Snowcation 2016

We’re on our 3^rd day of our 'Snowcation!'  I’ve actually run out of pjs to wear, so I’m gonna have to do some laundry. 

True to form, the local media stirred panic with their week long special reports, “the sky is falling, make sure you fill you house floor to ceiling with water, bread and butter”.  I’ve always wondered,

What can you do with bread, water and butter?

My cart was filled with a couple of steaks, a pot roast and some wine…that seemed more practical.  While others were panicked about being stuck at home, I was planning romantic dinners, movies, and a contingency that if electricity gave out, a cozy fire and candles.

 Colleagues outside of the area called to share their concern for us...so sweet!  I assured them, all was well. Couples and families will have much needed time together….and the proof will be the baby boom in about 10 months.

Brad's car is a great decoration...it ain't goin anywhere!

I pulled the car into the garage just as the snow started to fall.  24 hours later, it was still falling and the street disappeared.  Brad left his car out...here's what happened to his black car.

Brad and I shoveled 5 times on Saturday, 3 times on Sunday, and today our goal will be to break through the 4 foot wall that stands between us and the street.

 

I took this time to do a little cleaning out.   

My first project was the records drawers in our basement.  Earlier this week, I worked on our taxes, so as I went through the drawers,  I  took out my tax returns from 2008 to destroy them;  At that moment there was a lump in my throat as I realized there is only 1 more year that Joshua will be listed as my child.  While he will always be my child, the IRS will no longer care.   Ugh…it seemed like a “nothing” moment, yet, I felt those tears. 

Gotta snap out of it!  I turned my attention to some piles nearby and found some Josh treasures within.  School reports, artwork.  What a gift!

I finished what I was doing for the day and came upstairs just as Joshua's favorite football player, Peyton Manning was on the tv celebrating his team's victory!  We get to see Peyton and the Broncos in the Super Bowl again.  Oh my gosh, Josh was would be doing a happy dance.  I did it for him!

I went to bed that night with my electric blanket wrapped around me and slept like a rock.

When I woke up,  I took Alex for a walk on the street;  The only spot to walk.  Alex was so happy to stretch his legs.  It was a beautiful with the sun rising upon our quiet street.   I was alone with my thoughts when   I felt the urge to look up.  Joshua's bedroom was lit.   We hadn't turned it on, so I knew that in the stillness of the morning, Josh was taking the moment to say “Good Morning!"

There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.  ~Minnie Aumonier

Joshua 2003

Stay Safe and Warm!

Hugs!

Sherri

Sometimes ya just need a little home!

I went home to Ohio this past weekend to attend my college roommates House Warming Party.  Pink, recently returned to her hometown, bought a fixer upper and plans to bring this cute house back to its' splendor.  This is a pretty big undertaking for a single woman with grown kids.

I thought it was well worth the five-hour drive just to see her and our third roomie, Marcia, if only for the weekend.  They warm my heart, make me jiggle giggle, and forget about life for a while.

It never even occurred to me to ask Brad to go with me.  I knew he would be trying to get in some last golf of the season, plus I needed someone to let out the dog and feed Stealth Kitty.  Honestly, it's a good thing I didn't take him since the house had some low ceilings, and he would never have fit in the shower.  A grown up shower will be built shortly so we'll take him next time.

The weekend was a great escape from city livin' complete with some good old American livin'...... the Annual Cider Festival was in full gear across the street with its bright lights, music and addicting lard foods.  To get over my disappointment  when the one and only apple press broke down on the first day, I got my hands on some deep fried Oreos...it sounds yucky but let me tell ya, they are addictive.  We will turn a blind eye to the calorie count on them..

After staying up til the wee hours chatting like teenagers about everything with Pink,  I woke up the next morning screaming for caffeine.  Let me ask you....when does coffee move from a 'nice way to start the day' to 'must have or the world will suffer?'

After some caffeine intake, we decided we needed to get Pink's place in order for the party and I was busy in the yard when Brad called.  "What ya doin?" 
S- Weedin'! 
B- Hmmmm.  What's Pink doin'? 
S- Mowin' the Lawn! 
B- Boy, you girls sure know how to have a good time!

This is a far cry from what we were doing in college, but ya know what, we're ok with that.  We have grown up and we now behave like model citizens...
most of the time....
some of the time.....
well.....we try.....



 Marcia, Pink and Me
 

Cars start rollin' in and we are quickly in a full blown party but no Marcia.  Two hours later still no Marcia, so I called her to nicely tell her to get her tush there.  I'm not sure I was very gracious when she told me she was busy gettin' her nails done!!!!  I drive five hours to see her and she is getting her nails done?  Sigh...she is so lucky I love her!  An hour later I see her familiar mini coupe and the antics begin. 

Pink's kids are all there with their sweeties.  It's been way too long since I've seen them.  I love all our kids...between the three of us we have ten children... within the ten we have three college students, two weddings in the works, and 1 new police officer, so they keep us hoppin'.  Pink's older daughter was our summer nanny when we were overseas, and all but two have walked with us for epilepsy so far.  I have changed their diapers, bribed them with ice cream, and they have all held my hand tight and made me stronger in my weaker moments over the last two years.

About an hour into the party, Britt started texting me from Oklahoma to remind me to behave because she knows things get a little crazy with the roomies around.  It's not anything we plan, it's just our chemistry.  We are all so different but we are a good fit and apparently, a good source of entertainment even when all we're doing is sittin' there.

The party winds down just as the Cider Festival fireworks are set off just for me(let me live my delusions on this one please).  I'm standing there arms around my roomies, and in that moment I am happy.   Me the bereaved mom, Pink the newly divorced empty nester in her new home, and Marcia, the crazy woman whose mouth would put sailors to shame, and I love them dearly!

The next morning it was a quick bite at the Annual Pancake breakfast to benefit the soccer league before heading back to the fast paced life of DC.

Friendships and family have become all the more precious to me since losing Josh and weekends like this make life a little easier!

Hugs!
Sherri