When we moved out here, the idea of having a lot of land for the boys to run and play was one of the top reasons I wanted to get this house. The house itself is really old and needs a lot of work, but my backyard is 40 acres of woods, with creeks and hills, and a large cleared area down by the road where I can put a garden in the spring.
The only drawback to this property so far is that the school bus comes really early to pick up my kids, as they have to be down by the mailbox in the dark during the winter to catch the bus to school. It is only dark for about a month in the middle of winter, and every day that we get closer to spring means there is more light and the days get longer.
I don’t feel comfortable with the idea that my kids are standing by the road in the dark by themselves, so I usually get dressed when they get up and after breakfast I walk down to the mailbox with them and watch for the bus.
This morning it wasn’t so dark anymore and I thought that I might stop walking down to the road with the kids. But they surprised me and flipped out when I suggested it. I think that is kind of cool that they like spending those few minutes together first thing in the mornings. And I could use the exercise, anyway.