Valentine's Day and President's Day

Wednesday, Feb 13th, the kids finally went back to school. It was a two-hour delay, but, hey, I'll take it. After dropping off the kids, I ran to Safeway to pick up a few essentials, since it was supposed to snow again. Apparently, no milk had been delivered in a couple of days, because the trucks couldn't get through the snow! We still had 1 1/2 gallons left, but I just wanted to be prepared.

Allison was getting better at walking

It was also the 100th day of school - finally!!! So after lunch, I helped out in Melanie's class with some 100 days counting activities.

Allison was getting grumpy because it was nap time. So we headed home around 1:15pm.

The Dad's and desserts Valentine's activity at the elementary school was canceled to accommodate the basketball games. That night the basketball games were canceled again, and the mutual activity was canceled, but they had heard there was a Valentine's Dance in S* south of here. So Aaron took a bunch of kids down there, only to find out it was canceled as well. They did have an activity, so they just joined them. Aaron went to three stores, and finally found some milk!

Can I tell you how much Aaron sacrifices for his family? He spends a lot of time driving people around, running to the store, and trying to make things happen. He did all of this knowing he'd have to get up super early to drive to the airport to beat the next snow storm. The boys went to seminary, but there was a two-hour delay for school! That afternoon it was coming down again.

We could hear the snow plow on the highway

 The kids eventually made it home from school. Melanie had made this cute Valentine!

 Melanie figured out how to play "Frere Jaques" on the piano.

Aaron had flown to visit his parents for the weekend, yes on Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, his second leg from SLC to PIH was canceled. They couldn't get him on another flight until 9:15, but he found a shuttle that they were able to cover a transfer for him.  That was not a fun part of the trip. He got there much later than he wanted to. It turns out that 9:15 flight was delayed as well. He arrived in Pocatello around 9:15. Meanwhile, at home, we celebrated that night with chocolate fondue. It was fun and super messy!

 Aaron had bought Maria's galletas - yum!

Allison didn't get any chocolate

That night was supposed to be book club, but then it was postponed because of rescheduled basketball games, but then the basketball games were canceled (the other teams couldn't make it here safely), so it was back on, but then it was canceled again. I was sure missing my book club ladies!!

Allison thought it was fun to Facetime with Aaron, and took a selfie.

More snow overnight, but there was no school anyway, it was a district training day. Four day weekend for President's Day. I would have enjoyed it more if we hadn't just had an unplanned four day weekend.

giant snowball

Timothy went out and shoveled the sidewalk without being asked to!

 The kids made more snowmen

They made a very tall one also

There icicles in the barberry bush.

Aaron sent pictures of the snow in Idaho, not nearly as much as we had,

 but a few hours later they had a little more

That night there were finally basketball games, after a week of being postponed. Both boys and girls played, and they both won.  I took the girls to the boys game. Aaron tried to watch it on the YouTube channel, but it wasn't working. It turned out he let the team playing in between the boys and girls use his equipment, and forgot to change back to his station and didn't notice until halfway through. So I gave Aaron updates through text. I think the boys stayed up late to watch a movie.

Saturday I got this cute video of Allison reading her book.


was more games, and we won again. This time the broadcast worked and Aaron got to watch the game. He could spot me in the crowd! The girls won - it was an intense game. It was a loser-out game, so they get to move on to districts. The boys won also. That made them league champions. A few videos from that night:

David and Timothy went over to Luca's to watch a movie after the game, and they were out way too late again. It snowed a bit overnight.

Sunday I had to teach my Sunday School lesson without Aaron coming to take Allison. It didn't work out that well, but it helps that Timothy was able to take her for a bit. 

Aaron sent me this picture of Ginger climbing on Mom trying to take a nap.

They also took some selfies

More snow for us that afternoon

That evening was a planning meeting for YM and YW, so Timothy went to that (it was supposed to be the week before, but got canceled). It was also Mission Prep at the Stake Center. So David drove Timothy over with the nacho cheese sauce I warmed up for their refreshments and hung out there until they had to leave for Mission Prep. Unfortunately, David and Luca were not easily found by Br. N* when it was time to leave. Eventually, we got them in the vehicle, and I picked up Timothy. David drove himself home after getting dropped off at the W*'s.

Aaron texted from the airport. He got there pretty early, but the flight was delayed a bit because they had to de-ice the plane. I was so glad to have him home that night.

Monday was President's Day and another day at home. 

Allison was so cute reading this book.

She likes playing with the ball run


Aaron had been worried about a package that was supposed to be delivered on Thursday. It looked like it had been stuck on the other side of the pass. When it finally arrived on Monday I realized why he was worried. It was flowers that were supposed to be for Valentine's Day. Some of the flowers didn't do so well waiting that long.

That night we decided to go out to dinner at OCB, and we saw this "motor home" in the parking lot. Haha!!!!

Snow Weekend

Saturday more snow, and this time the wind created lots of drifts.

The kids had fun, and then they had to shovel several times during the day. It was a snow day, even though it was Saturday. The Solo/Ensemble Festival was postponed, and so was the basketball game that night, and the stake dance was canceled.

 Aaron and David shoveled a lot of snow to keep our driveway clear.

 Sunday it stopped snowing, but so many people were snowed in the stake canceled church.

We had crepes for breakfast, and Allison had a ball with the whipped cream

 Aaron, David, and Timothy went out with other ward members to dig out people who were snowed in. Meanwhile, at home, I took some pictures of the snow.

 some of the larger drifts

 large piles of snow by the driveway

 David will have to dig his car out!

 Amy made a tunnel in one of the drifts.

 more drifts behind the house

 David playing with Allison and Michelle

 The kids outside in the snow

icicles on the back of the house

It was a long day even without church.