Menu Plan Monday

This will be another snow week. The roads were still just too bad for buses to get through today so we are out of school again. And we are getting another big dumping of snow starting tomorrow. Thankfully Rick and I were able to get out on Saturday and do some grocery shopping. I bought groceries for the next two weeks. (And, yes, we have plenty of milk this time!)

Remember that Rick asked me not to "worry about him" for dinner in the evenings anymore. So, my menu is planned more for kid-friendly eating.

Monday ~ Sub sandwiches and mandarin oranges

Tuesday ~ Homemade calzones and snow cream

Wednesday ~ FFY

Thursday ~ Cheese and crackers and fruit

Friday ~ Hot dogs and chips

Saturday ~ Pancakes and turkey bacon

Sunday ~ Homemade chicken noodle soup and crackers

Rick and Dawson are supposed to go to Tahoe this week to go snowboarding. But, with the snow storm we are supposed to get right when they are supposed to leave, it's doubtful they will be able to go. These meals were planned with them being gone most of those days. I hope these meals are manly enough for them.

Have a great, snowy week!

Paradise awaits!

See this little beach?? The house my parents just bought in Pensacola, Florida, is walking distance from it!

My mom called this morning and said that their offer was accepted and they will be closing by March 1st. She told us to get ready for a Spring Break trip! Oh, we are ready!

My kids are so excited! The little ones have never been to the beach, and have wanted to go for so long! That little beach will be perfect for us! The kids can play in the sand, we can sit and get some sun and then sit in the shade to relax, and have a yummy lunch. Paradise!

This is such an amazing opportunity for our family! We now have a place to go on vacation, for a fraction of the cost! A beach vacation would be a pricey vacation for us. But now, with just the cost of gas and groceries, we can afford to do it. Now I am off to research the fun things we can do in Pensacola!

Preparations for more snow. Yes, she is a comin'!

Another storm system is headed our way on Tuesday/Wednesday and we are supposed to get another 5-10" of snow (although we heard, unofficially, that it's really more like 20" but they aren't really saying that so they don't scare us half to death!)

Since we ran out of milk and t.p. last week, we went out yesterday and prepared for this upcoming storm ...

6 gallons of milk. Check.

An overloaded pantry and freezer. Check.

My nails done. Check.

Now we're ready.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (again)

{written Friday afternoon}

I sit in my favorite chair, with my favorite quilt and laptop on my lap. Rick, Kyndal and I are watching Secretariat .. the first of seven movies we rented today. Outside my window are birds, hundreds of birds, taking their turn at the many bird feeders we have set up in our backyard. The red cardinals are the most beautiful things I have ever seen against a backdrop of white.

And there is more white.

And more white to come.

We had a record-breaking 21" of snow in Owasso on Tuesday. And today, we are supposed to get 4-6" more. We can't hardly believe it.

Our shoveled driveway is now covered again. On our way home from getting the boys' haircut, we couldn't see the road. We missed four days of school this week. My early prediction is that we will not have school all next week either. We stopped by the grocery store. Still no milk.

It's astonishing.

And I love it.

** Update: It's Saturday morning and the sun is shining brightly. It's not supposed to get above freezing today (I don't think), but maybe the sun will cause a slight melt so we can at least get our driveway cleared again. All total we think we got about 2-3" of snow last night. And another system is coming in tomorrow and another on Wednesday. The record was set in 1958 of 25.8" FOR THE YEAR! We will certainly beat that this year, if we haven't already.

I Won and You Can Too!

My friend Alicia at Murry Mayhem had a giveaway for a $35 giftcode to CSN. And I won! I got a complimentary $35 to spend at any of the 200+ CSN online stores! I am going to use it toward a portable classroom greenhouse that I have really been wanting!

My friend H-Mama at Family Team is giving away a $45 giftcode, but it ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. If you would like an opportunity to win this giftcode, hop over there quickly and leave her a comment!

But hurry!

And I have to laugh ...

It always cracks me up how people freak out at the mere mention of a heavy snow. When we are going to get some weather, I typically do head out to the grocery store to get enough groceries to get us through a few extra days just so I don't have to get out. However, I'm not afraid to get out and I don't go nutso buying nuclear war supplies.

I am always amazed at the looks of sheer terror and determination at the grocery store and how every egg, gallon of milk, bottle of water and roll of toilet paper are cleared off the shelves.

Last week I did buy some bottled water, just in case we had frozen pipes or something and needed some water. Besides, we sometimes like to drink bottled water. But we had three gallons of milk already, several rolls of toilet paper and, why do you need to stock up on eggs in a snow storm????

But today I did send my husband to the store because, guess what we are out of ... milk and toilet paper! Who would have imagined???

Rick just called and said he can't find a gallon (or half gallon) of milk anywhere! Ooooops ...

So, I have to laugh that me, who thinks the hysteria is ridiculous, is out of milk and probably won't be able to get any for several days. There's no word on the toilet paper yet.

Let the rations begin!!

Digging Out

Doesn't look too bad in this picture ...

 ... until you look closer and see that our tree swing is buried and the snow is up half over the headwalls and bushes.

Rick was able to dig us out today .. by literally .. DIGGING!

21" to dig through.

We won't be going anywhere for a while, though. The snow is 2 feet deep .. our official snow total was 21". Rick completely shoveled about 1/3 of the driveway to the concrete, and was able to shovel down a bit more the rest of the way so he could, at least, get his car out. He drove to the front of our subdivision and back.

The kids went out and played, even though the high was only 10 degrees today. And I was impressed that they stayed out for the hour-and-a-half they did. Getting around was pretty difficult, since the snow came up to their mid-thighs.

They did get in a little sledding with daddy ...

and Eli found a yummy icicle ...

I think Rick might attempt to go to work by the end of the week. But the kids and I won't be leaving any time soon. I actually enjoy being housebound.

We are officially SNOWED IN!

Think we're getting some snow?

In case you're not sure, um, yeah!

So far we have gotten 19" of reported snow, with 6 ft. snow drifts. And, it's not supposed to stop snowing until sometime in the middle of the night. In all the snow storms I have been in through the years, I have never been snowed in. Until now.

Rick and I braved the blizzard to add a couple more homemade bird feeders and spread the remainder of our bird seed.

It's now all gone.

See that bird bath? It's really 3 feet tall.

Rick and Kyndal decided that they would "run to town" to get some more bird seed and rent some movies. They didn't get very far.

We don't know when we'll be able to get out of our driveway. It will literally be days!

The puppies gladly go out to potty, but it's only a few seconds before they say, "Let us in! It's cold!"

So, instead, we'll be doing a whole lot of game playing in the next few days and trying not to kill each other. Hopefully tomorrow we will be able to get outside and play.

Nicole's Daybook ~ Update

Update: Tuesday, February 1, 2011, 1:00 p.m.
** Monday, January 31, 2011, 6:00 p.m. **

** Done in anticipation of a "perfect storm" that's headed our way **

Outside my window... Right now it has gotten dark and the smell of a winter storm is in the air. ** There is blowing snow, as deep as my knees, and it's not supposed to stop until about 3:00 tomorrow morning. I am looking at something Oklahoma has never seen before.

I am thinking... that 18" of snow would be so fun, as long as we don't lose power in the process! ** We didn't lose power, and we have at least 18" of snow, and more coming! And I am still thinking how much fun this is!

I am thankful ... for the warmth of my home tonight. Praying it stays warm and heated! ** That we have not lost power and that we are all snuggly warm in our house.

I am wearing... gray leggings, a plaid button-up shirt dress, white long-sleeved t-shirt under it, a scarf around my neck and my gray slipper boots. ** gray fleece pants, wool socks and layered tops.

I am planning... to try to stay sane over the next several days when we are all snowed in. ** To lay right here in bed with my cup of coffee, my computer, my book and my cat for as long as I can get away with it.

I am creating... ideas for how to keep us busy while we are cozied-up-as-a-family. ** Just got done making a couple of new bird feeders out of gallon milk jugs and sticks. Rick and I braved the blizzard and went and hung them up for the freezing/starving birds.

I am going... to pray that we don't lose power tonight. ** To enjoy the view outside.

I am reading... A Woman after God's own Heart by Elizabeth George (a chapter a week), Love Letters from Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball (the last in the series), Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss and the Book of Psalms (daily devotional), A Room for Cathy by Catherine Woolley (my favorite book as a child, published in 1950, that I ordered and received this week in the mail), Meet Josefina by Valerie Tripp (Brynne's read-aloud) and The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli (Dawson's read-aloud). ** Today I'm going to finish Love Letters from Ladybug Farm.

I am hoping... again, that we don't lose power with this storm. In 2007 we lost power for several days. The kids and I drove late at night to my parents' because they had better weather and a generator. But they are getting the same storm we are, and now we have doggies we can't leave behind, so we'll have to chance it. ** That we have the next several days of fun playing in the snow. I want us to build a huge snow fort!

Scripture I'm memorizing ... "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me ... Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." ~ Psalm 51:10-11

From the learning rooms... Eli celebrated his 100th day of school today. School has already been cancelled for tomorrow, and my early prediction is that it will be cancelled for the rest of the week. I still have plans to have Brynne do some activities this week related to our For the Birds study. The 3 R's will be suspended until public school resumes. Dawson, however, will still have school. He is going snowboarding with my husband next week and will miss four days of school. We had already planned to make up those four days this week, so were doubling up assignments Monday through Thursday. Now with public school being out, he can't afford to miss those days too. Stinky timing, but necessary. ** I thought today was Saturday .. the dangers of being a homeschool mom. Dawson and I will do some social studies and science later, once he finally wakes up. Yes, it's 1:00 p.m. and my teenage boy is still sleeping!

Noticing that ... my joints know a storm is brewing. ** the snow is absolutely beautiful!

From the kitchen... is simmering a big pot of chicken and noodles. ** I made sausage gravy over toast and Rick made scrambled eggs for breakfast/brunch.

Around the house... are freshly hung suet cakes and mini bird-houses filled with birdseed, and birdseed scattered on the ground. ** the bird seed is almost gone, even though we replenished with all we had left this morning. The blackbirds are overtaking my backyard.

One of my favorite things... is huge snow where snowmen and snow forts can be built. There's nothing more fun than sinking into a foot of snow with every step. ** experiencing my first cup of coffee in the morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week... ummm ... snow days, snow days and more snow days. I'm not planning to leave his house until next week. ** Well, that hasn't changed. We won't be leaving this house until at least the weekend.

From my picture journal.

And I just think she's gorgeous!

** Fun winter photos coming soon!!

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Nicole's Daybook

** Monday, January 31, 2011, 6:00 p.m. **

** Done in anticipation of a "perfect storm" that's headed our way **

Outside my window... Right now it has gotten dark and the smell of a winter storm is in the air.

I am thinking... that 18" of snow would be so fun, as long as we don't lose power in the process!

I am thankful ... for the warmth of my home tonight. Praying it stays warm and heated!

I am wearing... gray leggings, a plaid button-up shirt dress, white long-sleeved t-shirt under it, a scarf around my neck and my gray slipper boots.

I am planning... to try to stay sane over the next several days when we are all snowed in.

I am creating... ideas for how to keep us busy while we are cozied-up-as-a-family.

I am going... to pray that we don't lose power tonight.

I am reading... A Woman after God's own Heart by Elizabeth George (a chapter a week), Love Letters from Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball (the last in the series), Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss and the Book of Psalms (daily devotional), A Room for Cathy by Catherine Woolley (my favorite book as a child, published in 1950, that I ordered and received this week in the mail), Meet Josefina by Valerie Tripp (Brynne's read-aloud) and The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli (Dawson's read-aloud).

I am hoping... again, that we don't lose power with this storm. In 2007 we lost power for several days. The kids and I drove late at night to my parents' because they had better weather and a generator. But they are getting the same storm we are, and now we have doggies we can't leave behind, so we'll have to chance it.

Scripture I'm memorizing ... "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me ... Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." ~ Psalm 51:10-11

From the learning rooms... Eli celebrated his 100th day of school today. School has already been cancelled for tomorrow, and my early prediction is that it will be cancelled for the rest of the week. I still have plans to have Brynne do some activities this week related to our For the Birds study. The 3 R's will be suspended until public school resumes. Dawson, however, will still have school. He is going snowboarding with my husband next week and will miss four days of school. We had already planned to make up those four days this week, so were doubling up assignments Monday through Thursday. Now with public school being out, he can't afford to miss those days too. Stinky timing, but necessary.

Noticing that ... my joints know a storm is brewing.

From the kitchen... is simmering a big pot of chicken and noodles.

Around the house... are freshly hung suet cakes and mini bird-houses filled with birdseed, and birdseed scattered on the ground.

One of my favorite things... is huge snow where snowmen and snow forts can be built. There's nothing more fun than sinking into a foot of snow with every step.

A few plans for the rest of the week... ummm ... snow days, snow days and more snow days. I'm not planning to leave his house until next week.

From my picture journal.

And I just think she's gorgeous!

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.