Burr.

I told Alida "Visions of sugar plums are dancing in my head." to which, she grabbed the top of my head and said "Don't worry mom. I'll get them!"
With the series of storms that have passed over our house over the past day and night, the temperature has dropped to a frigid 59 degrees (compared to 90 just a few days ago) and it is expected to drop even further to nearly 30 degrees by this weekend, with snow in the higher elevations. SNOW!!!
This morning, I had a chat with Alida about her clothes. She slept in, and was happily playing this morning in, a tank top and shorts. This led to the "we're putting away your summer clothes" conversation. She didn't get why her summer clothes weren't good enough.
I asked her "are you cold?". She replied "Yes. It's really chilly, mom."
So I took her in her room and explained the difference between pants and shorts and tank tops vs sweaters. We picked out her outfit for the day, (warm pants and a sweater she chose), and I then asked her if we should put away her summer clothes. She replied "Mom, my legs fit in these pants, so I think it will be ok to put them in storage."
We also got out our space heater, and we're talking about lighting the furnace this week. (It needs to be done sooner or later...)

All of this cold weather and talk of heaters and "winter wardrobes" has made me really excited for the holiday season to begin, starting with Halloween. I always get excited for holidays when it gets cold. I LOVE decorating. I love sitting in front of a big window with hot cider, watching the snow fall. I love the idea that this year, we have a yard. I will be able (AND willing!) to take Alida outside to play in the snow! I can't even begin to describe my excitement for this! After spending so much time indoors last year, it has been such a relief to me to be able to take her outside and know that we're safe in our own yard. It makes me excited to start wearing my coat and sweaters... though I admit that I will probably have to buy me some new winter clothes, since I'll be spending this winter pregnant, and nothing fits me! (hahaha) I know it might sound strange, but heaters have a smell to them... and when you spend so much time during the winter with the heater on, you get used to that smell and all of a sudden, you associate cold weather and the smell of a heater with holidays. (It also helps that I'm sitting here eating cranberry sauce while I type this!)

Are there things that make you excited for the holidays? What do you do to get ready? When do you put away the summer clothes? I would LOVE to know!