Well, the day started off with a phone call. As soon as the phone rang I knew exactly who it was. I didn't need the caller ID. I knew it was the warehouse. It was worse than I thought it was, though. They were in pretty bad shape because 75% of the associated didn't show up because of the weather. AND volume just so happened to be very high. So, a lot more work, and a lot less workforce meant a very long day for the crew. So all the management were called and asked to come in to help. Ashley and I talked about it and I told her I probably should go in a help out. I had the truck, it would do fine in the snow (and it did) and we didn't really have plans for the day anyway. So I figured this was a great way to make a little extra money. I think the hardest part about going in was just knowing that everyone was going to have so much fun playing outside and enjoying the snow while I was stuck in a big warehouse with no windows and no Abigail, Nate, and Micah to watch enjoying a big snow.
SO, while Daddy was at work, Ashley and the kids had an absolutely blast! It started out with Ashley trying to figure out how to enjoy the snow without spending too much time out in the cold. She had the ingenious idea of bringing the snow inside. She filled the kitchen sink up with snow for Nate, and the bathroom sink for Abigail. They absolutely loved it! She said they played with the snow for two hours!
Then, as a special treat, they all got to eat some snow with their lunch. You can tell from this picture that Nathaniel preferred the snow over his lunch.
After lunch, neighbor Debbie came over and everyone got bundled up for sledding. Nathaniel was a bit reluctant and didn't really loosen up. Abigail, on the other hand, was a really big girl on the sled. She wanted to go all by herself and was doing a great job flying solo! It all ended, though, when Abigail's sled veered a little too far to the right and ran over one of the neighbors solar accent lights. We'll definitely pay them for the repairs. That kind of spooked Abigail a little bit, so she was done sledding after that.
So everyone came inside after having a really good time and warmed up with some delicious hot cocoa. They loved that part, too!
I didn't get home from work till after 8:00. I got the call around 6:30 am. After getting ready and digging the truck out of the snow I didn't actually leave until a little after 7:00. I didn't pull in to work until 8:15. It took an hour for me to get there. The roads were just awful. I sure hope we aren't paying too many taxes on NCDOT's winter weather program. Because I don't know what they did all day, but it sure wasn't clearing roads like they should have been. I know that seems harsh, but honestly, where were they all day?? I saw some plows, but where was the salt?
When I got home the kids were already in bed. At one point, the plan was for me to remain in Henderson with second shift and give them a hand. Since the roads were so bad, work paid for some hotel rooms close to the warehouse for those who lived far out. So there was a point where I was on the list for a spot in one of the rooms because I felt like at one point it would have been smarter to do that than risk driving home and run off the road. Well, it didn't take long before I decided I really wanted to get home regardless of how long it took. I mean, I risked my neck to go to work, why not risk it to go home? Besides, I would much rather wake up next to my wife tomorrow morning than I would my good buddy Seth Pierce. I like you and all Seth, buuuut you know what I mean.
Our plans for tomorrow....we're not going anywhere!!! Except sledding, of course! And the phone may just mysteriously develop technical difficulties overnight. That would be a shame if work tried to call and our phones were out. ;o)