Green Hour (or approximately), short winter days and hibernation

Notice, if you will how gloriously dirty these two sets of feet are. They were photographed last summer. If you looked at my kids' feet today, the picture would tell a very different story. You'd see sock lint between their toes, pasty white skin that hasn't seen the light of day in months and nary a sandal blister in sight. And if I was daring enough to peel back my socks right now, it would be an even sorrier sight.

Thankfully, our ugly feet still work. I walked home from my Pilates class today, and had a split-second panic when I thought it was going to start raining. Of course, I had no raincoat or umbrella or hat. But just as quickly I realized that had real rain fell (it didn't), it's quite possible I wouldn't have melted. I don't know about you, but I have been struggling to get myself outside, my kids outside and celebrate the Green Hour on a regular basis during these short, dark, cold and often wet days of winter. So far today, I think I logged .25 Green Hour(s).

Of course, if I hop over to the Green Hour web site, there's load of fun suggestions for getting the kids outside enjoying nature:

• Spotting animal homes
• Bird-watching walk
• And that classic: bundling up and going outside to play!

Those things do sound fun! Do-able. Yet, as a role model, I am so lame right now. I'd sound worse than my kids if you could listen to my inner voice: "It's cold! I'll get wet! My raincoat leaks! My feet will get numb." We just had another little snow system come through Portland yesterday. We did not make snow angels, snow balls or snow anything. Thank goodness the kids get outside fairly regularly at school. They may be logging .5 Green Hour(s), maybe more!

Does the body just naturally want to hibernate in these short winter days? Or is that just a new-agey excuse for not getting my lazy bum-bum out of bed a litte sooner each morning? Do you get your kids out for a Green Hour every day? Or are you hoping that you banked enough Green Hours during summer that some of it will get you through 'til spring?