BRRRRR....Cold!

We are spoiled by warm/hot weather.  As everyone else has been dealing with cold weather and cold, wet weather.  We have been comfy in the 70's...until this week.  We are used to a cold temp at night, but are cuddled in our blankets and fast asleep.  This week we heard the cold front blow in Tuesday night.  Wednesday wasn't any higher than 34 degrees and some bitter winds.  I would have loved to stay inside and drink hot cocoa, play games and do those things, but we had no excuse to stay in or home from school. Not many bad weather days here.  It was still sunny and beautiful.  Not a bit of precipitation.  Due to our lack of experience and preparedness (a.k.a. clothing), we are wimpy in this cold weather.
 It seems like we always missed the snow in Texas.  If it did snow where we lived, we were out of town.  Now it is all over Texas and we are missing in action for a few years.  Cold and snow really are foreign to us.  These are some things that have made us laugh (well, at least I am amused) or wish we were more prepared:

• The night the storm was coming in, David was walking around the house in a shirt and jeans, rubbing his hands together. Then looks at the thermostat: "Brr!  Why is it 67 degrees in here?" 
• I noticed a tableclothe in Teague's bed after the first morning of our cold front.  I was a bit curious as to what was going on.  Had the kids been in the closet?  Then I remembered getting up with him once.  I covered him with the nice warm blanket he already had in his bed.  Then he woke again...I nudged David and he attended to Teague.  I love it!  Sometimes I really do just sleep through it and let David aid in any night crawlers, because David rarely remembers waking up.  This means anything can happen.  If I am concerned, I get up.  David felt Teague was cold, so he went to the linen closet.  He chose a tablecloth.  Nice!  Could have been a towel or a vinyl tablecloth, but it was somewhat comfortable.  I am not sure about his problem solving skills.  "The blanket he has isn't warm enough, so I will add this thin thing I feel."  I don't know about you, but I don't own any quilted or warm tablecloths.  I am sure it was the first thing he grabbed that seemed to work.  I got a good laugh out of this one.  Next time he complains about 67 degrees I will offer him a tablecloth.  I know, he was more than half asleep.
• Cohen happened to leave both jacket (lost) and light coat at school the day before he really needed them.  He went to look in the lost and found, but they told him I had to help him.  Really?!  I didn't want my son to freeze, so I let my two little ones suffer through the wind and cold to go up to the school and dig in questionable missing items.  Teague didn't like the idea of a hat and blanket wrapped around him.  He would throw them off.  Then he would sink down into the stroller as much as possible with his hands in fists, tucked in his lap.  He was a bit confused and irritated with the bitter cold, but not enough to understand the joy and comfort of wearing a hat and blanket.  Kennedy needed to be carried.  Poor thing, she tried to tough it out, but it was too much.  The nice Cafeteria Director offered the kiddos some warm waffles.  Ahhh, found the jacket and warm food.  A great ending! 
• Then I had to pump gas.  I was so afraid to get in the car and come back out full of static and touch the pump, so I endured filling the tank out in the elements.  Not dressed in enough layers.  The winds seeped through the single layers and well ventilated coat.  Nobody exploded and we had a full tank.
• Our neighbors left their sprinklers on.  This made a wonderful, white, wintry day for my kids.  We had to drive past it a couple times to check it out.  They were so impressed.  I should just spray our yard in the morning...nope, just stay warm in my covers and then let them admire the neighbors frosty yard.  We are easily amused.  A little deprived of the real stuff.
• David's car has been doing great.  The driver window has been special for nine months now.  He has to help it roll back up.  But it gets up.  When it does stick and needs a little time before going up...no big deal, the weather is so pleasant...until it is bitter cold, the window will not go up.  Garage tonight and hopefully a good, hidden parking spot at work...and no precipitation.
• This morning, Cohen's heavy coat was a sweater jacket topped with a "wind proof" jacket.
• We forgot how much people like their heaters.  We also need to learn the art of layering.  We went into the library dressed for the outdoor elements, minus our jackets.  I was miserable inside.  I was ready to step outside and cool off.  I guess the cold front is storing the Phoenix heat in there.
• The first time it was colder outside than in the grocery store.  We were actually okay in the meat and dairy aisles.

We can't complain.  The sun still shines brightly!  I think I get the best laugh thinking of our future possibilities.  The majority of the places David applied to for fellowship experience temperatures below 50 degrees and it is normal.  With cold they also experience precipitation.  Snow!  Something my kids only read and sing about.  Several of those places have been greatly affected by the Blizzard of 2011 (Namely, Pennsylvania and Ohio).  I have been dying watching the weather reports for those areas.  I ran to get a blanket just watching the people that have lived there for years (15 plus years) saying how ridiculous it is and that they are ready to move to Florida.  All I know is, when we find out in June, I will start stocking up on warm clothes and do better at my food storage (now).  I will first purchase David a pair of long johns, so he can endure anything under 67 degrees. 

Just so you know, David has five interviews: Salt Lake City, Utah; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Ohio; Nashville, TN; Denver, Colorado.  He is on the wait list for Cincinnati.  We are anxious to hear from Baylor at Houston.  Pretty anything is colder than Phoenix...except Miami or California.  We don't have any perspective programs there.  We just hope the weather calms down so he can fly safely.  To all of you shivering in worse conditions than us, we wish you warmth, sunshine and safety!