We've Been Downright Boring

I am so glad that we had a couple of birthdays in January to liven things up, or we all might have gone mad. It has been very cold, and according to news reports here, the harshest winter in Europe in over 20 years. We can't say we've been too thrilled to be a part of THAT! But we are thankful to have a nice place to live, a big grocery store 1/2 a mile away and the internet at our fingertips.

We have not been out much at all unless we had to. It was bitterly cold the past few weeks. So we only went out to the grocery store when it was absolutely necessary. On Monday the kids were supposed to go to school and they were all looking forward to it to go somewhere. But when we got up in the morning, the temperature was -10 Fahrenheit. I flat out refused to make our school trek in that weather! My decision was not popular, but there was no way we were going. I think if we had gone out the kids would have agreed with me pretty quickly. It's one thing to brave the elements when it is regular cold, but at some point (and -10 is past "some point" to me) it's just stupid to mess with dangerous temperatures.

The bitter cold has let up somewhat. We contacted the kids' school and the director graciously allowed the kids to come on Wednesday instead of Monday. It seemed almost balmy walking to school in snow and 18 degrees! It really wasn't bad at all. When I picked up the kids it was about 23 degrees, AND it was still light for our entire walk home. Things are looking up!

We have all occupied ourselves by finding and listening to the Jayhawks' games online. That's always fun!

Also, we are up to date with American Idol! We are enjoying season 9 so far. We are a couple of days behind with it each week, but what a treat to be able to see it at all! There was a news story about a dog here that somehow found himself on a sheet of ice floating down the Vistula River. According to reports there were people in town who saw this dog on the river through Gdansk. The Vistula River empties into the Baltic Sea so this pooch floated on out there for more than 30 miles! Finally, a boat on the Sea saw him and he was rescued.

We have been doing lots of school work. I know the kids are tired of it. I know I'm tired of it, too! But we are taking a February break next week. We are taking a nine day trip to Scotland and Ireland, and we have no plans of doing any school while we are gone!

Today it warmed up to nearly 30 degrees so Trey and Abbie were finally able to get out and really play in the snow.

They wanted to build a snowman but the snow did not pack very well today. They may try again tomorrow.

We have come to the unanimous agreement that none of us will miss January in Poland! And while this may have been an unusually COLD winter, the darkness is not unusual. We have added nearly an hour of daylight to the days since the beginning of January, and the difference is significant enough each day that it is noticeable (and very welcome). So long January!