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13 Signs Our Family's Spent Too Much Time Snowed in Together in PEI

I have a healthy appreciation for the winter storm, but three days housebound is a little much. So in gratitude to the fair weather we had Saturday our family made a trek to our local Chinese restaurant, at which time Husband proposed a toast to "surviving the storm." In light of this toast, I made a list of the top 13 ways which illustrate most clearly that The Family has spent a little bit too much time together lately...
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I am sure the rest of Canada is well aware that the Maritime Provinces are recovering from one of the most extensive back-to-back blizzards of the season. Western P.E.I. got dumped on with a total in our area of 53 cm of snow last week, leaving many of us housebound for the better part of three days. In fact, school was cancelled on the Island from Wednesday on, much to the delight of the children in our family. Thus making last week stretch into this week creating one extra long weekend.

We are currently on our fifth straight day off school. Our thirteenth day this year.

Like my offspring, I have a healthy appreciation for the winter storm, but five days housebound is a little much. So in gratitude to the fair weather we had Saturday (prior to the next wave of snow and ice which we would receive in the next 24 hours), our family made a trek to our local Chinese restaurant -- at which time Husband proposed a toast, using our water glasses as noise-makers: a toast to "surviving the storm." The first storm of the weekend, that is.

What he really meant by such a toast (that which was implied) was this: our family deserved to toast to the fact that we had survived three days with six family members all under the same roof (and for much of that three-day span, mostly all in the same level of the house, just for the record). In light of this toast, I made a list of the top 13 ways which illustrate most clearly that The Family has spent a little bit too much time together lately...

13. I make an appointment to get my eyebrows plucked Saturday morning (while Son gets his hair cut) and find that single half hour of pain and pleasure to be one of the most relaxing highlights of my weekend.

12. I suggest that same day that the 'Fam' go snowshoeing at Trout River Wildlife Park and Oldest Daughter says, "Sounds like death."

11. I suggest that we all go snowshoeing at Trout River Wildlife Park and Youngest says, "But I would only have to go the bathroom, like, the whole time." Which is true.

10. I find a 'play' medical report one sister has drawn up on another sister, in which the diagnosis she's written down for 'said sister' is mental health concerns.

9. The toilet has been plugged one too many times. And then the power was cut off. Nice.

8. Everyone is getting on everyone else's last nerve.

7. We've only got one can of Zoodles left.

6. Mama has taken to going on long walks, twice daily. Plus snowshoeing treks. Plus long respite breaks on the porch swing. Plus locking herself in the bathroom. Plus Facebook.

5. Husband, the only one in the family who got the flu shot, has mysteriously been the only one to come down with the flu.

4. We are getting sick of eating the home-made donuts that seemed so novel and quaint on day one of The Storm. In fact, in a rare moment of clarity, I have decided I will never make old-fashioned home-made donuts again. Ever.

3. Mama has started to expound the benefits of fresh air, to which Oldest Daughter has taken offense when it is mentioned that we've all been breathing stale, dirty air for the past four days ("so it might be a novel idea to go out and PLAY").

2. Husband is wearing out the knees in his jeans playing Gallop the Horse and has taken to asking that Gallop be allowed to "rest" (while Youngest barks orders at the poor old stud horse like a drill sergeant). Meanwhile, I clean dust found in every nook and cranny of this house, thus wearing out the knees in my own fine pair of yoga pants.

1. Husband (a.k.a. Gallop) has just said to the Drill Sergeant that he "can't keep it up." And that in fact, he is "pooped." This stated after She has come wailing out to tell me that Gallop is not playing by the rules.

I could go on like this forever...but I digress. My point is this: family is the bane of our existence at one and the same time it is the reason for our existence.

Alas, we are in the midst of another brutal storm, which arrived Monday morning. Ice and snow cut off power all day yesterday, leaving us in the dark and dependent on one another once again. All I have to say is this: if we survive this winter, it will be a true testament to the old adage: "In time of test, family is best." To the Fabulous Five in my life: I can't think of anyone else in this world with whom I'd rather be housebound, than with you.

And as to the bizarre weather we keep getting around here: let 'er pound.

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