Fall and Snow

So my darn foot is not getting better, and I am getting more and more frustrated. I am pretty sure that the fact that I keep walking (limping) on it every day is not helping, but none of the doctors suggested wrapping it, getting some sort of boot, or using crutches. I drove by a medial store the other day and am seriously considering buying a pair of crutches, because I think I would feel so much better if I am not putting pressure on it every day. On Monday I saw a physical therapist for my back issue and she said she can do some work on my foot, but it is too inflamed right now so I am supposed to be staying off it for 3 straight days so the swelling goes down. Yeah right! And I need to ice it for 10 minutes 2 times a day. I have been able to ice it twice a day usually, but staying off it entirely is impossible!! I don't understand why it's not even feeling slightly better. And now I am starting to go stir crazy because I have not been able to play soccer, go to the gym, or go to my yoga class (I can't even bend my toes!). The one positive is that it is giving me time to write in the blog! 

So enough whining...Monday we had a nice surprise - snow!! As you know I don't (can't) watch the Polish news or read the papers, so my weather forecasts consist of me checking my iPhone each day. There was a snowflake listed for Krakow on Monday, but I just assumed that meant it was getting cold. Someone at school mentioned that they had heard it was supposed to snow Sunday night into Monday, but I figured it would just be a dusting. So imagine my surprise when I woke and went into our bathroom Monday morning and saw snow on our skylight! The kids were SO excited, as it snowed all day long and they were able to play in it when they got home from school. I'd say we got about 3 inches, but unfortunately (fortunately?) it has all pretty much melted. Good thing, because Jack has outgrown his snow clothes (he doesn't even have a winter coat!) so I need to get out shopping ASAP. Oh yeah, I can't because of my friggin foot! 

**I give up on trying to post photos in the correct order. Whenever I add a caption it moves them around and makes me insane. Sorry it's hard to follow**

The trees weren't ready for the snow. It reminded me of the year that it snowed in October back home and caused all the trees to droop onto the power lines and no one had power forever

Mike making a new friend at Sports Day

Mike even had to shovel

Ava learning how to cheer

The kids' Halloween snowman, almost melted the next day

While the snow was fun, it makes me miss the four seasons. I remember when we first moved to Poland I was so happy to experience a real winter and a real summer again, something that Ireland didn't have. I didn't even notice that Poland hardly has a Spring or a Fall. Just a week or so ago it was about 75 degrees, and now snow! I really really miss those crisp, Fall days with the colorful leaves all around. I miss apple picking and pumpkin picking and Halloween and Thanksgiving and all those fun Fall activities you can do in New England.  We did get a dose of it last weekend, it was Sports Day at school and the weather was perfect - a nice chilly day, sunny and not too cold. The kids had a soccer game and then the Polish (American) football team the Krakow Kings came and gave some demonstrations and played a flag football game and even brought some cheerleaders. Some of the American dads were laughing because they could throw a football better than the team...but still it was a perfect Fall day. But, with the snow comes the winter, and with the winter comes the disappearance of the sun and the pollution....ugh. To get me in the Fall mood, I did a workshop with one of my friends who is a floral designer. She helped me a bit, but I think it came out pretty good for my first try. The kids didn't believe I made it!