Snow Day #4 (a little late)

Jack went to work today.  He rushed out the door because he had just finished shoveling the hill left by the plow last night and he saw another plow pass for round two.

It was snowing again.  We got a little dusting overnight but couldn't believe it was still coming down.  

My kids must have been tired because they both slept in past 10:30 this morning.

It didn't surprise me when Annie asked if she could have a friend over.

Jake has lots of studying and is going to finish shoveling.

I think I have written about something I started about a year ago.  It's called Day Zero Project.  Basically, you make a list of 101 things you'd like to accomplish in the next 1001 days.  In an attempt to help Jake and Annie make long term goals and have something to work towards I had each of them start a list today.  I didn't expect either of them to finish the list of items today but they both got a start on it.

It was a quiet day.  The kids went over and checked on the kitties.  Annie was in charge of defense.  They only saw one cat again.  The next time we go over we must find #2.

I'm feeling a little icky today.  I'm not really surprised.  Monday I got sneezed on.  Well, not just sneezed on... I turned around and was talking to one little person when another came up and sneezed on me while my mouth was open.  (I almost gagged.)  Definitely a job hazard.  

Here are a couple pictures from our day.

Snow was still stuck to everything.

And the piles in the lots were high!

Jake decided to climb a few.

He was king of the snow!

Today, we were back into the school routine.  Our classroom was full of happy kids and we saw many smiling parents dropping them off.  I think everyone was glad to be back in the swing of things.  I was still feeling crummy.  I had made a doctors appointment yesterday and got lucky getting my thyroid levels checked AND medicine for my cough in the same appointment.  (Don't get me started... cliff note version; please make a separate appointments for each reason you're being seen by the doctor.  Ugh!)  Nevertheless I was seen during the lunch hour and she must have had low blood sugar and forgotten.  :-)

I took my cough medicine at 6:30 pm to help me sleep.  It's 10:42 and I'm still awake.  ?  I don't know why but I am.  It has hydrocodone in it.  I do feel mellow but I'm awake.  

I so glad tomorrow if Friday!

Sleep dreams.

xo

Snow Day #3

This is the snow day we woke up to...

Our street.

the boys did a great job.

I had cleaned off the table and grill.

I think we got about 5" with an inch or more of slush underneath.

it stuck to everything.

 Jake had hours of fun with friends, Nick and Justin.

They made poor Justin into a living snowman.

He loved it.

And warmed up with hot chocolate

and a game of scrabble.

Jack worked from home.

Annie chatted with friends.

I did laundry.

I ran out of fabric softener.

Our laundry won't be extra soft and static free.

I made chex mix.

And banana bread with pecans.

Yummmm.

I did not work out.  Yet.

Tomorrow will be snow day #4.

The kids are excited.

I'm not.  I think we'll be going to school til June.

And guess what!?

It's snowing again!

They're saying another inch or two.

:-)

xo

MORE snow!

I checked my school mailbox about a half hour ago and no school tomorrow.  All schools and district offices are closed.  

We saw flakes flying for about an hour starting at 3:00 p.m., but right now?  Nothing.  Jack was just looking at the maps and its odd to see a storm coming up from the southeast.  Weird.  In the summer when storm come from that direction, I get nervous.  It doesn't look like anyone is taking any chances, most city and county offices are closed tomorrow, too.

More snow!

Here's a video I found hilarious!

Especially since I saw a couple people at the store with this look on their face.

Bread and Milk

(click above)

Jake asked if he could spend the night at a friends house.  Let me correct that - he started asking at hours ago, if he could spend the night.  I had said at the time 'let's wait and see' but when discussing it with Jack we both thought it would be best to have him home if we get snowed in for any length of time.  I don't think we're being overprotect.  It would be different if it was a friend that lived within a block or two.  And it would be different if I knew this kids parents but I don't.  Sometimes you just have to go with your gut - and that's what we're doing.  Jake is MAD, but he'll get over it.

(as usual, I'm skipping around a bit so hold on tight and enjoy the ride)

I think I might think otherwise if he hadn't hurt himself yesterday.  It was a freak accident.  Crazy stocking feet slipping on the hardwoods kind of thing.  He getting Suzy's food and slipped landing on a cabinet door, breaking it off.  This wound is right under his sternum and about the size of a golf ball.  He's got a couple big scrapes through the middle.  Ugh!  It hurts my heart just to think about it.  I saw the whole thing happen and looked at the wound once.  :-(  Gag!  Ok, I must change the subject now.  Jake will survive.  And Jack will have him out shoveling snow tomorrow.  

We are cat-sitting for the neighbors while they are on their honeymoon.  They have two little cats.  They are usually shy but seem to come out when we're around.  I went downstairs to find the food bowls empty.  The cat with no tail had followed me down and seemed almost excited when I tried to open the food container... until it swiped its claws at me and hissed.  Scaring me half to death.  Thankfully there was a hockey stick right next to me and I used it to keep the little booger away from me.  Jake had gone over with me and was playing with the other cat upstairs.  He didn't know what to think when I yelled for his help.  I couldn't get the food out with one hand and keep a hand on the hockey stick.  He came down and laughed at the sight of me, "protecting myself" from the tiny ferocious beast with a hockey stick between us.   Cody had told us we could go 3 days between feeding but I decided today, only two days since our last adventure.  Jake went with me again.  We only saw one kitty - the feisty one, of course.  Jake ran defense while I filled the food bowls.  I got a little satisfaction hearing the screams and hissing from the other room.  It wasn't just me.  ha ha!      

Jack was in the mood to smoke a brisket... so Saturday we went to Sam's and he found the perfect one.  It smoked overnight and was waiting for us when we got home from church.  We had burnt ends for lunch.  They were delicious!  We saved the brisket for another day and my mouth is watering in anticipation of tomorrows lunch.  Mmm!

Annie's plate - burnt ends, asparagus and baked potato

or what was left when I decided I should take a picture.

And yes, she did put burnt end bits on her potato, too!

I took Jake and a friend to the sledding yesterday.  Here are a few pictures.

Jake caught some air.

Then got a little hot...

Jack caught some air too.

Here is where we started but they weren't impressed...

?

I just started an on-line photography class.  I finished the first module - including a quiz and now I have homework.  Once completed it will be sent to my tutor for review.  I had gotten a DSLR camera for Christmas and can do basic shots but now I'll be learning how to use it completely.  Just a warning, if you thought I took a lot of pictures before I have been instructed to take my camera everywhere I go.  :-)  Yeah!  

Ok, I started this yesterday and today has new stuff.  See next post.

xo

Snow Day #2

Snow Day #2

We got another inch overnight.

But Jack went to work.

Annie is dressed warmer today

but continued to chat with friends on-line.

Jake got out to burn off some energy.

It always helps to have a friend over.

They were out for hours!

Suzy didn't get too far out

because she got high centered 

and Jake had to help her.

The boys asked if I'd take them to the elementary school to go sledding

and got the same response as yesterday... laughter.  Sorry boys.

Then I asked why they needed to go to the school when our street is the perfect hill to sled.

And they could clearly see if any trucks were coming...

BUT they did this instead.

Thank you kind neighbor from up the street.

Jake said, "SO fun!"

Annie came out to watch

but I couldn't convince her to take a ride.

After lunch it was nap time for Jake.

And Annie resumed chatting with friends.

Until she required human contact...

and I got to enjoy some quiet time with all my kids.

Dinner is in the crockpot.  Roast!

Mmm, it smells delicious!

The drive and walk are dry...

and the street is still not plowed.

It's a great excuse to stay home.

The street was finally plowed just after 5pm.

Tomorrow I might venture out.

We shall see.

I hope you're warm and dry!

xo

SNOW DAY !!

We heard last night at 9:45 that school was cancelled for today.  It will be interesting to see if we have school tomorrow, too.

Jack had planned ahead and brought his work computer home.  He has lots of conference calls scheduled and has taken up residency our bedroom...

Here are a few pictures out front.

 

9:00 a.m.    

 10:30 a.m.
Something had ventured out.
:-)

Around noon.

 

Annie asked if I'd make her favorite breakfast, "pretty please?"

of course, egg in a nest.

She had no interest in leaving the house.

(she's wearing summer pj's and wrapped in a blanket)

Jake asked if I could take him over to a friends house - South of the high school.

I laughed and said, "uh... NO!"

Mid morning view from the dog door.

Suzy went out, turned around and came right back in.

She's not a big fan of snow or cold.

Jake decided to go out and shovel.

 

But decided to build a fort instead.

Soon after a friend called and he walked over.

So, Jack shoveled.

 

and hoped Suzy would go potty.

Nope.

She has an iron bladder.

Right before Jack shoveled the deck she couldn't wait any longer and ventured out.  She headed toward the stairs but it was too deep and scary.  She made her way over to the table and circled around a few times, looked at me with an expression that said "what do I do?" and couldn't wait any longer... I talked her through it and cheered her on.  Jack came downstairs laughing and was very thankful he wasn't on a conference call; "I'd never live that down!"  If you're wondering how we got the door open, I used a dust pan through the dog door to clear just enough to get the door open wide enough for Jack to fit through.

I put a ruler in the snow on the table, 11.5" of snow.

I'm not sure that's the best place to measure, but...

I got an email at 3:20 p.m., no school tomorrow.  The kids are excited.  Our streets haven't been cleared, so I'm happy too.  And the driveway isn't done yet either.  I usually love to shovel, but have a gimpy arm and it's not a good idea.  :-(  (I really am bummed.)

On the 5:00 news they reported that the McDonald's and Taco Bell just down the street were closed.  !?  What will we do for dinner?  LOL!  I'm just kidding.  I can't believe that was news worthy.  

I called Jake's friends house and asked him to head home... he returned wondering why.  I didn't want him walking home in the dark and have heard rumors that the snowplows will be coming through the neighborhood soon.  

It's 6:16 p.m. and Jack just came in.  The driveway is finished.  (I didn't realize he'd gone outside again.)  It's snowing again.  

Time to fix dinner.

Stay warm!

xo

More fun (& LOTS of pictures!)

We had a relatively quiet morning.  

Here's a recap of our day...

Annie doesn't like surprises

so she cut all her chocolates in half.

What a smart girl!

Addy had a little snack with her friends.

Then we built a fort...

She chilled for a bit...

and then decided to check out the view on top of the fort.

(My camera batteries were recharged!)

We went to Crown Center for lunch and fun...

Jake entertained Addy during our wait...

What a cutie!

Addy got a hot dog.

Annie got a cheeseburger with bacon - of course.

Jake did too and he was HUNGRY!

the kids took a stroll to the candy store.

 The Candy Factory...

and relaxed for a bit - Addy was on the other side of the gum ball machine.

Next was the Sea Life Aquarium...

We all liked the touch pond.

You can use one finger...

(it was a little scary at first)

or two.

Jake and Addy got to check things out from the inside.

those are some crazy looking shrimp!

Addy made a friend.

Jake in the observation box.

He was a little too big.

Addy and Annie looked for fossils in the sand.

A wonderful photo op... Addy, Sarah, Annie and Jake

We couldn't let Addy down because she wanted to play in the water.

It was too cold!

After I got us out of the parking garage and a quick Chinese fire drill 

Jake drove us home.

The look on Annie's face speaks volumes about our ride home.

VOLUMES!

My favorite line of the ride home?

Sarah saying,"I haven't been in a car with 4 screaming girls since high school."

Thankfully, Addy kept us entertained.

And we arrived home safely.

And tonight...

We took Addy to her first sporting event.

BVW basketball

Jake played in the pep band.

Jake thought Addy needed a better view.

(And scared Sarah and I half to death.)

He really is so good with her.

And he got rewarded with not one but two kisses on the cheek today!

The band gets 3rd quarter off, so Addy joined Jake for a snack.

She loved sitting at the table with the big kids.

:-)

We are so blessed!

xo