Big Roo & Snow- Day 1: Fail

Yesterday I was so thrilled to take Big Roo out in the 4-5 inches of snow that accumulated overnight here in Raleigh. Last year he absolutely LOVED brushing snow off the bushes, running around the yard and just plain walking in it. Now that he’s almost three, I figured he was ready for some “green run” sledding, making snow angels and snowball fights. I even spent the night before compiling a post about fun things to do in the snow to get some ideas for us.

Boy was I wrong.

I got in touch with my friend down the street and we decided to get the kids together to play. Big Roo and I planned to walk to their house since lots of kids on their cul-de-sac were getting together. It was sleeting outside but when we walked outside it really wasn’t as bad as I thought (and I hate the cold).

On the way over, Big Roo thought walking on snow was pretty cool. That lasted about the length of four houses. Then he wanted his PREGNANT MAMA to carry him IN THE SNOW. Ugh. Knowing the real fun would start in the cul-de-sac, I obliged off and on until we got there.

The rest of the mere half hour we were outside went a little something like this:

Me: Do you want to make shapes? (I had grabbed some fun dinosaur sand molds and buckets to use in the snow)
Big Roo: No, you do it.
Then we watched ME pack the snow into the dinosaurs.

Me: Look at that COOL sled! You want to sit in it and go down the hill?
My usually fearless Big Roo: I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to do that AT ALL.

When I actually brought it up to him, he actually got slightly excited and sat down…

… then became a bit more melancholy during what is usually the FUN part.

Big Roo (standing in the snow after sledding): I’m collllld.
Me: Do you want to go back home?
Big Roo: No, I don’t want to go back home.
Me: So you want to stay here and play?
Big Roo: No.

Seeing that this conversation was going no where and that there was no chance of him having any fun (especially since the sleet was getting worse), I decided we should walk back.

It was then he started crying and wanted me to carry him back. In the snow. While carrying his snow toys. And did you forget I’m pregnant?

My friend offered to walk with me and carry the toys since Big Roo wanted nothing to do with her holding him.

I huffed and huffed, shifting him from one side to the other across my belly, as the sleet came down harder. Big Roo’s nose became a snot factory as he cried and squealed every time the wind would blow.

Finally, I called Daddy Roo who was inside working on the nine-month-long fireplace renovation and asked him to come rescue us.

I kept walking though because Big Roo wouldn’t let me put him down and I figured I might as well make some progress instead of just standing there.

After what seemed like an eternity, we got inside and Big Roo continued crying, muttering that he was cold as I pulled off his wet layers of clothes and wiped his nose. Warm, dry clothes followed and I bundled him on the couch with a blanket to watch his new favorite show Chuggington. I even made him a little hot chocolate.

Big Roo was completely content for the rest of the night and at one point happily proclaimed there were “no more bats in the batcave” (our way of saying boogies in the nose). I guess sleet, long walks in the snow and boogie noses don’t make for a good combination.

(By the way, on Sunday we gave the snow another try -in our own yard- and the result was MUCH better. My post about that to come…)

Tagged as: fail, play outdoors, snOMG, snow, still in shock that it snowed