Snow

So I am picking up the kids after school and they are both announcing what their activities will be when we arrive home - such as - snacks, drawing and then playing in the snow.  I suggested maybe they would like to help me shovel.  No response.  I drive in the garage, and go inside to get my winter gear on - then the phone rings and then I decide to look at the mail quickly.  The kids are outside - haven't come in yet.  I look out the window to confirm their location - I am thinking they are on the side yard with their sleds.  Wrong.  My best Christmas present ever:  Joseph is shoveling the drive - AND using the ice chip intermittently to scrape where the tires have packed the snow down.  Maya has no shovel - so she is out at the end of the drive with her purple plastic, kid's sized rake trying to break up the area where the snowplows (ever-so-politely) deposit street snow as they are clearing the cul-de-sac.  No one is arguing or yelling - only working.  Then - and here's the part that almost moved me to tears - I step out into the garage to start helping them and this is what I hear: "Maya, let's sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer now - you will like that one better!"  Yes - they are shoveling and singing Christmas Carols as they are working.  I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any better than that!

Sliver Lining:  Need I say more?