Polar Vortex

It's another crazy winter weather week.  I've lost track of what day it is.  The kids didn't have school Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.  And we have lots more of these...

This one, though, is the "winner!"  I've never seen a -62 windchill before this week!

Our furnace couldn't keep up with the cold and wind on Wednesday, and even though it was set at 69, it dropped to 63 in the house.  It made it back up by afternoon.  We had thick ice forming in our shower too.  The tub faucet was left dripping all night, but the drips formed into ice.  The shower head froze, so none of us got a shower that day.  We just sat under blankets all day anyway.  

Jeremy was asked to work from home, but he knew it would be a full house of teenagers and Nola, and he knew he wouldn't get any Wifi or quiet to get work done.  He had some deadlines to meet, so he braved the cold.  He got a nice warm shower at the gym, and peace and quiet at work since only one other person in his area was there.  He said there were only about 30 cars at work.  A lot of area businesses closed because it just wasn't safe to travel and be out and about.

 Sylvia watched Nola at our house on Wednesday.  She tried to keep her busy.  

They started out with LEGOs!

They played Guess Who while Annah and Ryan worked on a social studies project about planning a trip to several national parks.

 The girls wanted to try freezing bubbles, so I told them they could do it on the front porch for 4 minutes.  I don't think they even lasted that long.  Ridiculously cold! 

 But the freezing bubbles were cool!

Saw this in the news today!  Crazy!!!

Puzzles.  Nola still said she was bored.  And once school was canceled for Thursday, she said she just wanted to stay home and watch YouTube videos all day instead of being at our house where it's boring!  Haha!  We don't have a lot of toys for kids anymore, I guess.

Jacob came over on Thursday, and we all watched movies and felt like slugs.  Again.
I think it was Thursday.  

January Crochet Projects

I consider winter to be crocheting "season!"  When you spend so much time curled up under a blanket, there's little else to do that feels productive!  I finished a fair amount of projects in January...

The Peacock pincushion I made because I couldn't resist buying some Pantone X Caron yarn. 

  

This Coffee Bean Infinity Scarf in Mustard and Cream Lion Brand Scarfie
got me on a Scarfie yarn kick.

A poncho for G'ma Sandi in Scarfie Grey and Cream 

This new "Perfect Gift Poncho" is so nice--thicker at the top to keep the neck and shoulders warm, then lacier as it gets longer.

Mittens and a cowl/hood for Dr. Ransom

Another Coffee Bean Infinity Scarf

I made this Spider Web Slouchy hat back in October, but didn't get a picture until now.

Made this bulky slouchy hat in December, but it is only just now cold enough outside for anyone to want to wear it.

I made a bunch of these Celtic Cabled Earwarmers in December, and Sylvia gave some to her friends for Christmas. I made these this month when someone asked for navy and/or grey.

The worship team was rocking at church yesterday!

I love watching the teens worship and dance and have fun in the front row every Sunday!  Caeden and Nate crack me up with their Fortnite dances to worship songs, but they are always grinning and having such fun!

Annah led a beautiful song.

Annah got a cool commemorative sweatshirt at AllState over the weekend.

Her name is 4th down in the 3rd column!

ILMEA State Honors Chorus

Based on her audition at the district level back in October, Annah was notified after the ILMEA District Festival Concert in November that she'd been chosen to participate in the state HONORS Chorus this year!  (Last year, she participated in the All-State Chorus, and the Honors Chorus is an even higher level!) To say the very least, we are proud of her and so glad and thankful that she has had these opportunities!  She has learned so much, and is inspired for her future role as a much educator!

Early Thursday morning, and Annah went over to the Illinois Music Educators' Conference in Peoria. Annah spent about 12 hours rehearsing on Thursday, same on Friday, and was at rehearsal at 6:40 a.m. this morning as well.  And she loved every minute of it!

Yesterday, I was texted a picture of where Annah was standing within the choir so we would be able to find her in the sea of 200 singers... 

Jeremy drove us all over to Peoria in a snowstorm this afternoon.  We arrived in time to meet Annah in the lobby just before she had to get ready for the concert.

It was tricky to find a spot where we could see Annah well.  Once we sat down, I realized she was behind a tall speaker.

Though there are about 200 students in the Honors Choir, it was announced at the start of the concert that over 26,000 students auditioned for the ensembles performing today, and about 1000 were chosen.  It is a huge honor to be one of those students!

The Honors Band (far right) performed first, then the Honors Chorus, then the Honors Orchestra.

There was close up video on the jumbotron.

Annah wore a red and black choir robe borrowed from a neighboring school (Gibson City) because Ridgeview doesn't have choir robes. She was easy to find in her bright red!

I only took a few short video clips during the performance, because I wasn't able to get a good view. But the Chorus was amazing!  Even in a huge stadium they sounded like they were in a cathedral!

For the Grande Finale, all three ensembles joined together to perform America, The Beautiful!  

It was incredible!

There's our girl!  Maybe someday she will be the guest conductor for an All-State Chorus?!  

A new dream may have been inspired this weekend.

We have more snow and ice and wind and ridiculous cold this week.  I've lost track of what day of the week it is!  The kids didn't have school Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

We have all kinds of these warnings and advisories and screenshots of weather apps...

Jacob came over to hang out one, and he and Sylvia played Wii bowling.  

She wins every time...against anyone!

We do have a lot of snow.