January finally brought winter (and snow) to the state of Kansas. So much snow that they called 3 snow days in a row. One week after we'd gotten back from Christmas break. Man, I love the public school system some days (like snow days)...
I did feel for my comrades in Iowa. They don't have snow days at too many school districts there anymore, probably because they know how to drive in the stuff. On our way up to the gym, the girls and I, in my Nissan Altima (hardly a snow-friendly vehicle), waited behind a police car at a t-intersection. He tried to turn right, he skidded left. He backed up and tried again and skidded sideways. I backed up to give him more room. He got a "running start" and tried to go right through the stop sign...but he couldn't get through the snow. He waved me past him. I thought to myself and spoke out loud, "How does he think I'm going to be able to get through when he can't?" Caitlin and Macy voiced their concern in the backseats, too. Well, I tried anyway and used my skills that Mr. Heiberger taught me in my sophomore year of driver's ed class...and I made it through the stop sign on the first try! I high fived Caitlin in the back seat and we basked in our glory of our abilities to get onto the main road. That cop must have seen my front license plate that said IOWA state Cyclones, and knew I could drive in this crap.
Jon got to use his snow blower (only one on the block, baby!) and I took the kids sledding. Macy hated sledding, who was forced to go down and in doing so, was completely covered from head to toe in snow. Caitlin, however, is like a mailman and doesn't let any kind of weather stop her. She was out with dad letting the snow blow right in her face. She sledded on the football hill and our front yard. We couldn't find her snow pants, so she sported 2 pairs of sweats instead. Rarely did she ask to come in. She even asked to stay outside in the backyard when everyone else was heading in.
So, needless to say, we haven't taken our lights down, but on our block, it doesn't really matter what you do...happy Winter (and here's to 2 more snow days on the horizon - we hope)!
