Snow days and Sick days

We've been walking in a winter wonderland for the past several days. I don't mind the bitter cold as much when it's pretty out. I took the older kids sledding on Tuesday. I use the word "took" loosely here. Here's how it came about:
Tate: Mom, will you take us sledding?
Me: Umm, uh...
Tate: You can just drive us to that hill on 20th and then sit in the car and watch us.
Me: Okay, then. Sure.
He knows me. I love to look at the snow. I don't want to make contact.

There hasn't been an official snow day yet, though it may get bad enough this week to warrant one on Friday. I love snow days because that means my kids are H-O-M-E and I am in my jammies.

You know what other days I like? Sick days. I know I'm sick to enjoy my kids being sick, but I miss them while they are at school. And as long as the sick doesn't involve anything life-threatening or with chunks in it, I'm cool with that. Tate had a "sick" day on Monday. You may have guessed by the quotation marks that the true nature of the sickness was questionable. He had a headache and was lethargic. Last week I had a headache and was lethargic, so I thought maybe there was some virus on the loose. By noon, I was pretty sure the technical name for this "sickness" was a little word called tired. He had stayed up until 1:13am finishing a book two nights before and it took a toll on him.

Was I upset with him for staying up so late to read? Nope. I do the same thing when I read a novel. That's why I am only allowed to read 2 novels a year, tops. I feel compelled to finish it within 48 hours of starting it. I may be a wee bit obsessive. So I cut the boy some slack.

And the other thing is HE IS READING A BOOK!! AND LOVING IT!! We've tried everything to try to encourage a love for reading, including resorting to paying him (his love language) a penny per page. Even that tactic didn't have staying power. But he has found the "Warrior" series and suddenly he's a bookworm.

Like mother, like son?