As much as I love winter, I'm really getting tired of the not being able to do the running outside thing. I've tried a few times but I can only go on the plowed stretch of road that is in front of the house. It's about a 1/4th of a mile long. So I run back and forth and that gets old fast. We're having a bit of a thaw and it's getting really mushy in some spots which makes my footing not so sure. I don't want to hurt myself. So back on the treadmill I go. I should be very grateful that I have that option, which I am, but it's still hard to go for more than a couple of miles. I just get bored.

Tonight we had Family Home Evening. Amber did the lesson and Ben got to pick the activity. He wanted to play Yahtzee. So that was fun, and took forever, but that's okay because we were bonding right? We had cookies for dessert. That was Sam's idea. One of our family goals this year was to have regular FHE every week. So far so good. I feel it's very important for our family and I hope we can continue with it, and not let life get in the way.

The kids had piano lessons today and I took Sam to the house that we always go to, and the door was locked. He rang the bell, and no one answered. I had remembered the kids telling me that she was moving but she never told me when. I thought it would be in the spring or something. I guess not. Luckily I had her number in my cell phone. She laughed a little and said "didn't the kids tell you?" We'll no my kids never tell me anything. So I got her address for her new house which is a few blocks down and farther north. Which means I'll have to leave a little earlier to get my kids there on time. I had to take a lot of side roads that the plow has yet to see and the snow and slush made for very interesting driving. But man what a cool house! It's one of those old Victorian homes, with an amazing ceiling and wood work around the doors and windows. It's like three times the size of her last house. I don't blame her for moving. She had some very nice antique furniture in there and still had a lot of boxes sitting around, but it was a cool house. I could kill the previous owner though, because they replaced the original dark wood flooring with a very light, almost blond colored LAMINATE FLOOR!!!!!! AAAHHHHH I was sick! You DON'T put that stuff in an old home like that! What were they thinking! And if you HAVE to use that stuff at least pick a dark color that goes with the rest of the house! So just food for thought.
Looking forward to a fun but busy weekend. Bret has to go to Des Moines in the Morning for a CME conference and then it's off to Omaha for a stay in a hotel with a pool! It'll be nice to get away for a bit. We're meeting Sheri and Derek there and then after we swim, they will take the kids to their house and Bret and I get a night to ourselves. Saturday Amber and I have to be at the Council Bluffs Stake Center at 11 for a camp meeting till 1:00 then I have to take her to the Temple for a youth temple trip. Then it's back to the hotel for a Safari Club International Banquet that evening. Maybe we'll buy a trip to Africa! But I'm excited to just be out with Bret and enjoy some good food and adult conversation.