Thursday Thoughts

Well, here we are at Day 2.  Out of school because of snow, snow, snow.  Yesterday it snowed here from about noon until about 10:00 last night and we ended up with about 8 inches or so.  "Mommy, the driveway and our yard is as white as a ghost!" exclaimed Lydia this morning.  She seemed to be surprised that the snow was still here this morning.  Actually, I am not really sure if she and Emily were surprised it was still here or that there was more of it since they came inside, from playing in it, last night. 

It is pretty the way it lays on the trees and when the huge flakes are falling to the ground, but I still hate it!  It completely delays your life.  I suppose I should not complain too much.  Last year at this time, we had around 18 inches!  Multiple times!  Alas, the two days in which the snow is here, and needs shoveling . . . Mike is working.  Just like last year, I will shovel again.  It is supposed to be a balmy 39 degrees today and the sun is shining . . . sort of.  I am going to wait until after lunch and head on out and see what kind of dent I can make in the driveway.  I am seriously considering that move to sunny California!  I would go to Florida, but you can't breathe in the June, July or August so I figure snow, 3 or 4 times in a winter is better than 12 weeks of not being able to catch my breath. 

This is my first snow season working in a public school.  I have never seen so many people get so excited about the possibility of snowfall and a day off!  They actually email each other weather forecasts!  :)  Lots and lots of them!!  My mom, who taught for 35 years, never got that excited about snow days.  She would rather have been off in the summer than have to go extra days to make up snow days.  Clearly, not everyone is like that :).  Make up days are now set aside during the year so you don't mess up graduation.  I imagine that makes things a little better unless you get too many snow days. 

This past Tuesday, Emily said the Pledge of Allegiance at school!  She said it during morning announcements and was over the PA system so the entire school heard her!!  So great!!  This privilege came as a result of trading in her Lion Paws for this "prize."  The kids get Lion Paws as an incentive to make the best choices they can.  Once you receive 10 Lion Paws (in Kindergarten anyway) you trade them in for different things.  You can go read to another class (Ryan and Emily have both done this), you can have lunch with the Principal, you can get a book, say the Pledge of Allegiance with the morning announcements, teacher for the day, etc.  Some rewards require more Lion Paws than 10.  You must learn to save yours up.  Mike and I are so proud of her for picking this reward, saving her Lion Paws, and having the courage to speak to everyone!!  On the microphone!!  Ryan said she was the best 5 year old he had ever heard!  A compliment like this, coming from Ryan . . . about one of his sisters . . . is pretty rare!  Lydia said she heard her too and so did the little boy (3rd grade) who lives in our cul-de-sac.  I wish I had a movie or a tape of it or something.  I did not know she was doing it until she came home that night and told me.  She mentioned it when she chose that reward, but she did not know when she was going to be doing it.  Anyway, pretty exciting!!

Well, hoping Groundhog Day brings good news in a few days!  I hope Spring is early this year!!  :)  I just have to keep telling myself . . . it's not as bad as last year.  So far. ;)