The Snow Cometh

Went to work and didn't think too much of the little bit of snow spit going on.  At work someone commented on school being late.  Then awhile later about school being closed.  And yeah it was still spitting.  I can remember when I would have been freaking out, but the MN girl in me must be coming out.  I stayed for my whole shift and then took the long drive home.  One hour and 45 minutes to get from work to day care.  Looked like about five inches of snow.
Picked the kids up and we went to Papa's so they could really play in the snow without having to worry about cars and whatnot. They did enjoy it, but it was pretty cold so they didn't stay out in it too long.  They have plans to do some more playing tomorrow.

Still Sober

Sounds like Mike is still working his thing.  Seems to be doing fine up there in Cashmere.  Said he doesn't intend on coming back here.  Better for him there.  That could very well be true.  Keeping my fingers crossed, but still not holding my breath.

Celebration

Mom, David, Emma and I dined at The Rock last night to celebrate my fiftieth birthday.  I have never been there and neither had David.  It is the year of expanding my horizons so we had the Founder's pizza which had sweet sausage and ricotta on it.  Anyone who knows me knows I am not adventurous when it comes to food, so it was big.  And the pizza was good.  David and Mom had margaritas in buckets.  Seriously.  We got to take the buckets home for the littles.  I got to be a grownup and have a glass of wine.  Mom gave me one of those looks when I had a second glass.  Jacob showed up after work and added to the stories we were telling.  We laughed and had a great time.  Loved our waiter who was also having a good time.  Love people who are happy at their job.
David gave me a date kit for my birthday.  It included an energy drink (because my bedtime is 9ish), a bottle of be flirty wine and balloons.  Now to find a date.  ;-P
It was a great celebration and I had a great time.  And now on to expanding my horizons.

50

I got this beautiful card and necklace in the mail for my birthday.  My sister does splendid work.
And so it is.  50 today.  And it is a spectacular day.  The littles are going to spend the evening with Papa while I go out with Mom and David.

Current Life in Pictures

Play, the work of childhood.  Sharing our helmets and puzzles from Aunt Treva and Uncle Isaac. Running around in the rain, afterall we live in the PNW.  Playing on the playground and at Dizzy Castle.  Life is good.

Plans

So I have made the reservations for the trip to MN. Got the airline tickets.  Paid for two nights at a hotel.  One at the beginning of the trip and one at the end.  I have found it easier to be in the city the morning I fly.  Ended up with a good deal on the rental car after I got the hotel so that made me very happy.  Everything I had found had me paying about $400 for the trip and that is an ouch.  My deal put me at $240 which is much more palatable.  We fly in the 29th of May and return on the 3rd of June.
Now that all of it is planned I hope my uncle Glen will still be with us.  My aunt had sent me a letter at xmas telling me that he is terminal.  He did two rounds of chemo last year and was to have a pet scan in Jan and then decide any more treatments at that point.  So time will tell.

Lessons

There is something about the interaction with me that happens when the kids fight.  So I am taking some different approaches.  So this morning they were fighting over Connor's blanket.  Now I am a believer of if it is strictly his, then it is his choice what happens with it.  That said, it wasn't working and hasn't been.  So when they started in with it this morning I simply took it away and put it up.  They cried and pouted for a few minutes asking for it back.  Nope.  And then a miracle happened.  They came together and asked if they could have it back if they shared.  This happened in less than five minutes from me taking it away.  I gave it to them with the understanding that I could again take it away.  And they shared.  No squabbles, no tears, no anger.  Just sharing.
I think we all learned something today.  And I'm sure we will repeat this lesson many times for all of us.