But around 7 am this morning, Josh and I awoke to the sound of the kids running around upstairs which was unusual since they usually get up and come running straight into our room in the morning in hopes of getting a few extra snuggles. Turns out they were running from room to room checking out the view of the snow from all vantage points. They finally came downstairs and told us that there was "a LOT of snow" and we should get up immediately to see it.
Being good southerners, we have no gear for snow days. No snow pants, no boots, no sleds, and rarely can we find matching gloves for any of us. We did manage to cobble together snow outfits for the kids and they played outside for all of 5 minutes before declaring it too cold and coming in to demand hot chocolate.
Since Josh wasn't going to work and I wasn't going on my business trip, we divvied up the day so that I worked in the morning and he worked in the afternoon. I have no idea what they did all morning but I did enjoy the view from my second floor office of the many people sledding down our street. No cars, but at least half a dozen sledders.
After lunch I got to hang out with the kids and that is when I realized that I am the worst snow day mom ever. I wasn't brave (or stupid, given that I am 27 weeks pregnant) enough to bundle us all up and walk down our icy road to go to the park for some makeshift sledding. I had no craft projects up my sleeve. I hadn't even stocked up on anything to cook for dinner. So we had 5 hours of homebound time to kill and I'll be honest, at noon that seemed like forever. So we....
... Built a zoo, a castle, a castle garden, a garage, a farmyard, and the sea out of every building material we own. Magnatiles, wooden blocks, Legos, Playmobil sets, and Wedgits. It was magnificent. Dash only knocked over the precarious farmyard fence three times and Ella only cried about it three times.
... Baked chocolate chip pumpkin bread.
... Watched Dora the Explorer.
... Read all of the long library books.
... Did the Hoky Poky. Favorite body part to put in and out? Big ole tummies. I was extra good at that.
... Shoveled the back deck. OK, full disclosure, the kids shoveled the back deck while I sat inside and read the newspaper. Ella set an egg timer for 30 minutes and refused to come in before it went off. I think I also saw them shoveling snow off trees.
... Talked about why you never eat yellow snow.
... Made hot chocolate (pretty sure Josh did that at least once this morning, too).
...Watched Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network. I still contend that cooking shows don't count as screen time.
... Finally around 4:30, I was out of ideas and energy. But in a flash of brilliance I suggested that they help me clean the baseboards in the bathroom WITH TOOTHBRUSHES and they totally bought this as a great idea.
If school is out again tomorrow I'm not sure what we will do but it will probably involve more cleaning with funny objects. And more Dora. And more hot cocoa.
