Snowed (and "sicked") in

On Sunday night, we got snow, which in itself is sort of unusual in the Southeast.

But we got A LOT of snow. Seven inches overnight. Some places in the mountains had more than a foot of the glorious white stuff. Hubby and I were so excited!

And we still are. Mostly. He is a lot more excited than I am, because when he has a chance to hop on a sled, he pretty much turns into a ten-year-old.

I used to think I was like Lorelai Gilmore, welcoming snow like an old friend with whom she shared some special secret. I love the smell of it in the air and watching it fall. I love the fun of anticipating its arrival and of romping around in it like clumsy children. And I love the cozy feeling of stomping it off of my shoes, coming inside and warming my hands, feet and cheeks by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate.

I bundled up my girls when they were tiny out and took them each out into the cold for the first few flakes of their lives. When there is a chance it might snow here, we take our "snow dance" very seriously. I get jealous when anyone I know gets snow and our yard remains dead and bare.


But this time, something changed. Maybe it was because Big Sister is in school. Or was, since she has YET to go back from Christmas break. She was supposed to start this past Monday, and yet it will be this coming Tuesday before she heads back to the classroom. She was off a whole week. I had grand plans for this week- a gap between when her school and my MMO classes began. It had the potential to be a week of uber-productivity.

Until it snowed.


The whole city basically shut down for three days. Schools, offices, and even roads closed. Hubby got some extra time at home (and with his sled), which was nice. And I adjusted my idea of getting things accomplished by myself to one of being cozily snowed in with my sweet family.


And then Little Sister got sick. She was crabby before the snow, but, of course, she didn't start running a fever until the weekend. And then she had a fever off and on for days. She has been pitiful and snuggly and exhausted. No playing in the snow for her. No doing much of anything for me, except lots of holding and worrying and trying to convince Little Sis that Daddy could, in fact, get her some juice or cover her with a blanket. Nope, only Mommy. The ladies at Rants from Mommyland sum up the whole experience hysterically in this post.

I couldn't get Little Sis to the doctor until Wednesday, because we were confined to our neighborhood. My poor baby has strep (we didn't find out until today when the slow-growth culture came back) and is finally on the mend.


The sun is out today. The snow is slowly melting. And I still haven't built my snowman. Maybe this afternoon...

I also didn't clean out the girls' closet, or finish organizing the Christmas stuff, or finish taking down the @$%^! wallpaper in our bathroom.

But I did have lots of snuggles and stories with my girls. I got to savor the taste of Snow Cream and their excitement at making it. Little Sis and I got to watch my other TWO children race down a hill next to a herd of grazing cows. I was even able to get a few things accomplished while both girls(!) took naps.

And every time I look out my windows and see the sun glinting off of the (mostly still undisturbed) white front yard, it catches me by surprise and makes me smile.

So, yeah, I guess I still love snow.

I just wish it had better timing.


PS It could have been worse. I could be the bird who lives there!