Fun in the snow

We have definitely had our share of snow/ice here in Missouri. The boys enjoyed playing in the snow and sledding, especially at my parent's house. They have an awesome sledding hill, "double awesome" as Jackson would say! Jackson wasn't too sure about the snow at first, he would rather be held or play on the swingset. We invested in good boots and a pair of Timberland wool socks for Dawson and his feet were sweating when we came indoors. I think he could have stayed out all day! We were confined to the indoors for about a week when all the ice hit. It was a welcome change - we had "pajama day", watched movies all day, played games and even got laundry caught up! Dawson was sure ready to go back to school though by the end of the week. He attends the Montessori preschool here in Higginsville and absolutely loves it. At age 4 1/2 he has learned to read. He has breezed past the beginning words like ball, cat, the, etc. and has accelerated to words like basketball, kindergarten and refrigerator. (I mention these just because, in the last week, he has said spelled each of these out to me!) He is constantly finding gliches in the English language- how do explain why laugh is spelled l-a-u-g-h?? For the last 2 years Wade and I have contemplated the decision on sending Dawson to kindergarten when he is 5 or holding him back a year. He will be 5 in May so if we send him this year he will be one of the youngest kids in his class. My mom has 9 years of Parents as Teachers under her belt and has suggested that we hold him back just from her experience with other kids and their struggles. Now that he is reading we feel that this is an answer to our prayers and a big "go ahead" from God to send him this year. He seems so ready!