Wednesday, January 30, 2019

A 3 Day, Cold Weekend At Home

Do you know what happens when mom doesn't feel well and has been sick all week? You stay home. And we did nearly all weekend. Our big adventure out of the house was to Grandma and Grandpa Sheaffer's house to celebrate grandpa's birthday. I took plenty of time to rest, sleep, and not cook. The minis spent a good amount of time playing games and watching Hulu.

Netflix on the Kindle, yogurt, and Scooby Snacks from Northern Light Pizza. I treated myself to a White Claw since I felt nearly human by Friday night.

Reading books on the couch Saturday morning.

Acting class was cancelled due to weather so I curled up in bed reading my books and fighting with a cat over my pillow.


Cuddles

It was great to get out of the house for a few hours on Sunday. Elizabeth finally talked me into curling her hair for Grandpa Sheaffer's birthday (she had been asking all week for me to do it, but between a busy week and me not feeling well, it didn't happen). We mostly played board games all afternoon, but Hubs and I did break away for a short bit to grab some groceries at the store kidless.

I love her hair!

Sunday night football. We were rooting for the Chiefs and watched the suspenseful end.


Monday was MLK Day and I took the day off to spend with the minis. I was planning on a Mom and Minis Day of Fun. I gave them plenty of options: bowling, roller skating, ice skating, museums, etc. They informed me they didn't want to leave the house! At this point, I had only left the house once in a week and really wanted to spend the day doing something.
I finally talked them into a walk around the mall by bribing them with clothes from Old Navy and shopping at Target. While it wasn't my first choice, it was far from terrible. Plus, we got our favorite Chinese take out afterwards to eat at home.



We took the opportunity to pick out Valentine's cards.

The minis discovered celebrity gossip magazines. I flipped through one and realized I didn't know who half of these people were. I'm officially that "uncool" mom.


Practicing flips and tap dances.

The minis and I were so prepared for the short school week, that turned into a shorter school week when we got two snow days. Our three day weekend turned into a 5 day weekend. Read about our Snow Days here.

Let's Crush It!

Trying to come up with activities for the middle of winter can get a little challenging, especially with as many snow days and all of the time inside we've had lately. Luckily I have a great group of daycare kiddies who are easily entertained just by simple toy rotations. They're great about making their own fun and playing games. 

After the kids were done with our polar ice sensory bin the other day, I knew I wanted to do a crushing the ice type of activity with it. This is how it turned out:


1.) Leave your Polar Ice sensory bin outside and let it freeze. DON'T let it get buried in snow or you'll have to dig it out.


2.) Grab play tools.

3.) Crush!!


Clearly I had issues with #1, but the rest of the steps went off without a hitch! The kids had a great time trying to break the toys free from the ice all day long. Seriously, it took all day for the ice to melt. In the morning they used the play tools to break up the ice and try to free the toys. By the afternoon, the ice was a little thinner and they used their hands. I did have to constantly remind them not to eat the ice and snow since the bin had been sitting outdoors for several days.






The cats enjoyed the melting sensory bin too.

For such a simple (and low cost) activity, this encourage the kids to ask a lot of questions about winter weather and freezing temperatures.....and also using tools safely, but we have conversations about that often.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Snow Day x2

I was surprised when my phone went off at 6:32 a.m. Tuesday morning informing me of school's cancellation due to severe weather. When I went to bed the night before we had been under a Winter Weather Advisory, but the "really bad weather" was all to the north of us. Within a few hours that changed (welcome to Iowa) and Iowa's largest school district was cancelled for the day. Usually I get feelings of excitement like I did on snow days as a child. However this morning was met with an "oh crap!"

I REALLY didn't think there wouldn't be school so I had my normal Tuesday routine planned. School bags packed up and everything. 

Luckily, I had a three day weekend and have been prepared for such Snow Day events. I let my kids sleep in, daycare started later than usual, and I put my running shoes on (totally my hard soled slippers, but I swear they make me move faster).


Our snow day included dance parties, a day in pajamas, Netflix, Waffle Blocks, baking brownies and licking the bowl, eating the brownies with hot chocolate, Lego's, and being amazed at the steady snowfall that began late in the afternoon.


















Whenever Max wears his long black robe (and especially as he sits on his Waffle Block couch he built!), I call him "Hugh" or "Hefner." He doesn't get the reference at all, but it makes me giggle.


The kids broke out toys we don't get out often.


Snow in my house. Typical for this time of year.


As surprised as I was about school closing on Tuesday, I was even more shocked that it was cancelled on Wednesday as well! That made 5 1/2 days at home (Monday was a scheduled no school day for MLK Day) and a very restless mama. But the minis were super excited for yet another day home. This day consisted of snuggles, more Netflix, snow ice cream, and more building with the Waffle Blocks.

I'm very thankful for our snowblower and Hubs who went out to clear the driveway while I gave updates to daycare families about our roads. Due to the amount of snow we received, all of the hills in our area, and school being closed yet again, I only had a few daycare kiddos for the day.


The first two hours of my day were spent cuddling.


Snow ice cream with snow-ish sprinkles on top.

So quite honestly, they played IN the Waffle Blocks boxes more than with the Blocks.


Harrison built the Statue of Liberty with the Waffle Blocks and the head from our snowman.

I felt it was important to at least have reading time on our second Snow Day.


The kids enjoyed their snow days and me....well, I was happy to get to our regularly scheduled programs on Thursday.