Chilly, Inside and Out!

So far, this winter has been very un-winter-like! There has been a lot of rain, barely any snow, and temperatures above zero. I am not a huge fan of winter, but even I would be okay with some colder temps and some snow. The kids are eager to get out and build forts, make snowmen, and go skating and sledding!

Finally, the past few days we have had some snow and colder temperatures. Today has been the coldest day so far with a high of -13 degrees, -20 with the windchill. And wouldn't today also be the day that our furnace decides to stop working! Of course.

Thankfully we already had plans to go see a friend in the morning so while Jeff worked from home and awaited the repairman, the kids and I were warm elsewhere. The repairman was supposed to show up between 10 and 2. I love how they give a "generous" range of when we might expect to see them. By 1:30 Jeff had to go and teach so me and the kids waited and waited.

While we waited...

Poor Charlie looked for whatever scrap of sun he could find and stayed curled up in the smallest ball I have ever seen. I didn't know he could make himself so small!

We sat in front of the space heater and
played games most of the afternoon.

Lots of games!

There is still plenty of Christmas baking left, but
we made cookies anyways just to have the heat of the oven!

Games...

I threw this over Charlie thinking he would move...but he didn't!

...and more games!

Heather added another blanket and he still didn't move!

In the mean time, 2:00 comes and goes and there is no sign of the repairman. At 2:30 I called to see what was going on. The woman told me that if the repairman was not here by 3:00 to call back. By 3:00, another person called to say that the repairman was delayed but was coming soon. The man clarified, "this is just a service call, but the furnace is running, right". Uh...nope, the furnace is off and it is 13 degrees in here right now. Oh....

Another phone call from me (should I expect to see someone here today?!!!) and FINALLY, the repairman shows up at 4:55! So much for coming between the hours of 10-2! Nothing like Jeff and I staying home the entire day waiting around! Thankfully, all we needed was a new igniter and the problem was solved. Here it is now 9:12 and the furnace has not stopped running. It has taken over 4 hours to get the house temperature to 19 degrees, which is what we keep it at during the day. It won't be long now before the temperature starts to drop again for the night.

I am thankful that the problem was fairly easily solved, and I am grateful for the time I got to spend with the kids. It was a nice afternoon and we got to play with many of our games. The kids had a blast!

I am also glad that I can feel my toes now, too! :)