Michigan Weather Stinks!!

OK so my alarm went off at 5:30 this morning and of course I rolled over and turned it off so that the back up one could wake me up again at 6am. My alarm is set to our local radio station and every morning at 6 they play the national anthem. It's like my cue to get my butt out of bed and start the day. So I did. In fact I had even started the night before by prepping the dinner for the crock pot and making lunches for school. I had even read my Bible study notes. Anyway, I get up get my shower and get back in to bed to cuddle, cause I have some extra time and what do I hear. SCHOOL IS CLOSED for the day!!!! Yuck!! Only in Hicksdale, I mean Hillsdale, do they close school because the roads are rutted and iced over due to a thaw and then freeze overnight. I understand the buses can't run on them, but hey all those parents didn't stay home from work did they? I think they may have been able to get the kids to school bus or not. Besides our school doesn't even use the public school bus we could have gotten to school. I know there are tons of reasons why school was closed and I am being very judgemental and I am not the one having to make the decision, but I can still dream can't I?

So we all went to Bible Study today, since I am the only one with kids in school and I lead it, I brought everyone along. Daniel and Sarah played with their friends and the college girls who do child care and the top three played in the gym. It was a pretty good morning, considering. We stayed and played at church until lunch, then came home, ate and rested while the little ones slept. Our afternoon consisted of Wii and movies. Happy Joy! Snow/Rain days cancel out the now Wii or TV during the school week rule.

Tomorrow we are supposed to have more rain/sleet/snow/ice along with gusty wind and rapidly dropping temperatures. I have made lunch for tomorrow and have dinner planned. We are supposed to have our Winter Wonderland open gym for toddlers and preschoolers, which is closed if school is closed. Who wants to wager that we won't have school tomorrow either?? Tune in tomorrow to find out!!

The Show WILL go on!!

If you hadn't heard the Theatre for Youth production of HONK!Jr had been postponed. Back before Christmas they suspended rehearsals until further notice. We have just learned that the show will go, but not on the days originally planned. They did not have a stage for the February shows, something about mold and water damage, and they couldn't find a replacement on those dates. Soooooo, after much ado we now have a new schedule for rehearsals and new show dates. The production will be at the Sauk Theater in Jonesville on May 2nd, 3rd and 4th and on May 9th, 10th, and 11th. Make your reservations soon!! The first weekend is of course confirmation weekend here so Doug will be very busy! You can't please everyone. I hope that you can make it for at least one show. I am guessing there will be at least 4 shows each weekend - One Friday & Saturday night and Matinees on Sat and Sunday. I'll let you know after Feb 17 which is when rehearsals begin again.

Other things to note: Grace has moved up to a half size violin. When she started she was in an eighth size, her last one was a quarter size. Next will be a three quarter size and then finally a full size, but we don't anticipate her needing the full until Middle School or later.

No one here is sick anymore. We have been cleaning and disinfecting all day. Doug isn't preaching tomorrow, but that is just because he didn't have all week to prepare for it. We will all be in church tomorrow with bells on, although we may be the only ones, there is a lot of stuff going around here in Hillsdale.

Recovery

I can honestly say this is the worst virus we have gotten in a long time. It seemed to last forever. Doug was the last to go yesterday and I do believe we are near the end. I think I can lower the Quarantine flag. It is now time to get out the bleach and Lysol and begin the clean up process. My washing machine, mop and sponges will all get a work out this weekend. That is the part I hate the most! Of course I will enlist the help of the minions, but forced labor is never cooperative!! Thank you to all who called to check up on us and offer help and prayers. We are doing much better and continue to improve each day. Hopefully Doug will be able to preach on Sunday. We have just been taking each day as it comes and playing it by ear. I am so looking forward to a more orderly routine next week. I think the kids are too. They like being home but get bored even when they are sick. I am going to have to ban TV for a year to make up for the amount they watched these past 10 days!!! Do you know how many times we watched Dora the Explorer and Madagascar?? Sarah can quote them if that tells you anything. You should see her and Daniel sing "New York" from Madagascar. It is so cute!

Anyway we have now begun the clean up and the homework, lots of homework. They have a while to finish it, but I think we will get as much done as we can this weekend. Things move fast at WCA and they will be better off if they get caught up quickly. It will be like school away from school. Lucky them, chores and homework. They may never get sick again!!!


Oh and...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT RENEE!!!!!

We love you!!!!

and another one goes...

Just in case you are keeping track, Grace had her turn today. That just leaves me and Doug. Hopefully not at the same time. :-) I will keep you all in my prayers, you don't want this bug!!

All the kids stayed home from school today and Grace and Nathan will for sure be home tomorrow, probably Jacob too. I should probably go get their homework from school. I ran errands today and did some laundry, but I basically just took care of all my kids, the big 32 year old one too. Why is it that when men get sick it is almost worse than the kids. Doug is fighting resisting the end result of this bug so he stayed home today. He began reading Harry Potter and just kinda relaxed. I did too. I am half way through a book I bought this morning at Walmart.

I will continue to let you know how we are doing, but for now I think I will go read and then sleep. Blessings!!!

Another One Bites the Dust

Nathan went down today. It began right after nap. So far his has been the worst. The others tapered off after a while, but Nate has been going about every 20 minutes since 4pm. Poor guy. The bigger they are the harder they fall. Can't wait till it's Doug's turn!!

On a happy note, my sister Rachelle got engaged this weekend -- finally! Her boyfriend, now fiance', Josh Hare, proposed in St. Augustine, Florida last night. We are awaiting the details. I will be sure to keep you all posted, as will my dad at Aftermath and my other sister Renee at Peyton's Place. Check out my dad's site for pictures of the happy couple.

I have decided that this is the year of weddings. We have several this year and I am sure some next year too. My cousin Jason will be married in May, cousin Amy in July, uncle Brian in September and cousin Jeremy in October (i think). Now we will also have Rachelle's and cousin Christopher's to fit on our calendars. A note to those of you still setting dates, the sooner we know the better. A pastor's schedule is impossible to work around at best and last minute changes are a given. Such is the life of the man I married.

Speaking of marriage, my dad has a place for all of you romantics out there to tell your engagement story. Just go to Aftermath and find the section about memory. It will make sense when you are there. I would love to hear all your stories, as I am sure he would too. So far mine is the only story there.

Last, but not least, Scott and Nora, Doug's brother and his wife, are moving to Phoenix tomorrow. We will miss them very much. Scott has been there since this summer while Nora tied up lots of loose ends in Allen Park. They closed on their house in Phoenix in December and are now ready to move in permanently. We are so excited and happy for them. The kids are already planning our first family trip cross country to visit them. If you have any hot spots to stop along the way pass them along. It will take us a while to plan this one.

Well I am off to comfort Nathan and wait for Grace, Doug or myself to be next. Gotta love the winter in Michigan. Congrats again to Rachelle and Josh, we love you!!!