Slowin' Down

When you wake up to -20 degree weather and school cancellations, you have no choice but to slow down and stay inside. It wasn't until today that I realized how much I schedule in a day and I can't remember the last time I just stayed at home with the kids. We always go somewhere, everyday- school, the gym, the library, errands, out to lunch, appointments, etc. I think I have a stay at home all day phobia because when I found out I would not be able to leave the house today I kind of panicked. And went Pinterest crazy! I felt like I better come up with tons of activities for the kids or we all might not make it through. Here is my list of activities and their results:

1. Boil water, throw it outside. Fail. The kids just stared at me like I was crazy.

2. Blow bubbles outside. Fail. The kids just stared at me like I was crazy. 

3. Make a giant suncatcher out of ice (did this last night so it would be done today.) This is what the internets said it would look like:

Here's mine:

I can't get it out of the dang pan and when I finally do, I don't think it's going to look too cool. I didn't even bother showing this one to the kids. They've suffered enough disappointment. 

4. Freeze water and food coloring in balloons.

 Theirs: 

Mine:

This one I will not call a fail because Henry seemed to think it worked out, but there is a short back story as to why. On New Year's Eve, I had each of the kids make a wish for the new year and as they wished they threw sprinkles into the yard. 

When I filled the water balloons I set them outside to freeze and happened to set them in the same spot as the sprinkles. Henry saw the balloons and freaked out with happiness because, in his words, "our wishes are starting to come true! balloons are growing our wishes!" To me, mission accomplished. To him, magic was happening. When I cut the balloons off of the frozen ice he was even more blown away by the colored ice. He thinks his wish will be realized once they melt. I wonder what he wished for??? 

5. I bought the supplies to make slime with the kids. I'm still waiting for enough courage to try this with them. I think can. I think I can. 

The reality of our freeze day at home is this: 

The kids like being home. They are playing nicely together upstairs as I type. We are all wearing some version of a sweatsuit and have enjoyed cartoons, pancakes and Nintendo so far today. They don't need constant cool activities or days spent on the run. I am happy to be home with them today and we are all thankful for the warmth from our furnace and the companionship we share. 

(But, check with me tomorrow. Just got a call that school is cancelled again tomorrow.)

--maggie