It gets even colder

This morning it's -20 degrees. No school again "due to unusually cold weather." M is quite disappointed because today was suppose to be a half day of school and the only day she would get home before S. (M usually leaves at 7:15am and gets home at 3:15pm. S leaves at 7:45am and gets home at 2:45pm. M doesn't think it's fair.) The school district calls at 5:45am with a recorded message telling us when there is no school, which I appreciate, but can't seem to fall back asleep afterwards.

We did go out yesterday for piano lessons. The van registers negative temperatures quite well.

A hazard of cold outdoor temperatures - snow and ice on the inside of the windows, even when the humidifier is off.

A really cold day...

So apparently schools close not just for really snowy days, but also for really cold days ("due to frigid temperatures"). The girls are home today because it is currently -17 degrees (feels like -35 degrees) and that might not be so comfortable standing out at the bus stop. We will be spending the day figuring out how to get our smoke alarms to stop chirping - even after unplugging and taking out the batteries (they are all connected). I'm sure I'll find a chore or two for the girls as well.

Here are some pictures of the girls in the snow - not taken today, but last week. We may not see the grass again for awhile.

December 2008

December was busy getting ready for Christmas...shopping for gifts, preparing and sending out cards, decorating, etc. There never seems to be enough time. Young Womens has been keeping me plenty busy with preparing lessons and attending weekly (or more) activities. For the holidays, I even dusted off my flute and accompanied a trio in church.

Girl 1 had her first junior high chorus concert which was quite good. Girl 3 had a holiday preschool program (the day after a snowstorm where we almost got stuck in the snow because the parking lot hadn’t been plowed). Girl 3 did so well at her program. She knew the songs really well and, in a class of only 4, when her class sang by themselves she really shined.

Santa came to our house for a special visit - Girl 3 still has mixed feelings about the event. She was excited, but says that she doesn’t want to sit on his lap again. She asked him for a cat....named Johnney. I think she wanted it to be real. It turned out to be Fur Real.

Girl 1 and Girl 2 were invited to holiday parties at friend’s houses the Monday before Christmas. Then Dad & Mom came for Christmas & New Years. It was a little chaotic with holiday stuff and snow, but we had a fun time.

Something New

Just doing our part to keep the economy going.



Girl 3 was so sad to see our old piano leave she was almost in tears. She insisted that we bring the old one back or at least go visit it at the piano store. I think she is okay with the new one now; she is so fascinated watching the keys in motion.