TWO snowmen and Mom-sized and Kate-sized snow angels.

It was like being 6 again.

So when Kate was just a little baby (less than a year), we would put on a Norah Jones cd at nap time and let Norah’s sweet voice lull her to sleep. The first song on the cd was “Come Away With Me.” Beautiful.

This weekend, while the three of us were driving to Home Depot, Expo or some other similar locale, the song hit the cd player in the car. This, combined with a directive to the toddlers at Kate’s school to “walk away” when they get in one another’s grill, gave KR the confidence to burst into song.

“Walk away… me… ‘ight…”

It was the sweetest, funniest thing she has done to date and her first attempt at singing. Mike and I could barely contain the laughter and tears at it all. What a good time.