Snow Day!

Unlike most of America apparently, (I base this on my facebook news feed) we had school yesterday and today. But then we had a mini ice storm and colder than predicted temps, which made everything icy and miserable. So the kids have a snow day. Which is sort of a bummer, since it was pajama day and mini-Olympics. Mini-Olympics are a bit of a district tradition since forever. (Or at least as long as I can remember, which is all that matters.) It used to be just the high school, but now the elementary and middle school grades have there own mini-mini-Olympics. Basically a field day, but in the gym. Generally involving a lot of silly relay games (popping balloons by sitting on them with a partner holding your hands, getting a paper clip attached to your waist with a string into the center of a toilet paper roll), tug of war, and a faculty vs. seniors volleyball game. All terribly fun and uproarious. So the girls are bummed, but the superintendent, who is wise beyond her years informed everyone that the Mini-Olympics will simply be postponed until after the break. A few years ago, an inexperienced superintendent just canceled them after a snow day on the scheduled day. Sorrow and mourning was rampant.  

Still, it was the last day before Christmas break and I didn't send teacher presents in yesterday. Apparently I didn't check the weather carefully. Oh well. I am sure teachers enjoy gifts in January as much as they would in December. 

And now, for some pictures of our snow day two weeks ago. We rarely have snow days, (mostly because we are such tough Northern New Yorkers) so two in one month is pretty newsworthy! 

Justin and Elsie clearing the front walk. Elsie was integral in this process. 

Orianna and Lily made Elsie a little snow car to sit in. Mostly they just made the seat, but Elsie loved it.

Snow Angels

Droopy hat, Orianna-girl

Kids I like

The chair Lily made for herself

Gilbert decided to army crawl through the snow. So Elsie had to try it. 

And then Lily too. 

Sweet girls

And then cool Daddy came out back to make a snowman. Mommy was mostly standing around being freezing cold and taking pictures. Is it normal to be jealous of your kids snow clothes? Sigh. Adult snow stuff is so much more expensive. And plus size snow stuff? Fuggitaboutit. Both girls got snow outfits from Lands End this summer when such things are so very cheap, and they are so very magically waterproof and warm with all sorts of cool gimmicks and gadgets. I want some!

So Daddy rescued everyone's innocent preconceived notions about making snowmen on snow days. While Mommy went inside, where it was warm, to diligently search for a nose, eyes, mouth, and buttons for the snowman and turn the kettle on for cocoa. I also trekked all the way across our backyard and broke off a dead branch for arms. Yes, I did survive. Listen, it was a nor'easter, so there was quite a brisk breeze blowing across our very cold backyard. It was chilly!

Silly Lily whacking away a the snow to make it smooth for ball rolling.

Orianna's snowman baby

Putting the head on

We used prunes for eyes and buttons, a carrot nose, and we were going to use raisins for the mouth, but the snow wasn't cooperating, so Justin used a little stick. It is a calm and stately snowman.

The snowman creators

And then back inside for hot cocoa and comics. 

Uncle Owen came to plow us out. What a guy!

And this was just a close up of the pictures the girls did for the Thanksgiving wall at Clover and Evan's. Livie wanted me to be sure to get the mathematically confused pilgrim one recorded for posterity.