Snow Day Number Four

Four snow days this season. We have two built into our calendar, so we have now added two days to the end of the year. Now, I am not panicking yet. We were out pretty early this year anyway (like May 24th-ish.) So I am not completely hating these snow days. But more than one or two more will be a problem. And isn't everything about me? Shouldn't the weather do what I tell it to?


To be honest, I don't even really remember the first two snow days. They were early in December. And it was really cold, so I don't think we got out and did much.


Yesterday, the Little Man actually had to go to school while the Little Miss and I stayed home. As we were coming home from dropping him off, we tried to turn but the car had other plans. So we went straight. Heh. We finally got home and guess what? They dismissed his school early. *sigh* Luckily, the second trip into town to pick him up was much easier. The roads were a bit more clear and we were able to go in the direction we intended.


Once we got him home, we suited up to brave the elements. I tied a sled to the back of the Gator and off we went! The kids had a blast!




To top the day off, I got a package from the BFF! Woot!


Martini shaker, chocolate, Starbucks...does this girl know me or what?! Thanks, Deb! I miss you !

Did you hear that she moved down South? And is on her third snow day THIS WEEK?! One of the things she was looking forward to living down there was the warmer weather and mild winters. Ha! Biggest snowstorm in 20+ years! I think it's a sign that she is to come back home!

As I sit here sipping my second cup of coffee with the weather channel in the background, it sounds like the majority of the country is snow covered! What about your neck of the woods? Do you have snow on the ground? Are your kids home from school driving you crazy yet?

Two Thousand Ten, 2010, Twenty-Ten

No matter how you say it, 2010 was a pretty great year.

January: It started snowing.


February: It kept snowing...putting the end of the school year much too far into June for this teacher's liking.


March: We celebrated the end of the snow and spring break.



April: Perfect weather for Easter.


May: I went on a field trip as a chaperone, instead of the teacher!



June: Summer finally began! And the husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary with a kid-free, two-night, all-expense paid trip to Chicago.



July: T-ball ended. We spent plenty of time outside enjoying the hot, dry weather. We ate way too many fried things on a stick at the state fair.


August: We savored every last moment of summer vacation. Then school officially started. My 12th year of teaching. Cole started first grade. Little Miss started preschool, 3 mornings a week.


September: I became an aunt! Little Miss turned 5 with a party at the local gymnastic center.



October: Cole turned 7. We had 58 boys here to celebrate. (Okay, it might not have been 58. But it felt like 58.) We trick-or-treated.



November: My BFF moved away. *sniff*



December: We used our only 2 built-in snow days. We had a wonderful Christmas. We started playing Wii...and can't stop!


Happy New Year's everyone! May 2011 be even better than 2010!

On Being an Aunt

My sister and I are 3 1/2 years apart. We've always been super close. We have always gotten along, even as teenagers. Okay, there was one fight. One hysterical fight. We both wanted to be in the bathroom and we both wanted the other one OUT of the bathroom. I sprayed her in the eye with hair spray and she punched me in the arm.


The end.


As adults (if you can call us that) we are still super close. We talk most days and now that she is only an hour and a half or so away, we see each other more often.


She has always been so good with my kids. Very calm and natural with them. They LOVE spending time with Aunt Susie. Ask the Little Miss her favorite place to be and she will say, "Aunt Susie's house." (She does have a big, awesome house!)


Aunt Susie had her own baby in September. The most beautiful baby girl. And I learned how amazing it is to be an aunt. There's an automatic "right" an aunt has to have the baby. At least, I seem to think so because whenever that baby is near, I scoop her right up. Sorry, Grandma. I tend to hog her. She is just so sweet, lovable, and kissable. I can't get enough of her.


But does it make me want another one?


Hell to the no.


I love that little baby so much. But I am very willing to give her back to her momma. The nursing? Up multiple times a night? Constant entertaining? Done, done, and done.


Being an aunt is pretty much the best. Plenty of baby loving. A full night's rest. And no sore nipples. Thanks, Aunt Susie. Keep on having those sweet babies. And if you could have twins, that'd be great. One for me, one for grandma. Perfect.

Apparently December is a busy month for me

Ha! Understatement of the century.


December has flown by at warp speed.


I suffered through way too many school days. Our first day of Christmas Break wasn't until December 23. Cruel and unusual punishment is what that is.

Since then, we celebrated Christmas at various places. We had wonderful food, gifts, and spent time with our wonderful family and friends.


Watching my kids at Christmas this year was so fun. Cole tore open each present, shrieked "Thank you!" then threw that gift to the side and started opening the next one.


The Little Miss, on the other hand, opened each gift, shrieked, "Oh my word!" and hugged each gift tightly, twirling around in joy. She savored each one before opening the next. So fun to watch.

While we were watching a cartoon a few days before Christmas, I heard Cole say, "That's okay if they don't get presents. Christmas isn't even about presents anyway. It's about Jesus." But then, on the final day of opening gifts with family, he started bawling when he realized there were no.more.presents. Heh.

We have had several inches of snow on the ground for...like...ever! I can't even remember what it looked like before snow on the ground. When it isn't 5 degrees out, we have been able to get out and enjoy it!



On Christmas Eve, we came home from my sister's house. (The sister with the cutest baby in the world!) As we pulled in the driveway, we noticed a mystery snowman had been built with all of Cole's outdoor toys! How cute is he?!



I love the grain bin hat and shovel arms. A big thanks to our secret snow man maker!

The BFF who moved 800+ miles away from me sent me a Christmas package! It was so fun to open each individually wrapped gift in the box. I squealed with delight as I opened each one which included a beautiful necklace (which is totally me!) a coffee mug (which is also totally me!) toe warmers, chocolate, a new book which I am currently reading and loving (but still in the first chapter) a Southern cooking magazine, and a Southern cheese straw snack. The package I sent her was surprisingly similar! Great minds... :)

I am now enjoying my one full week of Christmas break. I painted the bathroom yesterday. (Loving it!) Today the kids and I shall make a trip to Ikea for new bathroom accessories. I hope to spend tomorrow in jammies playing Wii all day long. That's what Christmas break is about, right?!

We are lucky enough to have a kid-friendly party to spend our New Year's Eve with good friends and family. We will have the annual corned beef and cabbage to celebrate the new year. Is that a widely-known tradition? Corned beef and cabbage on New Year's Day? Supposedly it brings good luck for the new year.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas!