Winter is upon us and we love to head outdoors for snowy fun. But eventually those toes are cold, the cheeks are frost-nipped; and it is time to come indoors. When kids stomp in from the snow, they want to be warmed up quickly. So here’s what we try to have on hand to swiftly bring the coziness, and restock our energies for the next round of winter fun.
Hot Cocoa: Around October 1st, we start buying cocoa every week, whether we needed it or not. If friends are over, a single box of cocoa won’t last very long. You can even make cocoa by the pot on the stove (which is what TRGrandma used to do).
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese: Keep the ingredients for this classic warmer at the ready. The kids will be hungry after playing in the cold. Pre warm the soup, and preassemble the sandwiches, if you want them to be prepared super quick. (Remember: don’t leave the stove on while you are out sledding!)
Warm Dry Clothes: Take a minute before you set out into the cold to get a set of clothes ready for when you return. Then it’s no muss/no fuss! A quick change and you are already feeling warmed up.
A Cozy Blanket: We keep our favorite coziest blankets at the ready for snuddling!
A Place to put all the wet clothes and shoes: If your home has a mudroom, you’re in luck! If not, create a functional space in your house. We lay a bunch of towels down in the dining room and use a few chairs to hold things to dry (a folding drying rack is great for this- if you have one). Line up gloves and upside down boots along the radiators to warm up. Then at the end of the day, clean up is a snap as we toss the towels in the laundry and put away the now dry coats and mittens.
[…] There are some icy patches to remind us that there’s more to winter biking than dressing right—some sections of the sidewalk are a bit treacherous. But we have a fun jaunt around the neighborhood, and head home for hot cocoa. […]