It already feels like it has been a long winter.. but it’s only December 8th.

Central Minnesota has already seen 9.9″ of snow this year and, despite the fact that is still below an average winter in Minnesota historically, it is more than we had seen the last couple of winters to this point.

Additionally, the blanket of snow across the state is making the air 11 degrees colder than normal, per WJON.

Since it looks like winter is here to stay for the time being, let’s talk about some of the low-key things we love about winter in the Land of 10,000 Frozen Lakes.

SNOW BOOGERS 

Oh, man do I love kicking a good snow booger off of a car. My kids love it too, to the point where I have to remind them that kicking them off of a stranger’s car is counter to typical Midwest etiquette… you have to ask first!

BLASTING INTO HYPERSPEED 

There’s something so mesmerizing about driving at night in a rural area with a snowstorm happening, specifically the kind of snow with the giant flakes. When the flakes get lit up by the headlights I feel like I am piloting the Millennium Falcon or something. It can get a little hypnotizing even!

DRIVING ON A *FULLY* FROZEN LAKE 

This seems like a bridge too far for a lot of people I meet that aren’t from this area, specifically west-coasters and those from the south. They just can’t wrap their mind around just hopping in the truck and going straight across the lake to the other side.