Snow Day ... Again!

What to do on a snow day!?! Anything just to keep my sanity ... Actually my kids are getting old enough that it's not too overwhelming to have them home all day, especially if I don't have any important meetings (breakfasts) or anything. :)

So I laid in bed until 10:00 watching the news and Regis and Kelly - hardly ever get to see them! Then Abbi and I decided to go to Bob Evans for a really late breakfast! I had awesome cinnamon creme pancakes, my mouth is watering just thinking about them again. Then we headed to Kohl's to do a return, and of course shopping since we had a "credit" for our returns. Then I had to make a quick stop at Target for another return and more necessities, like CLR for the shower upstairs, new bedding for Abbi's room that is a continual work in process (pics when it's complete in the summer), laundry detergent for my front load washer - can't find HE detergent just anywhere, and of course some entertaining games for Abbi. Then I decided to treat both her and myself, and I took her to LA Nails. What a fun Mother/Daughter thing to do. Her eyes just lit up when I suggested it. I got a very plain jane mauvish/brown, but Abbi picked a wonderful Little Girl Pink, and then I asked about some fancy design on each nail, and the lady was so excited to be given the permission! She got cool white swirls and dots, and a swipe of sparkle on each nail, all for only a measly $3.00 more! So for a cool $24.00, her & I left LA Nails a lot happier!

My last stop before heading home, was at Jiffy Lube. I'm driving Alli's car this week, since she and 7 other college women took my vehicle to Florida for Spring Break. Don't worry they didn't all go in my car, there was another vehicle making the trip. I talked to her this morning, well about 10:30 before my late breakfast, and she said it was very hot and they were on the beach. TOO BAD! Anyway, back to Jiffy Lube ... I noticed the "change oil" sticker on her window, put her about 9,000 miles since her last oil change. HMMMM ... do you think maybe this should've been done a long time ago? She said something lame, like she's been too busy getting good grades in college. So proud of her! So, with the oil change complete, we headed home.

Now we're just hanging out enjoying the quiet. Kevin is outside riding snowmobile with a friend, and Mitch headed to a friends house after he plowed the driveway.

Here's a picture of Abbi's nails. And also the website she showed me - A Nickelodean Cruise. Boy am I tempted!!!!

The True Meaning of Valentine's Day

A wonderful plan by the Big Party Planner herself - ME! What could possibly go wrong? Just a simple plan for a slightly romantic lunch (can't do much with candles on a sunny afternoon-but I'm sure not complaining about the sun!). I had a just-cleaned house, the kids would be in school, and I knew my hubby would need some food midday. So I went about shopping for some easy to fix food and a bunch of tulips, decided no card would be necessary, my sweet smile would be enough. After all we have been married 21+ years, he should be able to read my mind by now.

So here is where the plan falls apart! I found out Wednesday afternoon that Bethany was cancelling school on Thursday. Seems there was a broken water line and they would need to turn off the water for repair. Some silly administrators decided they didn't want the kids there without water ... PUHLEESE! Water is overrated ... take it from someone who is very close to the product! This created a dilemma with my Kevin, a 7th grader, who would've been traumatized by the "romantic" set-up at the kitchen table - GROSS! However, Mitch the senior would be leaving the house about 11:30 to attend the Career Center, to learn more really cool things about engines.

Dialing ............. "Sarah, Help! Can you take Kevin off my hands? Great!!!!" This is what sister-in-law-best-friend is all about!

FastForward to Valentines' Day about 12:00noon. I'm rushing home to "set the scene", and there's a BIG red truck parked in the driveway! What???? Mitch is supposed to be long gone by now! I run in the house to give him the boot, and he says he lost track of time and wasn't going to school. I whined loudly and told him what I had planned and he generously (panicky) said he would leave and go lift weights. What a guy! Oh and he also gave me a big hug and said "Happy Valentines' Day Mom"! Wow, I love that almost-18 year old son of mine!

So anyway, Dave gets home for our "date", and I greet him with a very grumpy "happy valentines day", without the nifty negligee that I didn't have time to change into (sorry kids, if you're reading this - embarrasing right?)! Needless to say, we enjoyed our one hour of quiet and alone time, even if it wasn't as AMAZING as I of course led myself to imagine!

But for the true meaning of Valentines' Day ... here's my two cents. All the fluff, cards, and sweet nothings really don't mean a whole lot without love in our hearts! Tonight when I lay my head on my pillow, I will listen to the not-so-quiet breathing of my hubby and thank the good Lord for the gift of love, both from my husband and my kids. I know deep down, that we are together through thick and thin, and he will always love me, in spite of my silly plans for romance. The handwritten note that I laid on top of our wedding album for today, read - "Absolutely, I would do it all over again!"

And in honor of my wise neice Kim, next year we're having a family fondue for Valentine's Day! This romantic planning is too much stress, and it seems everyone wants to be home anyway! :)

To my lovely daughter and my amazing son (the older two kids), I hope you had a wonderful and sweet and memorable time this evening spending it with the people who are special in your lives.

What a game! or What Game?

Was there a Super Bowl Game on tonight? I'm not really sure, because I was busy keeping these shoeless people happy, plus 37 more next door at Grandma's house. Alli planned a college party here at our house, and I swear she must have put up an invitation on a public bulletin board. They just kept coming and coming! We didn't count, but figure there were close to 40 fun and happy kids here.

Mitch wanted his own party, so we asked Grandma for use of her "dawdy haus" and he ended up with 37 kids. So between the two places Dave & I kept hopping. Both of the kids and their friends really did a great job of taking care of their own eating needs and then cleaning up.

Dave & I just mingled ... yeah right!? Dave went to bed before the exciting part of the game, and I kept myself entertained just "hanging out" with the kids. We really had a great time, and we think our kids have some really cool friends. And feel honored that they would all want to be with their cool parents - or maybe they just didn't have choice tonight, since we have the house and the money for food! :) Regardless, I love my kids!

Abbi and Kevin of course loved to older kids around, and I reminded Abbi that it's great to have older siblings, because of the huge supply of friends that she inherits! A couple of weeks ago, she came to me crying and said that she hates being the youngest. I think maybe after tonight she might've changed her mind. She actually had some fun with one of the college girls and they spent some time tying all those shoes together. :)

Wasn't it an exciting game??? Having Eli win a Super Bowl was almost as good as having the Colts there. Maybe next year ... another Manning again?!

Summer is right around the corner ...

Another "snow day" ... I admit, I sure like the sleeping in, but then I really wouldn't mind if the kids only had a two hour delay instead of the whole day at home! Following is a quick re-cap of my loooonnnggg day.

I headed into town to make a few quick stops: a gift for Kevin to take to a birthday party tonight, some hamster medicine for Abbi's hamster, a return to Elder Beerman, a salad to go from Panera, and then McDonald's to go for the kids. Let me just say, that everyone else that was out and about today, shouldn't have been! How anyone can actually drive 20 mph on a wet road is beyond me! The roads really were fine after 11:00am, just let me drive. I was a woman on a mission.

When I got home I convinced the kids to play outside with dear old Mom. I must have impressed at least Abbi, because when Dave came home from work I was taking Kevin to his party, and Abbi told Dad that Mom went sledding!

I also made a real cool "Fox & Geese" game in the back yard, but no one wanted to play. Gee, I wish my first cousins would all come over, and we could re-live some awesome childhood memories!