In keeping with our "What can life throw at us while mom is flying solo?" theme, we got pounded by an unprecedented amount of snow while Dave was out of town this week. Officially, and by my own amateur measurements, our suburb got exactly two feet of snow. Sopping wet snow. I woke to the sound of the power going out (i.e, my baby monitor started beeping at me because there was no signal from the boys' rooms). For two and a half hours I fretted over the realization that, even though we are well-equipped with heaters, stoves, lanterns, and the natural gas to power them, I didn't have a clue how to operate any of it. Fortunately, the power was back on by 10:45. Un-fortunately, my report of a power failure to Xcel Energy was not answered until evening of the next day, when two(?) crews of repairmen inexplicably turned up. I consider myself warned, and have now been briefed on said equipment.
I will forgive any amount of snow, at any time of year, if I can make an epic snowman of it. Constructing gigantic snowmen is one of my greatest joys in life. So, instead of shoveling walks like any proper adult, Asher and I made this:
I suppose dinosaurs and snow did not coexist prehistorically, but its time they got together. It must be nearly to-scale at eight feet tall.
Okay, so he didn't actually help much. What he did do was plaster many little snowballs around the side of the snowman:
...and pepper me with snowballs. And generally had a wonderful time being a three-year-old in snow up to his belly button.
Getting ready to make a snowball to huck at his mother.
My dad used to threaten to throw me in a snowbank. Turns out, it's a pretty good threat.
Porpoising through the snow.
The best part was that Finn took a three-hour nap. Clearly, he endorsed our snow activities. Because I spent my Finn-free window of the day playing, I had to shovel for hours after the kids were asleep. Even going to bed sore and exhausted at 1:30 am, it was worth it.
Today was Easter. I was lazy again this year and did not celebrate the week with daily family scripture readings or any such spiritual preparations. At this point Asher wouldn't get anything out of it, though I'm sure I would. Nor does he know anything about the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny was never a thing at my house, so frankly I'm not excited about starting up a tradition. I suppose I'll get peer-pressured into it eventually when Asher wonders why we got overlooked. I really wish Easter, at least, could just be about Christ. But I can't complain about Cadbury eggs. We did get together with our friends, the Lakes, to do a very simple joint Easter egg hunt for their daughter Emery and Asher. It had to be indoors because of all the snow.
It was a challenge to convince Asher to find all the eggs and THEN eat the candy. He wanted to eat every bit of candy the second he found it.
Tonight we had dinner at the home of a family in our ward. In addition to being our friends, the mom of the family is also Dave's cousin's sister-in-law. (Small, small world when you're Mormon.) Dave's cousin (who Dave was close to growing up), was also at dinner with his family. A great time was had by all! Asher especially enjoyed their chickens, rabbits, and sheep. Lots of little friends to play with + a petting zoo = a boy who threw punches when his Dad pulled him away to go home. Finn coped with a nearly-napless day by cuddling on my lap most of the time. My goodness that child is affectionate! My mother referred to me as "the appendage," and he was surely taking after me today. I love it.
The cake I made for Easter, showcasing the cake-decorating skills I've learned in my second course.
The basket-weave looked pretty near-perfect until Asher took a swipe at it. I hope the taste of buttercream was worth the time out and tears. After staying up until 4:30 to finish on this thing, I was NOT happy.