According to Wikipedia the definition for cabin fever is “a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in, in a small space, with nothing to do, for an extended period.”  Every year since we moved here to Idaho Falls we get cabin fever.  It usually starts snowing here in October and doesn’t stop until April.  Leaving us pretty much stuck inside for that period of time. Cabin fever usually starts to set in around January and into February.  Some of the symptoms (again according to Wiki) are “restlessness, irritability, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, laughter, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow or dark.”

To break up some of the monotony we’ll go on short trips or do something fun for a day.  A couple of weeks ago I was able to take my kids and go to Boise for a day.  My mom was there with my nieces and we went swimming a “Givens Hot Springs”.  Of course I forgot my camera and don’t have any pictures of that fun trip.  It was the best medicine for my cabin fever.  I not only got to get out for a while but I also got to see my mom.  It was like killing two birds with one stone, cabin fever and homesickness.

After a few weeks the cabin fever starts to set in again.  I start to feel restless and irritable. I just want to get out and do something.  In the past week our lows were around -15 degrees Fahrenheit and the highs were not much higher.  I feel like I’m just going to snap.  Then we have a day like today.  It was around 27 degrees Fahrenheit.  The kids suggested we go sledding.  So that’s what we did.  We packed the kids and sleds up and drove out to a new (new to us) sledding hill.  Because it has been so cold the snow was pretty icy.  That made the sleds go really fast.  We had so much fun.  I’m sure my tushy is going to regret it tomorrow but at least the cabin fever is gone for a while.  The boys really liked going over the jumps and Preston really caught some air.  Corey went to take a picture of him going up but the batteries in the camera ran out.  After going up and down the hill 5 or 6 times my body was telling me that was enough.  So Sophia, Corey, and I sat in the back of the truck and watched as the boys went down.  It was nice just to be outside and enjoying the scenery.  It wouldn’t be a sledding trip if we didn’t have some hot cocoa afterward.  We really enjoyed our day out.

Preston at bottom of hill

Preston about to go over the jump

Levi in his green saucer

Sophia in the back of the truck

Me in the truck

Summer has come to and end.  It went by too fast.  School started for us on August 30th.  Now I have 2 children in school.  They were so excited for school to begin (I must say I was too).  Preston started 3rd grade and absolutely loves his teacher.  Levi  started Kindergarten.  Levi was so excited to finally get to go to school like his big brother.  The first day was only an hour long and the parents were there to help.  We went on a little scavenger hunt that took us around the classroom and showed the kids where the bathroom was.  It was really just a time to help the kids become comfortable with the new setting.  After we were done and were on our way home I asked Levi what he thought of school.  His response was “It was boring”.  My first thought “And so it begins”.  I was afraid that I might have a hard time getting him to go to school for the next week.  Fortunately he has warmed up to it and is enjoying school.  He is so different from his big brother.  Preston comes home and tells me all about school and how his day was.  When I ask Levi it’s like pulling teeth to get anything out of him.  Most of the time he tells me he can’t remember.  Eventually I’ll get little tid bits out of him and he ends up having a pretty good time in school.

I have to say it has been so quiet and nice to just have one at home even if it’s only for a few hours.  It is also really nice to have some one on one time with my youngest.  In fact a perfect time to potty train.  I’ve never done the potty training thing with a girl.  I’ve been told it’s easier.  So far it seems to be the same for me.  She is still learning the basics and I find myself saying, while cleaning the mess up, “and so it begins.”

Well summer is ended and with it comes the cooler temperatures and the busy life of running kids from here to there.  I have to wonder what happened to the warm weather and the days of sleeping in. As I wake every morning before the sun I find myself saying “and so it begins.”