A Step-by-Step Guide to Staying Warm this Winter

1. When your husband unexpectedly has the idea that the whole family should head up to the hills to cut wood (despite the fact that there are only a few hours of daylight left), ignore the dishes that you're washing, pack the kids in the truck, and head out.

2. Drive around until you find a good tree. Fire up the Stihl and start taking that bad boy down.
3. While dad downs the tree, run around in the nearby meadow. Run through the fire pit whenever possible. Decide to make your own fire pit. Realize that making a fire pit is a whole lot easier than making fire.
4. Practice your paleontology skills by examining animal bones.
5. Once the tree is down, dance around on the remaining stump.
6. Start cutting up the downed tree. Decide the chainsaw isn't sharp enough. Pull out your handy portable sharpener and take care of it.
7. Leave dad with his cutting and go for a walk in the woods.
8. If you're feeling helpful, roll the cut pieces of wood down to the trailer. Realize that they'll roll a lot easier if the curved part is on the ground.
9. If you're not feeling helpful, lounge around on the cut wood, or turn it into an obstacle course.
10. With daylight quickly fading, help dad load the wood into the trailer.
11. Admire your load of wood, pile back into the truck, and make your way back home - dirty, tired, hungry, and happy.
12. Enjoy warm cozy fires all winter long.