What a LOVE-ly weekend

A while back, I invited some friends over for dinner on Friday to celebrate Valentine's Day.   This week, reality hit.  What was I thinking?  My weeks generally look like this: Monday-begin the week with all good intentions.  Tuesday-realize it all fell apart and count the days until the weekend.  By Friday, my fridge is empty, my house is messy and my laundry is piled in dirty heaps.  I'm usually in my pajamas by 8pm.  

And for some strange reason, I thought this was a good night to have company?

Luckily, this week it snowed.  With two extra days to prepare, I managed to set the table, plan the menu and cook.   Our menu had a Valentine's theme which included I Love You Lemon Bars and Romantic Raspberry Squares.  Chrissy got in the spirit too with a heart shaped appetizer to start.   We had good food, good friends and good times.  What's not to LOVE about that?

 

 

Just Another Manic Snow Day

I've had The Bangles song stuck in my head all weekend.  And it's a long one--the weekend, not the song--since we got two more snow days.

This brings our total to 8 snow days, not counting all the delays.

There's a car under there somewhere.

I know people are going crazy.  They are lamenting the winter of their discontent and calling it the winter that ruined all the moms.  I'm not going to lie--I love it.  I don't think I've worked a 5 day work week since, oh, November? 


Even too much snow for the penguin?


Of course, I am past the stage of having little kids when I actually spent time with my children and entertained them all day.  Snow ball fights and baking projects and crafty ideas are exhausting, I know.  Now my children are teenagers and they mostly entertain themselves.  As long as I stock up on Doritos and hot chocolate before a storm, I'm good.

More Doritos, please.



Snow day sleepovers are the best!

So I've actually enjoyed some moments of sitting by the fire with a cup of coffee and a good book.  (Just finished The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd if you are looking for one.)  I have time to take my dog for long walks in the snow.  I go down to my basement and work out.  I have time to do my homework for my grad class.  I am cooking real dinners that consist of more than a box of spaghetti and a jar of sauce.   I am caught up on laundry....kidding.  With all the snow days, I even finished my 2012 yearly photo book.  (No, that is not a typo, and yes, I know what year it is.)

Yes, I know the world is cold and grey.  My front hall seems permanently full of dripping boots and soggy gloves.  We'll probably be in school until August at this rate.  I'm choosing to overlook all of this as I turn off the alarm clock again and master the art of making lemon bars. 

The Show Must Go On

The email arrives late Wednesday night. 

 

"I wanted to let you know that our son has been throwing up since this evening. I am not sure what is going on but if he doesn't feel better tomorrow he will have to stay home. I know they have their big Play tomorrow.  I am so sorry but I hope you understand. It is going to be a long night for us."

 

Poor guy.  Bad enough to come down with a stomach bug, but even worse to have to miss our class play.  Luckily, he doesn't have a singing part.  I'm sure I can find a volunteer to read his lines for him.

 

Thursday morning's email brings more bad news.  Another sick student.  Then another.  By 9:00 am I am starting to sweat and I'm pretty sure my deodorant has completely stopped working.

 

A violent stomach virus is sweeping through my classroom on the day of the play.  We have 6 students absent.

 

Normally I greet my students at the door with a handshake and a smile.  Thursday, I greet them with a tub of Clorox wipes.  "Desks and chairs, desks and chairs," I repeat.  "Wipe down everything--door handles, surfaces, pencils, keyboards..."

 

I explain the situation to the students.  Hands shoot up around the room, "I could say the Naturalist's lines because I'm already on the stage."

 

"I could be the Ox and then run and change..."

 

My students amaze me.  We've had very little time to practice due to all our snow days.  We literally lost half our rehearsal time due to closures and delays.   In two short weeks, they learned lines, cues, songs and instrument parts.  Now, they are willing to do whatever it takes not to disappoint their waiting audience.  All the volunteers refuse to go on stage with a script.  They quickly memorize new material and head out for costume changes. 

 

The lights go down.  The play begins.  And it is wonderful!  If you were here, you never would know that there were six cast members absent.  Congratulations to my amazing third grade class.  You pulled together and said, "The show must go on."  And so it did.