I woke the girls up around 10:00 this morning,
school was cancelled again due to black ice conditions.
Mr. Nielson and I took the Little Nies to the gym in our chapel
where I won about 50 games of "speed".
I mean, I don't want to brag, but I'm pretty good.
And every so often I would announce that it was Lottie's turn to
have the entire floor to do whatever she wanted since she was
super bored watching us play basketball.
She would run circles around the gym floor while
Nicholas played amazing piano pieces on the
electric keyboard in the corner, (on the memory function).
Anyway, we got in a few hours of playing around, and releasing
tons of stir-crazy energy--which we all needed.
When we were sweaty and gross we cleaned up and left the gym.
Mr. Nielson left to a work meeting so I drove the Little Nies,
into Raleigh to pick up lunch.
Pizza for Claire and Jane, a sandwich for Nicholas,
and burritos for Lottie and Ollie.
All three of our favorite restaurants are in walking distance,
which made lunch easy.
Then we picked up a dozen of donuts for on the way home.
At home I dropped everyone off with the donuts
and drove to my favorite park where Angus and I wandered the snowy fields.
The shadows are long and the days short,
and I know it sounds weird, but I love it.
And it was nice to be alone to think and contemplate my life,
my children, my future, my family, and the
things I can't change (but wish I could),
things I hope never change (but I know they will),
you know, things like that.
My favorite time of the day is when we are all around
the dinner table together sharing food and conversation.
I love lighting the candles, setting the table, and listening to my children talk
about their day, their teachers, and their friends.
Tonight we talked mostly about the piano music
that Nicholas played in the gym,
(it was so funny) and about dinner (the lasagna was a little rubbery).
Each night after dinner we read from the scriptures
(we're reading in the bible right now), and then we read a short
section from the For the Strength of Youth, booklet.
It's creating some fantastic conversations.
Tomorrow we will finish the booklet and then we'll
start reading it over again.
It turned out to be a wonderful fulfilling day.
Then the phone rang--it was the school district.
The Little Nies held their breath,
would school be cancelled again?!
No,
but we did score a late start!
