Monday I woke hunched over in stomach cramps and I was not about to shovel out the car so we took a personal snow day. Tuesday the school district called an actual snow day so I still haven't worked a full week and I am exhausted. The school issued a photo contest for reading on a snow day and we had fun submitting pictures with snowmen and snowforts. Cross your fingers we win the $50 amazon card. Wednesday my middle child stayed home and I felt like the worst mother going to work and leaving her in bed. But I think that was her plan because she brought her whole bed to the couch by the time I got home and was binge watching tv. So I ran grocery shopping with little man and then went visiting with a sister in the ward. When I came home I about cried, a kind neighbor brought home his farming tractor to scrape our driveway. Little acts of kindness go a long way. We helped his sister out of her driveway on Monday. It feels like a community getting everyone sane in this white stuff. Thursday was chaotic. After work/school I had activity days (8-11 yr olds meet and work on goals and be silly at church) then I came home did dinner and went to a relief society auction. I was a little stressed about going to an auction until I showed up and was given Monopoly money. I took some home decor I no longer use but stash anyways and came home with four giant cinnamon rolls yum. Friday ... you'd think I'd remember what I did yesterday. Okay it came to me. I made chicken lasagna and a friend called and said she had made extra spud it dough so I ran and we had fun making doughnuts. Today there is a church sledding party on the ball fields. But most importantly it is Rar Day. I miss living close by all of her favorite things, it was so easy to do things in her memory with my mom. But the celebration will still go on!!' This is the tenth year I've spent your birthday without you. Ten seems like such a monumental milestone that I never wanted to reach. But I know we will have eternity together when it is my time to join the celebration in heaven but I am nowhere near to be ready for that... so I will wear a little pink eyeshadow today (because really no one can pull off a lot, don't know how she did it) and cry a little and laugh a lot.

Another week in the books and it was kind of a different one. Saturday we had adult session of conference and I had the time wrong so we missed most of it but we enjoyed the waffles and ice cream after at our RS pres house. After Sunday's session we had a fun afternoon of soup and mashed potatoes at a friend's house. Monday was a holiday off from school and Calvin picked up a day shift, so me and the kids hung around the house. Tuesday and Wednesday were a normal hectic day. I should add that Tuesday was my 13th wedding anniversary!! And my lover brought home a dozen red roses!! Bravo to my man. Every Wednesday is a half day from school and we go to the library kid club right after. This week they played indoor snow games since it is too cold to play in the actual snow. Thursday it warmed up outside enough to snow again. It snowed so much they called a snow day. So I tried to be productive and changed bedding and other random tasks that never get done. Also, it has to be noted that I shoveled the car to unbury it. Abs of steel should be coming any time now. Today the sun came out and t is a warm 34 outside  and we went back to school. I'm thinking if we have a full week of school next week it will throw us off. But thankfully no drama happened other than the normal he said she said fighting. 

So my blog kind of died. But it is my resolution for this year 2017! To let go of trying to catch up and just recap at least once a week, because I miss this fun journaling. So this week I went back to work after taking a year to be home with my children and become aware of our new surroundings in good ole Idaho. And going back to work has brought me to some realizations about myself.1. I am mean when I am stressed out.2. I get stressed just thinking about things before I even get to them, so it doesn't take much 3. I missed being in a work environment where I was needed and acknowledged
So it was kind of a win-lose kind of week. But I have to say my kids are champs! I had a couple meltdowns (picture my sobbing and throwing a snow shovel) and they stuck with me. Before, if we got stuck in the snow in the mornings we would just call it a try, but now I have to be to work! SO Tuesday I had to rely on a neighbor to pull not one, but two cars out of the slush in our front yard.It was the first day back to school after winter break, a trip to Las Vegas, and a snow day. Kindergarten was canceled due to flooding damage so it was also a first day to find a sitter since I wouldn't' be able to stay home with him. DRAMA. Then Wednesday I was already to nail this getting everyone where we needed to be and then the truck ran out of gas warming up out front. I LOST IT. Did I mention my husband started police patrol training this week too. . . 30 miles away. The truck was parked in front of the van. . . .which I was scared we would get stuck in. . . . Are you guessing at my stress levels. . . . I called my husband to calm me down and that never works ha! He didn't understand what the big deal was and then threw in a "I told you so" about the truck not having enough gas, I could get the van out with plenty of room. Which I did eventually talk myself into doing regardless of the icy slope I was sure would send us straight into the truck. . . which didn't. I'm sure we prayed a lot that day. Thursday and Friday we survived.There was more, a kid throwing up one day and a fever another. And I was that mom throwing tylenol down his throat and taking him to school because I could surely leave work if they needed me too but I couldn't call in the first week.But I don't want to sound pitiful. I miss my mom being close by to take my puking sick kids while I carry on my duties.This whole far away business is rough relying on yourself. And now for a three day weekend. To eat cake with my now ten year old and watch enough tv to drown this week's nonsense out of my system so come Tuesday I will want to do it all again. Adulthood am I right?!