Saturday - I think every part of the country has a saying that goes something like, "if you don't like the weather in [fill in your region], just wait a while". Saturday we were stuck inside all day. At least the kids were healthy. I'd heard our weathermen describe "Alberta Clippers" and "Nor'easters", but this one they were calling a "one-two punch". Snow started late Friday afternoon and continued overnight. By Saturday morning there was only an inch or two on the ground. I got things quickly cleaned off before the construction guy and electrician came to work on the basement. While they worked a second stronger storm arrived and the snow came down much faster. By the Saturday late afternoon we had another 6-8 inches. Michelle and I had enough of the kids being indoors all day so we bundled them up and they "helped" me clear things off again. When you're running a slowblower, having five kids walking around with shovels isn't exactly helping, but ...
Sunday - By this morning (Sunday) the sun was out and a big thaw started. By noon it was 50°! I went out to break up ice that had built up along the edges of the driveway and to clear a path around the back of the house. I didn't want the girls to feel like "we didn't do anything this weekend!". After Mass they played outside and had friends over. Early afternoon they played one round of Mario Party 6, after which I took them candlepin bowling. They finished the evening with their favorite sitter while Michelle and I went to Chili's. We actually wanted to go to Texas Roadhouse, but the wait was too long.
Anime - The past few months Michelle, the girls, and I have been watching a lot of Japanese anime by famed director, Hayao Miyazaki. Thus far we've seen Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away and Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind. This weekend we watched My Neighbor Totoro. I think the girls like Totoro the best -- to the point that they'd even like a stuffed animal that represented Totoro.
Basement - Things have been moving along quickly on the basement front. The walls are all framed in and the basics of wiring are installed. Tuesday will be the initial inspection. Tuesday Michelle is also going to a local flooring store to pick out carpeting. I imagine walls will be up by Friday at this rate. Next summer we plan on putting a free standing pellet stove in the family room down there, but for now the builder will focus just on setting up the tile and complying with other fire codes (different sheet rock, metal studs, ceramic tile, a modified ceiling, etc.). Whereas our last basement had a few costly amenities, most notably a bathroom, this one will be simpler.