Marilyn here...I am using David's work computer:
The last month or so has been crazy. The kids have not had a full week of school since before Christmas. The winter really has been cold and snowy. Of course, our friends and family in Alaska, Idaho, and Utah would laugh at our snow days. We get out if it is snowing. Pretty much every morning for the last month, David would get up and check the County web-site for schedule changes--the best is "2-hour delay". That means we get to sleep in, the big kids go to school and the little kids still take good naps and stay somewhat on a regular rhythm. We have had probably 12 snow days and will be making those days up in May and possibly into June. Here is what has kept us busy: doing puzzles, reading thousands of pages of books, watching dozens of movies, several sword fights, bawling, video games, doing sit-up and push-ups, sewing, painting, making Popsicle-stick creations, deep cleaning, rearranging rooms (Eliza's specialty), crying (every one's specialty), baking, blogging ( I had Michael blog one day because "he was breathing some one's air"), relaxing, and of course driving to various friends to swap kids because everyone is stir crazy. No, we aren't snowed it at all--it's just a snow day. We did have some good storms though and went sledding several times. Eliza, the homebody, stays home and tends while Will and KK are taking naps and I take the other kids, pick up some friends and head to the park. I sit in the car, with the heat cranked and read while they sled for a few hours and then go home. It is great. Our last snow day was last week.
This morning, David went to wake the kids up for school and Grace said without opening her eyes, "We're out". David thought she was dreaming about a snow day and proceeded to wake them up. BUT, they really did have another day off for teacher inservice. I'm glad they were out today--it was 70+ degrees and we spent the day at the orchard pruning trees and enjoying a picnic lunch. Between a few smashed fingers, scrapes from branches and the loppers falling out of the tree onto Michael's head while reading a book in the hammock (it was a good lesson for him on obedience--I had just asked him to come help me pick up branches off the ground and he decided to stay in the hammock--oh well, I tried not to rub it in too bad), we had a great time. I think William's head got a bit of sun and he even has some little scrapes on his face. It felt great to be outside. March came in like a roaring lion and turned quickly into a lamb today. The only thing that was missing was a kite and some jelly beans.
P.S. I read The Princess Acadmeny by Shannon Hale (Thanks Taylor) during one sledding adventure. It was a fun book. I then read the "Goose Girl" series also written by her. Eliza is reading them now. They were my "escape" during those long snow days. I highly recommend them.
The last month or so has been crazy. The kids have not had a full week of school since before Christmas. The winter really has been cold and snowy. Of course, our friends and family in Alaska, Idaho, and Utah would laugh at our snow days. We get out if it is snowing. Pretty much every morning for the last month, David would get up and check the County web-site for schedule changes--the best is "2-hour delay". That means we get to sleep in, the big kids go to school and the little kids still take good naps and stay somewhat on a regular rhythm. We have had probably 12 snow days and will be making those days up in May and possibly into June. Here is what has kept us busy: doing puzzles, reading thousands of pages of books, watching dozens of movies, several sword fights, bawling, video games, doing sit-up and push-ups, sewing, painting, making Popsicle-stick creations, deep cleaning, rearranging rooms (Eliza's specialty), crying (every one's specialty), baking, blogging ( I had Michael blog one day because "he was breathing some one's air"), relaxing, and of course driving to various friends to swap kids because everyone is stir crazy. No, we aren't snowed it at all--it's just a snow day. We did have some good storms though and went sledding several times. Eliza, the homebody, stays home and tends while Will and KK are taking naps and I take the other kids, pick up some friends and head to the park. I sit in the car, with the heat cranked and read while they sled for a few hours and then go home. It is great. Our last snow day was last week.
This morning, David went to wake the kids up for school and Grace said without opening her eyes, "We're out". David thought she was dreaming about a snow day and proceeded to wake them up. BUT, they really did have another day off for teacher inservice. I'm glad they were out today--it was 70+ degrees and we spent the day at the orchard pruning trees and enjoying a picnic lunch. Between a few smashed fingers, scrapes from branches and the loppers falling out of the tree onto Michael's head while reading a book in the hammock (it was a good lesson for him on obedience--I had just asked him to come help me pick up branches off the ground and he decided to stay in the hammock--oh well, I tried not to rub it in too bad), we had a great time. I think William's head got a bit of sun and he even has some little scrapes on his face. It felt great to be outside. March came in like a roaring lion and turned quickly into a lamb today. The only thing that was missing was a kite and some jelly beans.
P.S. I read The Princess Acadmeny by Shannon Hale (Thanks Taylor) during one sledding adventure. It was a fun book. I then read the "Goose Girl" series also written by her. Eliza is reading them now. They were my "escape" during those long snow days. I highly recommend them.
