This article may only be reproduced in its entirety, including
resource box and subscription information electronically or in print. A courtesy copy of your publication would be nice, too!Spring has sprung...like it or not... By Dan Reinhold
The monster snowfall that covered many parts of New England is almost gone for good, except for some pitiful remnants of once-mighty snowmountains. With melting snow comes, of course, frequent rains. Add a thawing ground surface and from that recipe comes...mud. Recently, my backyard has become rugby field from heaven - a little grass, a lotta mud.
Having two boys who love being outside, no matter what weather ("I don't care how much fun that tornado looks - it's time to eat!!")also means that some of gear used for proper snow frolicking is still required...at least according to Dad. As I was working other day, I had a barely contained, yet frantic interruption from my five year old. You know...sort of like pee dance, as in "I really gotta!!!" He'd just finished his after-school snack (actually, it's his warmup for dinner) and came to politely but insistently request my help in getting ready to go outside and play.
First on list was locating snow boots. By now, they were no longer snow boots, but rather mud-and-slime-and-anything-else-I-can-find boots. This little guy's 110% pure Boy.
The search finally turned up desired items amid many impassioned cries of "We GOTTA find 'em, Dad!!!" Next was persuading him to sit still long enough to put them on. The energy contained in one excited five year old boy is more than enough to power New york City for one week. Trying to catch one is like trying to catch a ricocheting cannonball. At last I got him seated - he's anxious to go outside, I'm thinking about a nap already - I pick up one well-worn, tattered snow boot (new four months ago)and after several frenzied attempts to kick his foot forcibly into it, Nicholas is now wearing what's left of his snow boot.
