While Trevor had to be pried from his computer with a spatula, eventually all of my children who were home were outside. Our first priority was the snowman. Rowen was particularly committed to making certain that the snowman had sticks for arms. On Connor's first foray to find arms, he came back with two logs rather than sticks, but he eventually got it right. Nina insisted that the snowman have rocks for eyes and a nose, but I provided his snowy eyebrows.
Even before the snowman was completed, we started work on the snow fort. Connor insisted that we had to have one as a barrier for a snowball fight. This snow fort was not as wide or as tall as some of our previous winters' works, but I was still exhausted after getting what we did together. Before we finished, a snowball fight (slow throws only) ensued. I was doing well catching the snow balls thrown my way until Trevor and Nina timed their attacks to hit at the same time. While I was busy batting away Trevor's second toss, Nina's snow ball managed to hit me in my chin. Even though the fight continued for some time after that, that was the last solid hit on me.
Our hill is steep, but limited, and I decided that my parents' hills had gone unused for long enough. We called ahead, piled in the van, and headed over. Once there, we made some good sled runs on two of the hills. I went down a couple of times with Rowen and then pulled him back up the hill on the sled. When I suggested after one of the runs that it was his turn to pull me, he giggled and said, "You're too heavy." At which point, I let go of the sled he was on and let him slide back down hill. He thought that was great and had me do it again two more times (at which point, I was too tired to continue).
Connor discovered my old snowboard (which I received on my 18th birthday) and managed to make it down the hill without falling after only three attempts. After a couple more, he even started holding his hands behind his back as he went down, so confident had he become. Meanwhile, Rowen was the first to give up and go to ask his grandma for snacks.
It was a great several hours. I'm now sore and tired, but in the best sort of way.