Here in Tennessee, it snowed, but not enough to really even cover the grass. My Indianapolis connection, Steph, sent me this picture she took yesterday morning. She got even more snow last night. In the meantime, my pal Heather sent me an IM telling me it was in the 70s in Orlando and they've been swimming. Oh, America.

UPDATE: Just talked to Steph. They got TWELVE more inches of snow last night. I halfway want to drive up there and visit some real snow for awhile. But I just washed my car the other day.

I used to be really anti-religion, much to the chagrin of my parents. It finally took 2 things to get me to church- needing to spend a bit of time away from my very clingy 2 youngest kids without having to pay a babysitter, and an excellent preschool that filled up with church members before I could enroll my daughter.

Yeah, not exactly the purest motives to get to church, but I think most people would agree that the hardest part of getting people to church is just getting them in the doors. For me, that really was the hardest part. I went to one church for awhile, felt out of place as my parents call it "Our Lady Of The Cadillac" and dropped off the church scene for awhile. Then my parents started going to a new, non-Cadillacy church, and eventually once I got over the bizarre music, I started going and actually enjoying it. The best part was when I really started "feeling" it.

Now, not all religions or churches suit all people. My suggestion is to find a church or temple or synagogue that suits you best. But most all religions and churches suit the 7 reasons to take your kid to church. Here they are.

1. Spend some time away from your kids without having to worry about them. You can call any prospective church to find out what their policies are regarding staff and pick-up of children. My church, for example, requires a background check of any individuals wishing to work in the children's or youth areas of the church. While this isn't failproof, it certainly does go a long way toward making me feel better. Additionally, there's a minimum of two adults per class, so nobody's on their own with the kids. Finally, they have a pick-up system in place so nobody can come in and take your kid- you have to match with your kid's sticker.

You can't just leave your kids and go shopping or anything, but I know many parents who would give anything for an hour without a bunch of screaming kids. This was one of the biggest reasons I even started attending church in the first place. I just needed a break.

2. Member benefits for joining a church. The first church I went to had an amazing preschool. Members got to sign their kids up for the preschool before they opened it up to the public. Usually, there wasn't a chance for the public to enroll their kids because the school was so popular. This also applies to many Catholic schools- parishioners get a discount on the school. I seriously considered being Catholic so I could send my kids to Catholic school. I was raised Methodist, though, and I really feel more comfy in a Methodist church.

3. Meet other cool parents with kids. Somehow, it becomes a lot harder to make friends when you become an adult with children. I've made several new friends from meeting the parents of my kids' friends at church.

4. Make your kids realize how lucky they are. My son hangs out with the preacher's son and some other kids from church. They absolutely envy how much freedom my son has to choose his own music and video games and movies. My son said to me the other day, "Man, I had no idea you were so cool." Indeed.

5. Your kids will learn a bunch of basic cultural knowledge and references. Many common sayings and themes are in the Bible. My cousin, who didn't attend church as a child, doesn't know who Abraham was. My kids know all about him. It's like an extra history lesson every week, and because it's presented in a fun way, it's completely painless.

6. Your kids will have fun. Well, usually. I hated church as a kid, but it appears that most churches have now gone out of their way to make Sunday School more fun for kids. My daughter has a blast dancing, making crafts, and all the other fun stuff each Sunday at church. Teen youth group seems to be pretty fun as well- at my church, the youth group has a pool table, a ping pong table, a Wii, and a bunch of other fun stuff. Add to that the neat music, and it's a blast for them.

7. Help your kids find their spirituality. Once my kids are old enough to stay home alone, they can choose not to go to church. My oldest son, interestingly, is more religious than I am and pushes me to go to church even when I don't feel like it. I've let him study as much as he wants about other religions, and he chooses willingly to be a Christian. My other kids may be different, but by going to church in a religion of your choice does help give a leg up for your choice.

My oldest son breaks out into song constantly. It may very well be the funniest thing going on in my life currently, as he does it to either narrate what's going on currently, or sings the epic song of what's been happening in our lives lately.

The other day I was playing Uno, and he sang to narrate it. I about died laughing, as the song went something like:

Mama played a 3. The green player played a 3, but blue!
The red player plays a 6! The blue player played a draw four and screwed youuuuuu!

Or the epic song of our wonderful dog Kitty:

My name is Kitty. Her mom is Ivy Hogan.
She's not irish, but she likes to be brougin'
She hates tacos but loves dog food.
She lives with us in the hood.

Yeah, it's not literary gold, but it's hilarious, and it makes me feel like my life is a Broadway musical.

According to my mom, I was a big fan of writing on the walls. I wish I remembered this because now I have a kid who LOVES to write on the walls. What I've tried to figure out is, why? He has TONS of places that are appropriate to draw on, including a nice big easel where he can use chalk, dry-erase markers, or even crayon. And I still catch him drawing on the walls and doors.

I've even asked him why he does this, and of course, he doesn't know. Sigh. Come on, Shak-parents, tell me I'm not the only one here.

My oldest son is 14, trying to grow a mustache, and just generally being all grown-up. I had no idea how time would fly.

I'm the leader of my Erin's Girl Scout troop.  At 13 years old, she's mostly lost interest in scouting, but she's tenacious in sticking with it.  Maybe because like Annie she joined in kindergarten and wants to remain a scout until high school graduation.

Usually at meeting, about half the girls are great with paying attention, being respectful, the works.  The other half of the room is hit and miss.  Well tonight they were all pretty good.  We had our co-leader's daughter who is attending culinary school come and cook.  She taught the girls how to cut a chicken and made a beautiful meal.

I sat in a corner of the room most of the time because I'm sick tonight.  I didn't want to get close to anyone and spread my germs. Part of the time I just laid my head down on my arms or I'd close my eyes.  And the girls were extremely considerate, "Are you okay Miss Kathy?" 

I'm thinking that at our next meeting I might try to cry and see if that works keeping them nice and quiet. We'll also need to teach them some etiquette because … get this … two of them refused to eat the chicken because it had a bone in it. 

Is this newest generation that silly?  One step forward, two steps back.  We will be writing thank you notes to the chef.  I'll need to talk to them about not eating the food, though.  I dread that talk because one girl will probably feel so bad she'll cry.  The other one was the chef's sister so she won't care.  How do you get that message that they need to show more courtesy and gratitude without hurting their feelings?  Advise anyone?

Go ahead and laugh at us, you Yankees. We Southerners are like precious flowers, no cold for us. So, school was called, because we have a high of 27 today. Niiiice. Here’s some Alice Cooper to celebrate:

Long before A Christmas Story, my dad told me never to stick my tongue to a metal pole. Naturally, I couldn't take him at his word, but just in case he was right, I used a spoon. I put it outside in 10 degree weather for an hour and then stuck my tongue to it. Lo and behold, it stuck. Then I just put the spoon in my mouth and removed my tongue.

Of course, in A Christmas Story, Flick is not so lucky to have tried the spoon trick. Apparently, so is a kid in Indiana who tried this trick recently. My inner 12 year old finds this exceptionally hilarious. My inner mom is telling me to remind my kids of why this is a bad idea.