Mud Angels.

It was the first real snow on a school day today. During Writing Workshop, a few of my kids suddenly jumped out of their seats and to the window. SNOW! While we were only supposed to get an inch today, we ended up getting closer to three. Nothing huge, but our first snow of the school year.

Watching my kids run outside screaming happily and throwing themselves in the snow to make snow angels and hastily packing snowballs made me realize that I have missed a substantial part of my childhood by growing up in California. At least today I was able to live vicariously through my students. For some of them, it was the first time I got to see them acting like children instead of the young adults they have been forced to become. It was almost as if the snow had wiped all of that away.

Another thing I missed by growing up in California was learning how to drive in snow. Sure I've done it...but always with 4WD or chains. Trying to go up a hill on ice is no fun. My car is the only SUV in existence that does not have 4WD. I have no idea what we were thinking when we decided to save some cash by forgoing the 4WD. Thankfully I have mastered my sliding down a hill in reverse skills. Also thankfully, Baltimore is filled with genuinely kind strangers who are willing to help push a clueless woman's car up said hill.

Please let tomorrow be a snow day.