Wintertime

I finally broke down and got a smart phone. I suppose I'm a big subscriber to the principle that you should "fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without," and I've resisted moving on into the current decade because what I had worked just fine for my needs. I think it was mostly driving me crazy having to text with the old keypad, and having to print out directions anytime I wanted to go somewhere relatively unfamiliar. I've had it a week now, and it's been nice. And it's especially great having a decent camera ready wherever I go.
As Winter Break began winding to a close, winter came to St. Louis in full force. We woke up Sunday morning to a steady snowfall, with temperatures dropping to about -40 with windchill. The amount of snow might not have been that big of a deal, but there was absolutely no melting happening, and the roads were a nightmare. Nora was the most disappointed at not being able to go to church, as this was to be her first day in primary. She has been waiting for this day since she was barely three, and had gotten herself ready to go before anyone was even up.

 Instead we had home church, and I gave in to my baking bug (I assume it's a hibernating, fattening up, survival instinct?) :). I'd never made a puff pastry from scratch before, but I was pretty proud of how it turned out. We had a beef stew pot pie for dinner...

 ...and baked brie. Not the prettiest, but yum.

 And we made pumpkin pie for dessert, because why not?

 School was cancelled on Monday and Tuesday, extending our break to a total of eighteen days. It was so cold though, that the kids really didn't get to play in the snow much at all. They'd go out for maybe fifteen minutes, then come right in wanting a hot bath. Lots of wet things, lots of mess, for not a lot of play.

 Here's an idea of how deep it really was. Maybe a foot.

 Meanwhile, Lydia grew three teeth when nobody was looking. What is happening to my baby?!

 On Wednesday Benjamin finally got back to school, even though our road was still completely covered in snow. We pulled him out early to get to his doctor's appointment that day. He's going to need tubes put in again, which we'll get in a few weeks. His hearing has been awful, making me feel like an awful mom for having to raise my voice all the time when I'm talking to him. It will be so nice to have that fixed, for him most of all!

 When we got back from the ear specialist, there was a sound a lot like running water coming from the back wall. I knew exactly what it was, since we hadn't had cold water in our kitchen sink for days, and the temperature had finally gotten near 32. Our pipes had burst. I frantically picked up all the stuff off the wet basement floor, and tried to shut off the water to the house but I honestly had no idea where to look. Finally, a plumber showed up, shut it off, and several hundred dollars later, we have functional, hole-free pipes. I'm mostly sick about that hole in the drywall and the potential mold behind it...I'm a little too familiar with where all this is headed.

I'm trying really hard to just embrace St. Louis and all its seasons. I'm trying really hard to just accept winter for what it is, but this particular one isn't making that ideal so easy! Happy thoughts...happy thoughts...Spring will come...