Do the triplets love to play in the snow?

Oh how I dread this question. Most of you know that our home does not have a private yard, so playing outside has always been a challenge in triplet crowd control. I have to be very careful I don't get myself into a situation where I can't keep them all safe. While they don't generally run for the hills anymore like they did when they were very small (18mos. - 2 yrs.), they have different personalities and interests, which often lead them in different directions.

So, no, my triplets don't really know about playing in the snow. For much of the Winter I've had the extremely cold temperatures to ease my guilt, but lately we've had some nice days. Still, the task of outfitting them in winter gear is daunting enough for me not to pursue it.

Today, however, I felt as though I had no excuse. It was a balmy 36 degrees, sunny, and Liliana (who we had just picked up at school) had not been out all day. So, when we parked at home I told them I'd get their mittens and they could play in the snow for a little bit. After at least 5 minutes of rummaging I came back to the car with three hats and sets of mittens. (Lili carries her snow stuff in her backpack so she was already planted in a snowbank "cooking" something.) Faith woke up crying and Joe had taken off his socks and boots, but eventually all three had mittens and hats and were off to find trouble.

Joe and Faith followed Lili, while Eve was determined to climb the big "snow mountain" in the parking lot. One wrong step and she would roll into the street. As I'm retrieving her I hear crashes coming from the deck where Lili is dislodging the tricycle and wagon from the ice. Eve hopped on the trike and was almost run over by Lili pulling the wagon off the deck.

"Can we have a wagon ride? Can we have a wagon ride? Can we have a wagon ride?"

Oh, sure.

Lili is pulling, Joe and Eve are riding, and Faith must be carried. She is shivering and cold.

We go 20 feet and Eve spies some BIG puddles.

"I get out! I get out!" and she's half out of the wagon, and then she's out, and then she's tottering toward a puddle that is at least 3 inches deep. I grabbed her coat and turned her, only to see that she's facing another huge puddle, and she sees it as fast as I do.

I should mention this is all happening in the middle of the driving lane in our parking lot.

The peaceful wagon ride is over. Kids are beginning to scatter. It is time.

"INSIDE! EVERYONE INSIDE! LET'S GO! INSIDE!"

With Eve's coat in my grip and Faith in one arm I start for the door, praying Eve won't go limp.

"Lili! Pull Joe in the wagon to the door!"

Like herding cats I finally get them in the door.

"BOOTS OFF! BOOTS OFF!"

In a space that is basically 2 feet by 6 feet, 4 children are struggling to get their boots off with varying amounts of patience. Joe has the least. Socks must come off too as my children must have bare feet to be truly happy.

Once boots, socks, and coats have been removed it is time to herd them to the living room.

"LIVING ROOM! LIVING ROOM!"

When they're in and the gate is locked I can go back outside and retrieve the wagon and trike from the walkway we share with the neighbors who don't talk to us (who wouldn't love to share walls with a big, fun family like ours?!?!)

Some people dream about having a pool, or an expensive car, or even jewels. Me? I dream about a mudroom. Now to make some order of 4 coats, 4 hats, 8 mittens and 4 pairs boots and socks.