February: Apex of Winter

 'Sup, Internet.

Sooo this winter has seen far colder temperatures and far more snow than last year, that's for damn sure.  Like in previous years, winter didn't really begin until the second week of January or so, and then came in with a vengeance.  We got dumped on a couple times last month, but what really compounded things was that this month we were hit with a polar vortex that lasted quite some time, and consequently the snow never melted.  As additional snows came, it just added to what was already there, and so while we only had a handful of heavy snows, we were pretty blanketed for the majority of the month.

Weather aside, we were slightly more active this month, but not by much - as in January, with everything closed due to Covid, we were more or less homebodies.  I've attached some pics and video of some random things that took place over the course of the last couple of weeks, buuuut it's not much.

Anyway, here you go - February '21.

Our daily morning video notification from Ella.  Her mom or dad picks up Abby for school in the mornings on their way to work (seeing how Kris and Alayna leave about a half an hour earlier, and me an additional half hour before them.)

Time for orchestra. . .

Not sure what's up with the Minnie Mouse ears.  Must've been something going on at school that morning.

Headed back to Lodge for our monthly meeting, our first after a prolonged, winter quarantine. . .

We purchased new globes for the outside of the building (in the previous picture, you can see our old one illuminated - it lights up whenever we have a meeting.)  There are four others - a generic 'Midland Masonic Center' one, a Royal Arch one, a Cryptic Council one, and the Commandarie (Knights Templar.)  The old ones have been around for decades, and are smaller than these - despite the hefty price tag, they should look pretty badass once they're installed.

Shoveling out the driveway.  Again.

I don't mess around with the panoramic shot on my camera very often, but figured I'd give it a whirl while Kris did something productive around the house.

BP swears by this stuff, so I figured I'd finally get around to giving it a try.  Took me forever to drink the damn thing, not sure it's my kinda beverage.

On SuperBowl Sunday, as parents began to prepare their dishes to bring to the party/game, Abby hung out a the Johnson residence and watched the ridiculously-bad classic, Hook.

Mitch whipped up his usual sushi, which was awesome. . .

Meanwhile, Morgan - who was once again hosting this year - worked on 'cleaning his house.'

I forget who made these briskets, Erik or Mitch. . .  

The wives had staked out the living room for the big game, so we dads had to cram in to the Larson's craft room. . .

As always, a ridiculous amount of food was on hand.  That's why no one in this group ever loses any weight.

Like in previous years, we created a board for gambling purposes (artwork by Yours Truly.)  Folks can buy a square for $5, and if the last digits of either team's score at the end of each quarter coincides with the square you bought, you get 1/4 the total pot.  Alas, our family didn't win any this year.

Even more food. . .

The wives are really fond of weird-ass pictures like this.  One of these days we'll get all the dads to recreate this.

After the party, while cleaning up, Morgan came across this 'sympathy card' some of the kids (including Abby, apparently) made for Sophie, who must've gotten in trouble at some point in the evening.

Every year, while learning about Westward Expansion, I make it a point to let my classes play through Oregon Trail (you can find the emulator of the original game online for free.)  As always, I name my party members in the game after my real-life coworkers, which the students find hilarious.

The Ring picked up this video randomly one day, while we were all away at work and school. . .

So the owner of a local printing shop - the guy from the previous video - dropped this off for Kris and I.  We must be valued customers, seeing how we've both, in the past, placed large orders for our school (me through work, Kris through the Chestnut Hill PTO) through this guy's print shop.

Inside was chocolates, coffees, soaps, etc. from local businesses - I'm assuming he partnered with these companies in assembling the care packages.  An interesting marketing gimmick, for sure.

Would've been a lot cooler if there had been booze in it.  Just sayin'.

I'm convinced every, last one of these chocolates contained a Golden Ticket, but Kris was clearly excited about getting one. . .

The usual chaos of the Hough House.

Artwork, by Abby and one of her friends, that was left at one of our friend group's family homes.  You can always spot a Hough.

It's been awhile since I showed off my current classroom, and earlier - back in August - when I did so, it wasn't completely set up.  So, here you go. . .

Definitely more cramped than my last classroom, that's for damn sure.

I have more art and craft supplies than I know what to do with.  There could be far worse things to have to worry about with this job.

The Command Center

These flags are actually historical and relevant to my curriculum, I promise I'm not some asshole Trumper.

We got new $7000 tablet panels during quarantine - these things are pretty damn fancy. More like giant tablets than traditional SMARTBoards. . .

My ever-growing classroom library.

Mr. Skeletor, my classroom assistant.

Imagine squeezing 30 teenagers into this space.  And then add their winter coats and backpacks into the mix (seeing how they can't utilize their lockers, due to Covid.)  It's f***ing awesome.

A student of mine from two years ago made me this mask, and so now we've got it chillin' on ol' Skeletor's face.  Why not.

One Friday, after she got out of school, Alayna went out with Kris and had a blowout done (not sure what exactly that is, but apparently it's a hair thing that involves cutting, dying, etc. . .  to the tune of $50.)

. . . can you tell the difference?  'Cause I sure as hell can't.

Kris' friend, Kim, came into town one Friday to hang out with Kris, and the two of them went downtown and grabbed some dinner at Molasses (some fancy BBQ joint that opened up last year.)  They had to sit outside in one of these weird-ass, plastic igloos, but said it was enjoyable.

I'm not a huge fan of 'homestyle' food, but Kris loves the shit out of it. . .

The next day, despite the frigid temperatures, Kris took Alayna up to Midland City Forest so that she could sled for the afternoon with her friend, Cristina.

(Not sure why they're doing this.  I just nabbed all these pics off Kris' phone.)

This seems unsafe.  The kids are standing on the frozen river (the concrete wall there being the side of the bridge, further up the trails from the sledding hill.)

Instead of parenting, Kris is taking selfies in the woods.

Sitting on a river, under a bridge.

. . . aaaaand more selfies.

Pajamas and movies to close out the evening.

The next morning, we got around and headed to Kris' church, the first time there's been an in-person service there in about a year.

Afterwards, while we worked on cleaning up the house and getting ready for the work week, the doorbell rang.  Getting up, I saw Morgan's truck in the driveway.  Confused as to why my friend was stopping by unannounced, I opened up the door to find his son, Jackson, standing at my front door with a flower.  Then it hit me:  it was Feb. 14th. Valentine's Day. . .

Good God, I'm not ready for this yet. . .

Later that night, Ryan was hosting a dad-only hangout session for the Daytona 500.  There was way too much food on hand for the six or seven of us that showed up, so we all gorged ourselves stupid.

During a lull in the racing - there were a few delays due to rain - we threw some darts and played cards.

We also each threw $15 into a betting pool, and, believe it or not, I ended up winning the pot at the end of the night.  You know, 'cause I'm clearly really into NASCAR and shit.

Not sure what the hell happened in the first place that would solicit a frickin' treaty, but I'm honestly impressed they knew the term and what it means.  Most of my 8th graders certainly don't.

This happens every day.  Non stop.

Shoveling, once again.

After one particularly heavy snowstorm, Kris and I had to get up super early in the morning in order to shovel the drive enough for her van to make it out of the driveway for work.  Fortunately, the girls and I were able to take a Snow Day.

Shit's getting ridiculous around these parts.

Apparently the snow isn't so bad that it deters Abby from scootering around.

I use this app on my phone called Hoopla in order to listen to audiobooks.  It's linked to my local library account, and I have access to hundreds of thousands of books, it's pretty awesome (that's how I eat up my hour or so a day I spent in my car, commuting to/from work.)  Anyway, while looking for new books to check out one day, I spotted this hilarious title (which is identical to the name of a song my old college band, Virgil Q's Dixieland Kazoo Revue, recorded long, long ago.)

These two lazy bastards, soaking up some sun in the dining room. . .

They didn't budge for a couple of hours.  What with winter usually being all bleak and gray out, they were probably starved for some Vitamin D.

Due to Covid (again, I feel like I'm saying that shit constantly), we're unable to do our usual 'houses' (think Harry Potter) thing with our students this year, but I still have my Ausdauer decor hanging up in my classroom.  My animal sigil is the wolf, taken from my family coat of arms.

While watching one of the Avengers movies one night, Alayna decided to play around with one of her make-up pallets and create the Infinity Stones.  On her face.

Fired up the ol' grill for the first time this winter, having not touched it since Halloween.

Here's a pic of some. . . thing. . . that the girls had to do for their Church youth group.  Not sure what it is, but this is Abby's.

. . . and here's Alayna's.

- Brian