Snowshoe and Snow!

We got our first big snow and our first real COVID run-in.  My friend Becca dropped off some yummy bread to us this week!  

And our neighbors Ron and Linda gave us a card, a poinsettia and yummy chocolate covered pretzels.  That was a fun treat and surprise.

And my sister Steph sent me these yummy spices!  I was not expecting this fun package!

So back to COVID.  It's a long story.  A couple of Lee's employees have thought they might have COVID or were exposed but ended up testing negative.  And while we were a little worried about it, we also weren't.  Lee kept on working.  They do a great job at his practice with wearing masks, have three air purifiers, constantly sanitize and have plexiglass up for the receptionists. Last Friday we knew one of Lee's employees was getting tested for COVID but we didn't think much of it until we thought she might actually have it.  She texted Sunday night saying that she lost her sense of taste and smell.  That's when I got nervous.  I felt silly because I knew she had been tested but we still had people over, went to church and went to the piano recital.  I just didn't think about it!  Thankfully Lee hadn't seen her since the Monday before.  So on a Monday Lee worked with her, but she was gone Tuesday with a day off to take her mom to an appointment.  Then Wednesday she had a migrain so stayed home, then late Wednesday and early Thursday felt progressively worse, and had a fever.  She asked Lee about getting tested and she did.  Lee wasn't concerned because at that point he hadn't been around her since Monday evening and she wasn't even sick.  Plus Lee thinks she picked something up at the hospital because about 48 hours later she was sick.  And even when he was around her they are masked, and she's usually behing plexiglass.  The next Monday, a whole week later, Lee went ahead and was tested.  It was $350!!!  He went to an urgent care and they made him get a physical as well.  Ugh. Almost dishonest in my book!  But everywhere he was trying to go was booked up and his appointment he had made at a Walgreens texted him that morning saying his appointment was canceled.  He just wanted to get the test done and get the results back as soon as possible.  He canceled patients Monday and Tuesday and we kept the kids home from school Tuesday.  We later found out from the nurse that we could have sent the kids to school.  Which I wish we would have done.  Then the issue was skiing on Wednesday.  I didn't know what to do.  We had already purchased lift tickets.  I talked to someone at Snowshoe and told him the whole predicament and that Lee was waiting for test results, but hadn't been around her now for 8 days and exhibited no symptoms at all.  He said we were fine to go!  So, Lee got all the ski stuff out and the kids got their ski rentals.  We took off for Snowshoe the next morning at about 6:00am.  It's 3 hours away.  We also knew it was going to snow that day. Lee already had the day off because we had planned this in advance.  

Elden working on a aluminum boat. 

Shanna looks ready!

We made it!  We got there at 9:00am and at one point pulled over to switch drivers so we were behind our friend and Bishop, Michael Weiler.  We were going to meet him there.  So we arrived at a good time, but it took forever to get dressed, get the lift tickets and get on our way.  The first part of the drive was fine, but then we got onto snow covered roads and it was slower.  It was cold out and thankfully we had those hot hand warmers.  We also got covered in a layer of ice. 

It was so pretty.  Even with the complaints, at the end of the day everyone had a great time. 

We went to the room where you pick up lift tickets and sat on the couches for a break and some snacks for lunch. Meat, cheese, crackers and Reese's peanut butter dark chocolate thins. 

Oh and I didn't have any goggles so went between wearing glasses, sunglasses or nothing.  The kids all found their goggles but Cal didn't have any.  I was going to buy some at Snowshoe but their shop was closed.  Haley had some blue goggles so Cal wore those and Haley wore mine.  We have some pint tinted goggles at home.  I looked in the Chevy just in case, but they weren't in there.  They make me naseous when I wear them so I don't wear them.  But on a day that was snowing and sleeting, goggles are almost necessary!

Michael is in the yellow coat.  Two of his boys were at ski school while we all went skiing.  Hopefully he wasn't too bored hanging out with us! And I felt bad because we were supposed to meet him at 10:00 but didn't meet him till about 10:30. It was so fun skiing together and riding on the chair lifts.  Lee crashed at one point, and I had a little fall as well, but all went great.  Snowshoe has a lot of easy trails that are also long. 

We decided to do two more runs and head back. But at the end the chair lift we wanted to ride up was actually closed-apparently due to do getting iced over.  We should have taken the bus back to the parking lot, but Shanna, Haley, Elden and I waited along the main road with the ski gear while Lee, Cal and Clark went back to the suburban.  It was a MILE walk for them in ski boots.  Ouch!  We waited quite awhile but didn't realize at first that it was a mile away! This was our waiting spot.  When the guys did get to the Chevy Lee didn't have an ice scraper and there was a quarter inch of ice on the windsheild. That also delayed their coming.

The ride home was crazy.  Clark really wanted to drive but I told him no.  He told Lee that I said he could drive and I said, no I didn't!  I did tell Clark if the roads were completely clear and dry he could drive.  But they were covered with snow and ice.  Nice try Clark but it didn't work.  He is a good driver and wanted to gain experience on snowy roads but not on a mountain and curvy roads.  Lee drove the whole way home and it took us 4.5 hours.  Normally it only takes 3.  Soon after we left Snowshoe he stated sliding a little towards a guard rail.  That was freaky.  Then at one point a truck was riding our tail so Lee found a spot and moved over so he could get by.  Then about a half hour later the same truck guy was stuck on the side of the road!  We saw a truck and Jeep on the side.  Lee pulled up asking if we could help.  The guy in the Jeep had stopped to help the truck guy.  He said he didn't have anything to pull the truck out with.  Not sure what they did.  Then a few miles from Bridgewater the suburban started fishtailing on a straight section of the road.  We must have hit a bit patch of ice.  Thankfully Lee did a great job with not-overcorrecting and straightened us out.  We arrived home safely.  I was worried too that Lee would have attention fatigue staring at all the snow falling and getting distracted from the goal of looking at the road.  It was dark and almost blizzard like.  We then told lots of stories about getting stuck in the snow haha.  Hopefully none of our kids were freaked out!  BUT we arrived home safely.  I also said a prayer on the way home.  We were so thankful for that blessing. God does answer prayers! We missed the day at home with the snow storm.  This is what we saw when we got back home.  Not the 8-12 inches that was anticipated, but about 4.  The roads were awful that night though near our house. 

With the snow came sledding!  The kids went sledding each day with Christian and loved it. 

There is an awesome hill here in town--the best for sledding. 

Haley treated us to some homemade hot chocolate and Christian hung out at our house for the afternoon.

Another picture of the house.  So cozy.  I love our little home. 

There is a big pile of snow at Lee's office.  Irresistable to any kid. 

The day after the snow Lee hadn't heard yet about his test, and patients had canceled anyway, but patients were cancelled.  We were out on a walk about 12:30 and he got the call that he was negative.  YAY!  He went back that afternoon and was still able to see 6 patients. As part of the walk Lee and I went to his office and cleaned up the parking lot a little and put rock salt out.  

Friday the kids went sledding again. Not a ton of snow left but it was nice and icy which helped. 

Cal and Elden reading "Preach My Gospel".  We are reading it together as a family to help Clark go through the book before his mission.  I thought it was cute that Elden and Cal were sitting on the chair together and wanted to snap a picture but Elden wasn't liking the idea. 

We did a family night with Monopoly.  It gets pretty wild here during that game!  Though everyone likes playing which is really fun. Shanna and Haley are almost out.

Haley has also been making this yummy peppermint milk. She made some for me and Lee to share today which was very sweet of her.  I love her giving nature.