This Is Not A Craft Blog

School is cancelled today for the 5th day in a row (not counting the weekend).

I was lamenting the most recent cancellation on Facebook when a friend of mine suggested I do a blog post on activities to keep kids busy during the unending snow days.

Excuse me while I go laugh my hiney off.

Oh how I wish I was that kind of mom.  I actually really truly have guilt about this.  Here my kids have been home in the middle of the school year for 7 days straight and we haven't done one real activity.  Not one.  Something's wrong with that right?  I see people like Jill (whose blog I ADORE) and wish I had more creative bones in my body.

But I just don't.  Even if I had known that the little snowfall we were supposed to get last Monday night was going to turn into what has so lovingly been dubbed "Snowpocaplypse 2011", I don't think I would have gone out and armed myself with glitter glue, pompoms, felt, pipe cleaners and/or every other crafty thing a person might need.  It's just not on my radar.  I'm too busy worrying about how we're going to get more milk, whether or not we have enough toilet paper to wipe 6 tushies and why in the world did my dishwasher decided to stop washing NOW?

So I'm trying to come to terms with this.  I'm actually feeling a bit vulnerable about it right now, like somehow I'm failing my girls in some way by not being Mommy Stewart.  I'm not sure why I got it in my head that in order to be a good mommy one not only has to be able to kiss booboos and cook good food but also must have unending resources in craftiness.  Am I holding myself to too high of a standard?  If my kids are happy, is it ok that we're not gluing things every day?

I've done plenty of Barbie dressing, game playing and story reading in the last 7 days.  I even managed to bake a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls.

You know you want'em

I'm also totally planning on surprising my girls with these Coffee Mug Cakes later today.  We might even make Jill's Lava Bottles if I can scrounge up the supplies.  So I'm trying.  But I also need it to be ok if I don't try.  I've said before that the best thing I can be for my kids is me.  So that's what I'm striving to be.  Clearly, I have moments where I wonder if that's enough.  I sure hope it is.

SNOWper Bowl

The Super Bowl is kinda a weird deal for me.  I'm not really a football person.  It's not that I don't like the game, I've just never developed a passion for it.  Actually, the sounds of a football game on the TV on a Sunday afternoon bring back many fond childhood memories for me.  But it would be a rare occasion that I actually sit and WATCH a game.

But I do love the Super Bowl.  Or correction, I love the excuse it brings to hang out with friends, eat tons of yummy food and just the overall atmosphere.  I really look forward to it.

But it was not meant to be this year.

I'll try to not be bitter as we stay at home and eat frozen pizza for dinner.  Sigh.

I promise not all my posts will be about the weather next week.  Or at least not until the next snow storm hits.  Oh and by the way, they cancelled school AGAIN for Monday.  This does not bode well for me my friends...

On The Brink Of Crazy

Remember my open kitchen windows?

One week later.

Sigh.

Not Ready

It's always a jolt to see your children interact with the world outside of the safe little haven you've created. As parents, we so carefully craft a safe environment, full of love, of lessons, activities and security. We surround our children with the tools they need to exist out in the world, and endeavor to make them well-rounded individuals, but the reality often remains that for the first several years of their lives, we do so within the context of our own 4 walls.

I want my little girls to stay little girls for as long as possible. There is plenty of time for makeup and (God help me) boys. I don't care if my princesses are up (down?) with the latest teeny bopper singing sensation. I love that they still want to wear dresses to school sometimes. I'm comfortable with drawing out childhood for as long as they'll let me. The innocence, the naivety, oh, it just can't be reclaimed once it's gone.

The true test comes sometime among the early elementary years, when their 4 walls open up to a big wide world that's beyond our control. I'll be honest - it's freaking me out. Everything within me wants to pull those 4 walls back upright into the nice, neat, controllable square I'm comfortable with. But I can't. I know I can't.

So where does that leave me?  Knowing I have to let the walls open up, but not wanting them to open too quickly.  Knowing my girls need experiences (some that might hurt a little bit), but not wanting them to experience too much too soon.  Knowing that they have to stretch their little wings to learn to fly, but not wanting them to fly too far.

I don't know.  I'm just not ready.

Snow Bunnies We Are Not

It's a good thing we don't get weather like this too often.  I'd move.

School is cancelled for the rest of the week.

There's a good possibility I might not make it until Monday.

We've been doing lots of this

and this

with plenty of TV watching and cookie baking thrown in for good measure.

Hubs has been out trying to unearth us.

Progress is slow.

The upside is that we've had 3 extra days with Daddy at home.

The only thing keeping me from curling up in the fetal position right now.

That and coffee.

I hope to be back to the reality of school, homework, lessons, and life soon.

Very.  Very.  Soon.

Until then, we'll sled down our front yard.

what else do we have to do?

PS.  Like my snazzy new blog duds?  Jhen at From Here To Eternity did a SMASHING job and I'm thrilled with the results!  I'm still working on labeling and such, but most pieces are in place now, so click around and get to know my new corner of the blogosphere!