Friday, February 21, 2014

From Brutal to Blissful

So... this is the craziest winter in all of history. Okay. Maybe not. But it certainly feels that way. I hesitate to even write about it since I know we are all pretty sick of talking about it, hearing about, and living through it. If it isn't the bitter, nasty cold it is the piles and piles of snow. 

The other night we got another 10 inches of snow. Todd always plows three of our neighbors' driveways as well as our own (and his mother's) so he was outside on his tractor until about 11 o'clock at night. First he plowed our driveway and then by the time he finished our three neighbors' (actually it was four because he felt especially charitable) driveways he saw that our driveway had another 3 or 4 inches of fresh snow. So he plowed our driveway again.  Madness.
At school the kids have been trapped inside for almost a month because the temperatures were below zero and it was too cold to go outside for recess. A sledding trip for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders (a reward for good behavior) was cancelled and rescheduled over and over again for 4 weeks straight on account of snow or below zero temps.

Finally this past week we had temperatures in the 30s. It felt like spring. Everyone wanted to go outside without jackets and take runs and ride their bikes (in the snow). The school sledding trip was taken. For three days we basked in mid 30s as if it were summer.  Then we had a massive snowstorm and the temps plummeted again. The highest temperature expected for this coming week is 12 degrees.

I think I can officially say we are DONE with winter. D.O.N.E.

That is why we decided to use this wonderful "No School" Friday as an escape from winter. The minute I found out the kids didn't have school I told Todd to take off of work. I had plans.

Seeing as how Joey's birthday is on Monday I wanted to do something special this weekend to celebrate. Todd is out of town on Friday night until Sunday so the "No School" on Friday came at the perfect time.

We kept it a secret from the kids just in case another horrible snow storm came through or one of the kids suddenly got sick.

This morning the kids were healthy and the weather (though windy and cold) was clear.

Immediately after breakfast we told the kids that for Joey's birthday treat we were all going to Blue Harbor to enjoy the waterpark for the day. Screams and cheers of excitement all around.

The minute we stepped into the hot air of the waterpark we knew we had made a good decision. It took approximately 2 seconds for the kids to rip of their jackets and sweatshirts and jump into the water and onto the slides.

Todd and I couldn't get over how much fun it was. I'd even call it relaxing. All of the boys can swim like pros and Grace was doing amazingly well. It was really the first time when Todd and I could sit back and play and relax and swim and watch while the kids had fun, instead of holding and wading and helping a little one. A little bittersweet for me, but mostly sweet. It was so much fun!
We played basketball in the water, we swam, we rode all the slides, we floated and played in the lazy river, and we even had relaxing time in the hot tub. It was perfection. The absolutely perfect way to spend the umpteenth freezing cold, windy winter day.



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12 comments:

dawn klinge said...

Oh, how perfect! You deserve that fun getaway. I'm sorry it has been such a miserably cold winter for you. I'll stop complaining about how "cold" it is here. Our cold would be be shorts weather for you. :-)

betty said...

Perfect!! Looked like lots of fun! Definitely something fun to try to chase away those winter blues! Can you imagine how the teachers feel with the kids all cooped all day? I know everyone is going to be glad when the weather finally turns and spring descends upon your area!

so sweet of your hubby to plow those around him!

betty

Cyndy @ Back in the Bush said...

What a cool place! Looks like a perfect getaway. I hope winter is over for y'all soon!

Tabor said...

A great idea for both of you and the kids!!!!

Bijoux said...

I'm glad you found a way to escape this madness! I keep thinking about how I hope June goes really slooooooow this year.

Anonymous said...

Excellent! Way to escape this awful winter!

Anonymous said...

Excellent! Way to escape this awful winter!

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

I can't believe the weather there- I hesitate to joke and say we got out in time, but gosh we did! I wish my parents hadn't had to deal with all of it!

Steph

Cecily R said...

I'm so glad you found a way to beat the weather!! What a perfect getaway!

Unknown said...

Do you live in Wisconsin or Minnesota? Those are the two snowiest and coldest places I can think of : ). I think you did an awesome thing for the kids! Getting away from all that snow and cold had to be blissful! I love that your husband helps so many people with plowing. What a sweetheart.

Kat said...

Life with Kaishon- We are in WI. It has been a CRAZY winter. I know most places are experiencing colder than normal winters. I think we are all ready for a break.

Unknown said...

What an awesome reprieve from all that cold and snow!

Even this southerner is DONE with this winter!! BRRRRR!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson