winter I'm sorry but I'm ready to say goodbye...

I'm a Chicago girl. Born and raised. I've always lived in a place with four seasons. Always a winter, cold and more cold. And I love it. I love the change in seasons. I always tell Rob that I dont think I could ever live in a place without them, but I hate one thing. End of January and February. It seems I hit about this time every year and I am so over the cold. Over bundling up every time I go outside. Tired of finding indoor activities to do. And tired of the gloom. So here I am January 30th saying the same thing I do every year. "Is it spring yet??"
Our first winter in Belgium has taught us some things:

1. it is GLOOMY. Yup it really is. You know its truly gloomy when the sun finally shows its beautiful face and your 3 year old daughter yells, "MOM look its the SUN! do you see it?? It MUST be summer!" And everyone around you gets happy when the sun is out for only 10 minutes because the 10 minutes is precious when it only happens about every 10 days.

2. the houses are old. We have yet to ask our landlord how old our house is, but it is old. Old homes bring bad insulation. A constant breeze from the old windows.. COLD.

3. European heating is different. I tell Rob that one of these years we will learn how to effectivly heat our home. cause on a daily basis I see this...

What is she doing? you ask. Well thats our heater. Depending on the size of the room determines how many are in the room. Such as; our kitchen has three. Our bedrooms one. Our living room six. Now you see the heater itself is warm, but the room, not so much. SO our 3 year old, who is wearing three layers is sitting next to the heater to thaw herself out.

4. Slippers are a MUST. I don't think I have ever worn slippers more this winter than ever in my life. So thankful my mother in law bought me an amazing pair for Christmas from australia. Also, I have never offered people slippers that come over, now I have many pairs sitting by the door for anyone that comes in the house.

5. I have never desired two things more in my life than I do now; heated floors and heated toilet seats. The first you already know why, the second.... oh my goodness I try to limit the times I go to the bathroom so I don't have to place my hiney on the freezing seat. You see each heater in the house is individually run so to save money my husband we decided to only keep on the heaters that are really needed. Hence the bathroom ones are not "needed", so the bathrooms are freezing, in turn the toilet seats are ice cubs, in turn my behind turns into an ice cube each time I sit on it. Conculsion of the matter ** hint hint** best christmas present ever.. heated toilet seats :)

6. When its gloomy, cold, and not snowy the best thing to do is huddle under the covers and read books...

Allie is my little reader. Not a day goes by that we don't read atleast 4 books. I constantly find her in her bed at night with a flashlight "reading". We just bought her some classic chapter books. The kind that has a picture every couple pages. We just finished Wizard of Oz together, which she loved, and have now moved on to Anne of Green Gables. Friday night after Jake was asleep (sick..) us three climbed into bed and read Anne of Green Gables for about 30 min. Then allie asked if she could look through the book on her own, so Daddy and I got to read our books and Allie "read" hers. It was a fantastic evening and Allie loved that she could snuggle in mommy and daddy's bed. I hope she always loves to read.

7. Mexico sounds more appealing than ever!!! Rob and I are more than ready to hop on the plane and head to Mexico. The yearly McGowan Mexico trip is just around the corner and we couldnt be more thrilled. So thankful for the trip, ready for the warm sun, the beautiful beach, and dry air, and great family time!! thanks mom and dad!!

So winter can you end early?? Allie, Jake and I would really love to explore the outdoors without freezing ourselves, and I for one am ready to not be wearing hoodies and slippers in the house.. Bring on the heat (oh yeah I live in Belgium it really doesn't get that hot... bummer)