I had called it a snow day the night before.

It’s as though the meteorologists had their careers on the line if we didn’t get hit with the storm of the century.

Also, I was very tired when I went to bed and thought, wouldn’t it be nice if we just didn’t set the alarm and didn’t even check if our school was closed in the morning? That’s what some would call, responsible parenting.

It turns out, a lot of snow fell, our power went off seventeen times in the night which means things are still beeping, clocks are flashing and messages to replace and/or pay attention to electronic devices are about to send me screaming into a closet with a giant lock.

I was really looking forward to this snow day. It’s been almost a full week since our last one though things aren’t quite the same when we have to break our routine.

Case in point, I have been chewing on my porcelain tea cup all morning but other than a bloody lower bottom lip, haven’t won a prize or been politely nudged to re-asseyez. I do continue to unroll my Tim’s lid even when I see the words “Please play again” because what if in order to win a grand prize you have to read the entire message “Please play again in your BRAND NEW CAR!!!”

I told the girls I wanted thirty minutes on the treadmill to gear up for a day of indoor activity, the most time consuming of course being the one where the girls take turns tattling on each other. It’s the game that keeps on giving.

There were a few visits from the kids but they were shooed out the door and told to play until either the timer buzzed thirty minutes or I did a face plant and slid off of the moving conveyor belt into their play area, whichever came first.

When I turned the machine off I heard quiet, kids playing together, sorting through differences and generally getting along.

Then I heard these inspiring words.

Ellie: You stay in your cage doggy until you bark four times.

Chloe: Woof, woof, woof………..woof?

Perfect.

They’re helping Chloe with her counting.