The weekend (this is long, better get coffee)

We had a wonderful weekend. And now, there's about 3 inches of snow on the ground, and it's steady coming down, so that means that we can stay home today!! And that is a good thing, because I have a ton of housework to catch up on. I don't know where that blasted maid has gotten off to again.

As an aside, it has always been my dream to own- um-no, not OWN,( sorry, product of my childhood), I meant to say HIRE-yes, HIRE a small 50-something Mexican woman to live at my house and keep things clean and tidy, and always have something good baking in the kitchen. She wouldn't HAVE to be Mexican, that's just what I've always pictured.

O.K. back to the weekend... My nephews, Q and W came over to Mam-maw and Pap-paws to play. Jack and Savannah and Q played nearly all day building boxes with flat, foam connecting blocks. Big, huge boxes, that they could actually get inside. They had the best time, and all played so well together. And W was just the cutest little thing! There is not a human alive that that little guy couldn't win over. What a charmer! And such a little snuggle bug!
Aunt Thomasina and Bill came and took all the kids for a walk around the farm, and I am told that a snowball fight ensued somewhere along the way.
We went out to eat at everyone's favorite French restaurant for Mam-maw's birthday. Everyone looked so nice, ( Mam-maw was particularly lovely that night in her pretty blue suit) and the meal was absolutely superb!! The whole family was there except Race (sniff, sniff). It was a very fun evening, and the children were all so well behaved that they drew compliments from the server. Jackson was in especially rare form, being sure to lay it on thick to our server by saying "Thank-you, Mam" repeatedly, until reaching the desired goal of the compliment. He was beaming. I learned that when asked for his drink order, he had told his Aunt Em and Uncle Todd ,"I usually drink wine, but tonight I will be having a Shirley Temple". And you can imagine my shock, when we were all filing out, past our table to leave, and he, straw in hand, proceeded to suck out a drop from the bottom of the few "after-dinner" drinks that were served. Admittedly, those Grasshopper's and Creme de'Menthe parfait's DO look delicious. But still.
On Sunday, I got a phone call from Race! We got to talk for awhile, and I feel much more relaxed. He sounded good. Still vague........but good. I miss him terribly, and will be glad when we can look back on this time in our lives as something in the past. We are doing fine, and we feel that wee are doing what God has put before us to do, but that still doesn't make the "gettin' through" easy. And I guess it's not supposed to be.
Before the kids and I headed home, I wanted to get the tires rotated on the Suburban. I wanted to get it done when I had the oil changed, but was short on time. I found out that my Suburban is too heavy to be lifted in Northern Va. Huh. Who knew? After the second stop, and the second guy looking at me blankly and saying, "Mam. You got yerself 7500 lbs. there." UMmmm.....Oookay......aannnd..WHAT? I realized that I'd better just wait till I got back home where they are not scared of the SUV owner, and are prepared to handle the seemingly gargantuan challenge of rotating the tires.
I finished our school schedules for the week last night, and I am looking forward to today. We won't have any outside lessons because of the snow, so the children shall not escape my grasp( insert maniacal laughter here).
Race, we love you and we miss you. Stay safe.
Have a great day,
Melissa