***
"So Frequently we mistakenly believe that our children need more things, when in reality their silent pleadings are simply for more of our time."
***President Thomas S. Monson (Ensign May 1994)
Yes, more pictures of snow.
It seems to be the only thing going on around here lately. I'm not sure how much snow we got yet, but it was enough that our snow drifts became mountains.
Vance took about 3 feet off the top before we started too.
It was hard work!
This picture is taken from the street looking at our house. Yikes, that's a lot of snow! I'm hoping we're done with big storms for the winter. . . . . I can dream, right!?
30 below with the wind chill factor might be normal out west---but not here! Apparently I've become a wimp over the last few years because I was hating that cold snap we got and it only lasted a few days! I sure was missing those block heaters for my vehicles, too!
Vance gave me a hard time about how I was bundled up, so he took a picture to send to his dad! So I thought I'd share it. (I wouldn't stay outside long enough for him to take it out there---It was COLD!!)
Snow, snow and more snow . . . that seems to be about all we get around here lately! (We're getting more this week--BTW) We're 6 inches over our normal snowfall for this time of year and we've gotten all of it in the last 3 weeks!
The snow gets so deep that the dogs make little paths to get around the yard. So now my backyard looks like a little maze.
Vance was nice enough after the last big storm to shovel their maze so they could keep their paths. That's Vance laying in the snow.
You can just see Vanilla's ears over the snow--hee hee
Pretty soon they'll just be able to walk over the fence and leave the yard!
We got about 15 inches of snow here on Wednesday. I keep telling myself that I need to enjoy this winter, because it will be my last here in Maine, but this much snow all at once makes it harder to do.
Vance was praying for snow because he wanted a snow day. After shoveling all this snow + what the snow plow dumped in our driveway, he decided that school wasn't so bad.
Mckaylie and Noah said they were helping shovel, but I'm not so sure that's what they were really doing.
The kids had to take the dogs out front in the fresh snow.
They could barely move, but they seem to be loving it!
Waiting for the school bus the next day.
(That snow piles impressive, but the fact that Vance knocked a good 1-2 feet off of it, is a little more impressive)
We got about 12 inches of snow Sunday/Monday.
We've had worse storms here, but the wind was
crazy!!!
We have some drifts several feet deep and some areas are barely covered---that's not so typical of snowstorms here.
The kids are
LOVING the snow! They were even out during the blizzard.
Glad I didn't lose any of them! ha ha
Only in Maine can it snow 20 inches one week and rain 2 inches the next. We had a crazy storm yesterday with lots of rain and high winds. We were lucky, though. We didn't lose our power!
The weatherman predicted that we'd get just a bit of snow Sunday night into Monday. Apparently, a bit of snow is around 12 inches!
The kids were loving it, especially since they had the day off to play in it.
And, because Maine just has to keep you on your toes, we're suppose to get another 8 inches today.
The kids have today off of school, too, so whhooo hoooo! 2 days to play in fresh snow. Does it get any better than that?!?
{I'm having trouble with firefox. It won't let me upload pictures on my blog. I'm not sure why. If anyone knows, can you tell me, please! So, today I'm using Windows.}
I thought I'd post some pictures from our last snow storm since I haven't posted any yet. This was the first snow storm of 2010 and it started on New Year's Eve.
It lasted about 3-4 days. I think we got somewhere around 15-18 inches total. We've had worse storms. The kids were really excited to get the snow, though! Here's Vance digging a fort on one side of the driveway. . . . .
and McKaylie digging hers on the other side of the driveway.
They were preparing for a great battle!
We had a nice warm weekend. It was up in the 50's. That might not seem all that warm, but for us it was like a heat wave! The kids went and built snowmen, wearing just sweatshirts and gloves. They had a great time, but when they did come in their clothes were completely soaked. They got some fresh air, though, and a taste a spring!
Noah ended up getting "the rash" last Thursday. He came home from school with it. We called the doctors to ask about it, because it was on his cheeks, too. (the others didn't have it on their face at all) They had a bring him in that afternoon, just to take a look. They told us it was probably the same thing that his brother/sister had.....surprise, surprise! His looked a lot different than theirs, though.
I am still fighting my cold or whatever it is. I've been going back and forth about going to the doctor to make sure it isn't anything more than that. I guess I just don't want to go in and feel silly that it is just a virus. I've been hoarse, coughing, congested, etc for over a week now. Maybe if it's not gone by tomorrow.........my favorite saying for the last week!
All the kids are back in school today, except Noah. He woke up with a headache and coughed hard enough to make himself throw up. I hate to send him to school before he's 100 percent because I know there's so much going around for him to catch, especially if he's not feeling all that great to begin with. But on the other hand, I feel like he's missed lots of school lately and I don't want him to get behind. Vance looked like he was getting a rash on his cheeks this morning, too. I hope it doesn't go around our house again. I sent him to school, though. He's taking MEA's (Maine Education.....whatever tests)
I'm seriously Lysoling my entire house today.........again! If it can/has been touched, it will be Lysoled!
I hate it when the kids are sick! And when I'm sick, it makes it all that much worse! Winter and cold season need to be over! I'm tired of it all this year!
The only thing that's ever new around here is people getting sick and snow, so I'll give ya a little of both! Chad was feeling fine all day Friday, but by Friday night he was really sick, coughing, aching and congestion. We went to church on Sunday and were all fine, but by Sunday night his icky germs had spread to Myshel, Noah and me! It just seemed to come out of nowhere and hit hard. We're all miserable. I laid in bed last night trying to fall asleep listening to everyone cough. The only ones who aren't sick are Vance and McKaylie. I'm wondering if the virus they had early helped to to build up some immunity to this virus. I hope so, 4 sick people in the house is more than enough!
And to top it all off, they're having another snow day, today. Between last night and today, we're suppose to get an additional 10-15 inches of snow. My kids will be going to school in July at this rate. I'm just hoping that since March in coming in like a lion, it leaves like a lamb! NO MORE SNOW!
A few nights ago Chad and I were sitting in the living room watching TV, the kids were in bed. We started hearing this rumbling on the roof, which kept getting louder and louder. Vanilla was outside barking at whatever it was. It took us several seconds (which seemed more like minutes) to figure out what the rumbling was. It was the ice blocks on the roof breaking and sliding of the roof. It scared us so bad. Rumbling, rumbling CRAASSHHH! And then the dog started barking. That really had me nervous! She was fine, but if one of these blocks had fallen on her, it definitely would have killed her. The blocks fell on our fence and squish it, so, Chad had to go out and break up the blocks so that he could get it off the fence. Driving through housing the next day, you could see where blocks of ice has fallen off other roofs, too. Some broke wooden fences. Pretty scary, really!
The blocks were probably about 10 inches thick (at the bottom) and about 3 feet wide, The biggest one was about 6 feet long.
The kids, that is Vance, McKaylie and Noah, have been doing a lot of sledding/snowboarding. Our new house is right next to this great little hill. It's perfect for sledding. It's not too steep, but steep enough to get some speed, not to high, making the hike back up exhausting, but high enough to make the ride enjoyable. And the best part, I can sit in my house and watch them! It's literally right next to the house. They are loving it and are out there constantly. Here's just a few pics we've captured over the last couple of months.
Noah----whooohoooo!
Noah and McKaylie climbing back up the hill
Vance, did he crash or is he resting? I don't know
McKaylie and Vance taking a little break.....wow, we've gotten a lot more snow since this picture was taken
Back to work.....I love this picture of Noah. I don't know why, I just do.
It seems to be the only thing going on around here lately. I'm not sure how much snow we got yet, but it was enough that our snow drifts became mountains. 
Vance took about 3 feet off the top before we started too.
It was hard work!
This picture is taken from the street looking at our house. Yikes, that's a lot of snow! I'm hoping we're done with big storms for the winter. . . . . I can dream, right!?
