Winter Wonderland

Last week, my family and I settled down and prepared for the worst.  We didn't know what the winter storm would bring.  No power?  No heat?  No water?  We didn't know.  When the storm ended and humans emerged from their homes, we beheld an iceland.  The ground was sparkling, so slippery you would fall with every few steps.

My siblings and I expolored this new iceland, wondering what areas of the lawn were changed.  We strapped up our iceskates and played hockey.  We slid down hills in our bellies.  The break was welcome.

Icicles hung from every tree branch - sparkling and tinkling. 

Water dripped from them steadily, forming solid holes in the mounded snow.

Every plant, leaf, and branch exposed was clothed in a sparkling coat of ice. 

Children broke icicles from the branches, licking the cold, most likely dirty, sticks.  They didn't care.  Who did?  Why did you have to?  It was a welcome break from the strains of school, and we were there only to have fun.  The history, the literature, the Latin, the math were all forgotten while we laughed and played in the winter wonderland.

The entire week we spent outside, coming in only when school was necessary or when we couldn't feel our fingers and toes.  Sure, there were some falls and fights, but in the end, we were so glad we took the time to be together.  We were so glad we explored the winter wonderland while it lasted.