Snowy Day

Once upon a time I was a teacher that disliked snow days.  They were an inconvenience, especially if it fell on a block schedule day.  It meant going longer into summer.  That was then.  Today is now.
Today was a snow day and it was glorious!

I had given up hope that we might get snow this week.  It kept getting pushed back in the forecast. When it finally started to snow around 9:30 pm last night, I assumed it would be gone by morning. Dave awoke me to tell me school was cancelled and I didn't need to call the next person in the phone tree.  Despite my tiredness, I was so excited about the snow that I couldn't go back to sleep.

I had to sneak downstairs and take a picture.  I love the purple sky that comes with snowy darkness.


Robin woke up early as per usual.  I took him to the window and asked him what he saw.  He kept looking around perplexed.  I asked him if he knew what it was and he responded, "I don't remember." Poor Robin has been denied a snowy day since birth.  He did not know what he was seeing.  Eileen's response to snow was pure glee and leaping up from under the covers and jumping on her bed.  I woke up Linus at the time we should have been leaving the house.  I told him school was cancelled due to snow.  He said nothing at first. Linus sat up, peered at the window, and exclaimed, "Shut.Up."
Within minutes of awakening, Linus had everyone out the door.

The kids spent a good hour and a half outside before bothering to ask for breakfast.  I sat cozy by the fire, coffee mug in hand.  I baked some gluten free pumpkin bread to add to the cozy factor.

I wasn't stressing about school.  I was supposed to make Christmas presents with my students for their parents and then take students on a field trip to watch the Blanchet production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Moore Theater.  If you're going to miss a day, it's nice when it's one where you aren't planning to teach a lot.  I made sure this week to give a math test, grade it so kids could make corrections, and even give the kids a head start on studying for science just in case the weather got in the way of school.  With all the fun, merrymaking of Christmas in a Catholic school it can make the last week a little insane.

Ready for his first time playing in the snow.

The first round of play occurred while it was still dark.

The kids dried their clothes by the fire, ate breakfast, and went out in the snow again.  I used the time to bake gluten free, dairy free, egg free Christmas cookies (chocolate crinkles if you must know).  The kids played together amazingly all day.

They came in every once in awhile to warm up and relax.

Linus got a hold of my phone and snapped a picture through the window.

Robin got my phone and captured me using the opportunity to catch up on a little housework.

It was the coziest of days.  I baked, read by the fire and drank coffee.  I watched "A Muppet Christmas Carol" and snuggled each of my 3 kids.  Apparently, we needed a day when all plans went out the window and we could just relax.  Dave is gone winter camping this weekend with some other dads.  Thankfully, we are now off to a good start.

Hooray for Snow Days!!!