Someone hijacked my letterboard

Mama Parker Date

Cecily had a birthday party, so Parker & I got to spend a few hours hanging out together.

A few weeks ago, we heard a commercial on the radio mentioned dipping french fries in your milkshake and our kids were HORRIFIED.  "That's disgusting! Mama, do you do that?!?! That's so gross!!"  So clearly, we've been failing our children and we've been working to remedy this failure.

Mid-Winter Break

Because, obviously, we need more time off school.

I used up all our stay-at-home ideas over the past two weeks, so I had to come up with some not-at-home adventures.

2/19 - We went to the zoo

2/20 - We went to Elevated Sports and hung out at the Mill Creek Town Center

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines day children, have your super-romantic pink valentine's breakfast that I clearly put tons of thought into:

I did make a fancy(ish) dinner.

No School Day #9,256 - They're NEVER GOING BACK

The kids have been home from school for approximately 10 million days, and they still have no school on Thursday, so we headed to a movie.

This is how bored we've gotten, we even finished that puzzle we got from my Dad years ago:

All-told, the kids missed 6 full days of school, had 2 days start 2-hours late, one early release, and one day that had both 2-hours late and early release.

No School Day #857 - Stuck

I have spent HOURS shoveling our driveway.

On Wednesday, I had to run a few errands.  The roads were totally fine, but I got stuck here, 20 feet from the garage.

No School Day #533

When school has been out for 3,245 days, you raid the last-minute-birthday-gift-stash.

But silly Mama, you had no idea that there were still SO MANY no-school days still to come.

No School Day #384 - Sledding at school

The kids & I walked to the school to do some sledding.

Do not be fooled by this photo, I pulled Cecily in the sled 85% of the walk to & from.

Small Group Sledding

Our small group met in-between snow storms and actually spent some time sledding together.

Parker loved it, Cecily did not (this is a recurring theme for the week)

Then, we came home and Keith & Parker built a snowman and played in the snow while Cecily cuddled up in-front of the fireplace being "indoorsy"

Sledding Day!

Parker has a friend who lives down the street from us.  His mom invited a bunch of us to their house for breakfast on Saturday.  After breakfast, we all drove over to a nearby park for some sledding.

Parker and the boys had a BLAST, Cecily did not.

Looks like we might have a snowboarder on our hands.

Today's Exciting purchase

In-anticipation of the gigantic snow storm anticipated over the weekend, we bought a new furnace.

Our old furnace was 18 years old.  For the past few years, when I get the furnace checked they have told me "It's still working, but it's days are numbered. Just keep using it while it works, it's not worth fixing." They've been saying this for years.  This year, it changed to "Well, it could break tomorrow, or it could work another two years."

So, we decided to go ahead and replace when they had a sale in January.  This is one of those "home-improvement" purchases that is not a very exciting, you get to invest several thousand $$'s on something, and your house will continue to be exactly the same as before.

Persuasive Writing

Cecily's class has been working on persuasive writing, so they each wrote a letter to the Principle, Mrs. Drew to request that they could have a Stuffie/Movie Party.

Dear Mrs. Drew,

We would like to have a stuffy movie day. this is why we should have a stuffy movie.  I have been kind to my friends. I think I skipped Level D in reading, and just got to level E. I have been working hard on my writing.  

Sincerely, 

Cecily

No-school day 2

We'd had enough time at home (oh silly Mama, you have SO MANY MORE in your future), so we walked to the coffee shop down the street.

No-School Day 1

We got snow!

 

Naturally snow days = need to bake days

So, we made doughnuts.

It's Snowing! This is so exciting!

I remember driving home from church on Sunday and saying to Keith "Actually, having one or two snow days wouldn't be so bad, I could get behind a few quiet days at home."   ...for this I sincerely apologize.

But, before the SnowApocalypse hit, the snow was fun.

We had one family over to watch the SuperBowl, we (well, the dads & kids) spent half-time playing outside in the snow.

He's reading to her...

...and now I don't have to parent anymore.

Cecily's Cheer Camp

The kids had the day off school and the Shorewood Cheer Team led a cheer camp.  Cecily had a BLAST.

Then, at the end of the day, the girls all got to cheer at half-time for the SW Girl's Basketball game.

These girls had SO MUCH FUN.