Catch-up

So, it is no surprise that I do not keep up with my blog by now, but I am going to at least try and catch up!  Let's see, since last I wrote the snow started, and kept up, and kept up, and kept up:-P When we were in Tahoe we thought at this time of the year it would be snowing outside and the boys could play in the snow yada, yada, yada.  NO snow until the morning we left to return to Portland.  Then on the way home to Portland we hit snow and plenty of it, but were still safe and sound with little snow by the time we hit Salem.  Then Sunday morning we got hit with a vengeance!  Still on Monday I went to Neil and Charissa's as we had school.  It was icy but tolerable for someone who had driven in the snow before.  Many people were staying home because of fear, so that cleared the streets a bit.  Mind you Portland was billed as never getting snow, a plus when we moved out here 9 years ago, and twice we have had ice and now snow. Still I persevered as school is important to Neil and Charissa and a passion of mine. Plus Bean had skipped lessons the week we were in Tahoe and we had stuff to finish before Christmas vacation.

Tuesday the snow was a little worse. I had the boys all day.  We decorated those pine cones that we'd collected in Tahoe for art class.  There was glitter in the kitchen that rivaled Hollywood!  

Wednesday we got more snow dumped on us and I still had things to send for Christmas.  Dad had asked the day before for more No Time 4 Colds (that stuff is amazing!) which is proprietary for Rite Aid.  So I went through the snow storm to get it on the way back home.  I left early from school in order to get home before the worst of the storm hit.  I couldn't make it to the post office so had to use that miserable Postal Annex and they charge such premium it's ridiculous, but I was grateful for the option all the same.  So, there was little chance that I was going to get to store etc.  I opted to go to a local Walgreens and got baking stuff as well as a last minute gift for Stef which jumped out at me.  Mercifully, Jeff worked from home, so I hustled to the Postal Annex to ship the No Time 4 Colds so that Dad could get it BEFORE he had his next cold.  I went home and grabbed Amy's gift and shipped it off too.  Then I set out to baking out Christmas cookies and such.  It was COLD in between my hot flashes.  Still, once work was finished Jeff chipped in.

Thursday I assumed I was not going to make it over to Neil and Charissa's but wanted to try.  I did school and headed back home for more baking.  Jeff joined in after he finished working and we went around to distribute the cookie boxes.  We stepped out into a foot of snow!  We were shocked!  Jeff had the blinds drawn in an attempt to keep the heat in so we were totally unaware.  We FROZE but got at least half of the cookies delivered.

Friday we were at Mark's bar shooting the breeze with neighbors, a welcome change from the struggle of the past week.

Saturday we attempted to deliver the remainder of the cookies, got Christmas dinner, and finally got the post office.  Thank you to all who sent us Christmas cards!

Sunday we finished up Christmas preparations and slogged around in the snow.  NOT a terribly exciting week, just exhausting.