The Winter That Killed Me

Ok, so it hasn't killed me quite yet, but if Mother Nature keeps up like this then I will surely die. I heard somewhere that Michigan has gotten more snow this year than any other state. And our temps, with this crazy wind chill, are colder than Alaska's. Aint that some shit? I love the snow as much as the next person, but this bitter-cold-instantly-freeze-any-exposed-body-parts can gtfo.  What fun is winter if the snow is harder than ice and it's too cold to actually go outside and play?

 

And playing we've been doing, because school has been cancelled multiple times. It was called off again this morning, making it number ten.  TEN DAYS, YOU GUYS. The first few were fun; I was actually even wishing for them. But now they're awful. Long stretched out days of whining and sibling fighting and severe cabin fever and moments where I'm pretty sure Narls and I aren't going to be friends anymore (that kid's mouth lately, maaaaaan; no one told me seven was the age kids kinda turn into jerks).

 

I managed to work from home most mornings, getting a lot of my stuff done while they're sleeping, and either dropped them off to Clay so they could hang out at the station or took them to their friend's house, so I could make it into the office for the afternoon; the days I can't do that I've had to use PTO time for the afternoon (oh, my precious PTO). We've read every book, played every game, colored every picture, and honestly, all Narls and Em really want to do is fight with each other and mess up my house and play this really annoying game of tell mom you're hungry the very minute she gets the dishes done and everything put away from the last meal.

I've taken to the streets to entertain them; at this point of winter, driving on sheets of ice is preferable to staying home and wanting to kill each other. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoping for a sun day tomorrow.

Snow For Days

 

We are under 18 inches of snow. One and a half feet has fallen on the lower half of my state in the last two days. This is the most snow I remember ever getting at one time.  It's been advised that people refrain from driving if possible, because of the numerous accidents and pretty much impassable roads. 

 

We were celebrating a late Christmas with my husband's family this past weekend and decided to make the 2-hour drive home on Saturday, a day earlier than we planned, because of this impending storm. We stopped at the grocery store for a couple things and the shelves were bare.  Snowfall was getting heavy just as we made it home. 

 

Clay shoveled our driveway three times on Sunday. Three times in one day. And he still got stuck just outside our drive on Monday morning as he attempted to drive our SUV into work. I helped him shovel the snow out from around the wheels at 4am that morning so he could pull it back into our garage.  A coworker with full-wheel drive came and picked him up. They're in broadcasting; they have to go to work, especially during bad storms. Be still my heart.

 

My kids and I haven't left our house in three days. They were supposed to go back to school on Monday after a 2-week winter break, but schools have obviously been cancelled.  In fact, officials have already cancelled school for tomorrow morning, making it the third snowday so far. It isn't looking like they'll go back on Thursday either.

 

I cannot complain though, besides my worry about Clay driving, because we're safe and warm. The snow is coming down in huge billowy puffs, making everything look enchanted and magical, like it's straight out of Frozen. 

 

We've change out of the night's pajamas into the day's pajamas. We have watched movies, played the Wii, read two whole Magic Tree House books, made icecream out of the snow (vanilla on Sunday and chocolate on Monday), did about six science experiments (Narls got a science kit for Christmas), and it's been great.

 

 

 

 

I have completely loved being snowed in with these guys.

Winter Wonderland

The snow has been coming down steady for the last few days. School was canceled on Friday so the kiddos got an earlier than expected start on their winter breaks. I love the snow; I'm even holding on to the hope that maybe we'll be snowed in ♥

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

 

Snow Day

Those are Clay's tracks. He never gets a snow day.

Last night it snowed. And snowed. And snowed. Schools are closed, a few businesses are closed, and I'm enjoying the sweet quiet before my children wake up. On today's agenda: a movie in front of the fire, maybe a couple kid crafts, and wearing our pajamas all day long.

Laughing All the Way

Such a beautiful day! We took advantage of the snow that fell yesterday and today's gorgeous sunshine, and spent the afternoon sledding. And my, what a difference a year makes.

Winter Wonderland

December 1st brought with it a blanket of snow.

And some of the prettiest, bluest skies.

It's lovely.

Time To Go, Winter

It has been an extremely long winter. I think we've literally been dumped with snow (and by "dumped" I mean 6 or more inches at once) at least three times since the new year. And now here it is, nearly the middle of March and there is still snow covering the ground.

I am so ready for spring.

Thankfully the last couple days have been in the high 30's (heatwave!) so the majority of the snow has melted since last weekend when I shot these pictures of Narls and Clay building a snow tunnel. Em and I were initially out with them and our plan was to build a snowman, but it was entirely too cold. She and I went back in to lie on the couch and watch the boys through the living room window.

Clay couldn't fit lol.

Snow Day!

The blizzard came. 

It snowed alllll night and while we didn't get the 12-16 inches that were originally predicted, the 8 we did get was enough to close most businesses and all schools.  I stayed home with the kiddos and Clay came home early and it was awesome. There's something about being snowed in that makes home feel that much warmer and cozier.

We didn't  spend all day in the house though, we loaded up the family and met some of our friends at a local sledding hill.