The Long Winter

Well, I should say it's about time for an update on our long winter. It seems to be lasting forever. It's been cold and snowy and cloudy and DREARY. It's just plain getting old. The last few days we've seen the sun and I had almost forgotten what it looked like. It's amazing what ten degrees and a little sun will do for your spirits. The picture below is from a couple of weeks ago, the day after Valentine's Day. It was the President's holiday from school. The temps were too cold for me to go out and shovel, but not for Kyle and Rachel. They were happy to do some shoveling, and I really appreciated it.

 

The following Sunday we had a snow day from church again. Again, I love church and hate missing it, but we had a wonderfully relaxing day of study and playing games, and watching home movies.

 

 

 

 

The following day, this past Monday, was another snow day. It was a miniature ice storm and was quite pretty. The kids were all disappointed because it was spirit week at school and Monday was pajama and crazy hair day at school. They pleaded with me to let it be pajama and crazy hair day at home. I reminded them that we would be going to the library, but they didn't mind. So, I breathed deep and we went to the library like this! I did issue a disclaimer to the librarian, lest she think I actually take my children out in public like this regularly.

 

This last friday was a branch social. A Jazz band came to entertain and the girls had a blast dancing. I was impressed that Kayla got up and danced. I'm starting to realize that she's not exactly like I was when I was her age. She got some strengths that I didn't have, which makes me happy. Rachel of course had a blast. Both Rachel and Kayla sang the song "Mairzy Doates" with their cousins. I didn't get it recorded because I was playing the piano, but I'll post it next time we get them together.

 

 

 

 

Kyle was not all that impressed at first because the band was so loud for his sensitive ears. Jason took him out and plugged his ears with toilet paper, and it was a little better for him. He still plugged his most of the time, but he loved the drummer and was very impressed with drummer's solo, which is posted below:

 

It was very fun for all of us.

 

 

...which brings us to this weekend. Yesterday Jason had his second and final all day class to become a ham radio operator. Our stake president has asked all bishoprics, elder's quorum, and relief society president's to take the class and get ham radios, as part of the stake's disaster preparedness. Jason passed and is certified now! Now he's got to get a radio and practice using it. While he was at the class, me and the kids had plans to go to Kansas City. We went to the Boy Scouts of America shop to pick up some forms that Jason needed now that he's got responsibility over the scouting in our branch. We were then going to go to an events center in KC where the Salvation Army was packing a "Million Meals for Haiti." I though it was so cool that you could go for one hour and bring kids and they could help package. Unfortunately, as we walked out the door of our house to leave, he mentioned that his tummy hurt. By the time we left the scout shop, he was worse; so we had to scrap our plans, run through Costco for groceries, and head home. Poor Kyle (and me with him),had a long night of dry heaving, but started to feel better this morning. Just as he is getting better, Rachel started feeling sick. So here we are home from church again. The picures below are of Kayla this morning trying to entertain the "sick ones" with her "naughty rhino show." She has a sticky rhino toy with a handle tied to a necklas. She's throwing the rhino, sticking it to the celing and then jumping off the piano bench to grab it and pull it down. It sure make Kyle and Rachel happy! Kayla showed even more generosity by agreeing to fill in for Kyle and Rachel in Primary. Kayla is giving the opening prayer, reading a scripture in place of Kayla, and reading Kyle's talk. What a trooper!