Snow days...

Winter is here...with a vengence! I heard on TV the other night that we have had over 18" of snow so far this year. And, guess what? Its snowing AGAIN. The temparatures have been very cold since Christmas with dangerous lows coming tonight and continuing through the weekend. We're talking negative digits!

Because of the dangerously cold temps, combined with the icy country roads still lingering (because at this rate....the snow isn't going to melt until April), the kids haven't been to schol since December 18. The first two weeks was their "Winter Break." But, this week....school has been cancelled.

3 weeks out of school has been entirely TOO long! (Just ask Nonnie, if you don't believe me!)

One would think that with the mountain of new toys the boys received for Christmas, they would be happily playing away. Yeah...in my dreams! In fact, it has been quite the opposite. The kids are bored! I guess you can only play with toys for so long. We've colored, gotten out the Play-Doh, spent time in the basement riding bikes, learned how to play Wii... But, we're running out of things to do. And, its been entirely too cold to even think about playing outside in the snow. (Although, Daddy did take them out to sled last weekend for a little bit, even thought it was entirely too cold...because, well, we needed a break!)

On Christmas Day, Cole turned into his old self just a little bit. "The look" was back on his face. He was grouchy, irritable and argumentative. But, I blamed it on "sensory overload" because of the holidays and figured when things calmed down, he would be fine again. Instead, his behavior worsened every day. And, last weekend, I hit my breaking point. I finally caved and called the psychiatrist first thing Monday morning asking for help. The doctor increased his meds and, alsmost instantly, we got our sweet kiddo back! (Unfortuantely, it took 10 days of sheer torture for Mom and Dad before we got it!) *whew* Let's hope it lasts!

That being said.... today's snow day has left poor Nonnie with the kids again. And, so far today, Chase has managed to find scissors and cut apart her silk flower arrangement. And, to top it off, while the boys were in the basement riding their tractors and trikes, they managed to pump out gallons of diesel fuel all over her basement!!!! (Needless to say, they will not be playing down there again...which is probably more of a punishment for Nonnie than for the kids!)

Dear Lord,

Please send the sun and warm temperatures to Missouri. No more snow days...PLEASE!