Snow Days

Today was a snow day.

Our first this school year.

Normally, when school is cancelled, we get a phone call at an obscenely early hour, telling us to not get up. Ironic. This time, they called off school the afternoon before, giving us plenty of time to prepare to have the kids home for the day. We even decided to keep our 3 year old home from day care based on the horrible forecast and shortage of teachers making it in from surrounding communities. The boys gleefully proclaimed their joy for staying home, letting me know that this would be an EPIC pajama day complete with movies and baked goods. Well… there was a movie. And I did manage to bake a loaf of peanut butter banana bread that will be super tasty tomorrow morning.

It has been a long time since I enjoyed a snow day as a teacher. We’re talking 13 years to be exact. I can remember my last snow day like it was yesterday, even though it was a lifetime ago. It was while Todd and I were dating. We were just a few weeks into our relationship and we were both teachers at the time- me at McLeod West teaching band and choir, and him in Hutchinson, teaching social studies.

That morning, he called me, saying Hutchinson had cancelled school for the day. I was SO jealous because my little rural district had not yet cancelled, and I was dreading the 15 mile drive down Hwy 15 from Hutchinson to Brownton, clearly drifted over and not ideal conditions. I got about 5 miles down the road when he called me back to say that he saw the McLeod West cancellation on the TV. This was looooong before the days of smart phones and text alerts. I just barely had my first cell phone and had yet to master the art of texting. Plus, I didn’t know anyone who texted, so I had no reason to learn. (A lot has changed in 13 years…)

I cheered at the thought of a snow day and we made plans for breakfast and movies. I was giddy with the thought of spending time with this new guy in my life. When I arrived at his place, I took to the kitchen, ready to show off my breakfast-making skills. So of course, I burned the bacon.

SO EMBARRASSING!!!!!

I was mortified. And convinced that my poor bacon-making skills reflected on me as a person (which they didn’t) and that would be the end of that (which it wasn’t). Instead, it is a highlight in a story of how our relationship began, embracing our imperfections as we were getting to know each other.

Fast forward to today’s snow day antics. There was no burned bacon, but there were snowballs, shoveling, and snuggles with the kids. I am grateful for the journey we have been on together and the memories we are making with our children. And it all started with some burned bacon on a snow day…

What are your snow day memories?