I hope 2009 is better

Our great neighbors lent us their roof rake/shovel and we removed most of the snow from the porch roof. I was really glad for that. Even so, the water started to seep through into Clay's bedroom, at floor level, so we've been soaking it up with towels all day. Then, Clay went up to check on the towels and 9:30pm and it was raining in his room - we have an ice dam on the very top roof and it's HUGE. If it falls, it will collapse the porch roof ... I'm just hoping it MELTS. We've put buckets and towels all over Clay's room and removed a lot of his stuff.

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable Christmas! We've been eating, playing games, and watching movies with Grandma and Grandpa. The eating part has got to decrease! Our front porch roof is so laden with snow ... today it started to melt a little and we got an ice jam and it has started dripping through the roof of the porch, onto the front porch. We're hoping it doesn't seep through to the house. We tried creating a crevice through the ice and snow on the roof by leaning out the boy's bedroom windows, so that the water could flow off the roof. We also scraped a little of the snow and ice off, but we'd need 20 foot arms to make a dent in it. We're hoping the warmer weataher and melting will help take care of this problem! The forecast calls for 39 tomorrow and 48 on Saturday. My sister's garbage disposal broke twice today (after a $170 repair earlier this week) and flooded the kitchen at her house. So I guess it's been a watery Christmas for our whole family!

Christmas Countdown

Well, it's almost Christmas! We're breaking records here for snow ... we've surpassed 40 inches now. Blizzard conditions today with arctic temperatures. As if it weren't bad enough that road crews are having a hard time keeping up with the snowfall, they also can't salt or deice because the temperatures are too cold for it to work! Now we have high winds with lake effect snow, so it's blowing and drifting. We've had several huge winter storms in a row, and another predicted for Tuesday night.

We had our Christmas party (annual) last night. It was a blast! It's always so much fun to have a house full of friends. I love having all the kids around, too. I've posted some pictures of our front yard, the back yard (in the middle of the day, but the Christmas lights are on a light/dark sensor and wouldn't shut off because it was snowing so heavily it was blocking out the sun), and a picture of some of the food just before the party started. I meant to take pictures at the party, but I was having such a good time, I forgot!!

Maybe I'll have to have everyone over again so I can take pictures! Harrison and some neighborhood boys played pond hockey for several hours today. I don't know how they managed to stay out in 13 degrees with -20 windchill, but they did it. Clay stayed in with us and enjoyed the warm house! I've been heating up one of those seed filled thingees and wrapping Tiger (our old cat) up in it to help her stay warm. I'm going to try to get out tomorrow to pick up a few groceries. I also need to pick up our goose on Tuesday! I also need to enter final grades for my psychology class (one more final exam to correct) and last, but not least, I need to develop a syllabus for next semester and get it in to my supervisor!

It's actually a lot of fun to have us all home right now, kids out of school and me too, and feel snowed in. I could do this for a long time!

The Santa picture gave me a chuckle! Put me in mind of when Harrison was 3 years old - his preschool had a visit from Santa, who coincidentally lived 2 blocks behind us and I'd walk Harrison almost every day in the stroller and we'd stop to say hello. Well, Harrison didn't recognize him ... and had lots of questions for "Santa!" He wanted to know where the sleigh was because he couldn't see it in the parking lot. Santa said he brought the black bronco because Federal Aviation laws stated he had to leave the sleigh at the airport. Harrison asked if he could see the truck - Santa said "Sure!" and took him out and let him crawl around in it. Then Harrison (who has never liked milk) asked if he REALLY liked milk and cookies. Santa told him he did, but he'd really rather have a beer after all that work! From then on, our Christmas tradition was leaving Santa a beer and cookies!

I did a "first" today! I made peanut blossoms - I really like those, but never make them because Harrison is allergic to peanuts. I figured he's old enough now, so the rest of us can enjoy them. He has never had a terrible allergy - immunologist says that's because we never exposed him to anything peanut - his first exposure was at 6 years old. He reacted like crazy in testing though. Immunologist also said each exposure, he'd have a worse reaction. He despises the smell of peanut butter (says it makes him gag) so he's never wanted it, but he does like certain things made with it ... especially Butterfingers! Every Halloween, I'd let him have one of those mini ones. Two years ago, I let him manage his own candy and told him not to eat all the mini Butterfingers he got. The next day, he got up, walked in the kitchen and said "Mom, I feel horrible." I turned and looked at him and he was covered in hives (literally head to toe), his eyelids and lips were swollen. So I told him that was it - he was DONE with anything peanut! My dad was also allergic (hives as well); however my neice (hello Martha if you're reading!) is one of those people that goes into shock if she's near peanuts. I just don't want Harrison to get to that point if we can avoid it!

So, the snow storm is on it's way - 6 to 10 inches the weather report says. Kids are hoping for a snow day to start vacation early. My supervisor called (tomorrow is final exam day at the university) and instructed me on contingent plans if we have to close the university. Quite honestly, I'm dreading driving there and back if it's not closed! Let's all hope for a snow day!

More Cold and Snow

I took this picture this morning as I drove 27mph to work. It was unbelievably slippery. We had a break from snow last week, then warm temperatures with pouring rain this weekend, which was good because it knocked down the snow piles to about 1/3 of what they were ... however, we had a flash freeze this morning and everything is covered in ice, then lake effect snow on top. I just read the weather report and it says 3 to 5 inches tonight with another 3 to 4 tomorrow ... I'm already tired of shoveling! The worst part is, I can't miss a second of work this week as it's the last week of school - finals on Friday and get grades in! I worry about my students that travel getting into an accident (not to mention I worry about Harrison driving to and from school!).

Can't wait for spring ... and it's not even WINTER yet! Mom reminded me it's still fall until December 21!!!

Clay's middle school band held their Christmas/holiday concert this past week. They did a great job! This group of kids is truly a talented group; of all the grades/bands I've had to watch over the years, they are the best. Clay is in the picture holding his clarinet; he's the second person in the row. Also, there's a picture of our main tree in the living room and Clay's nutcracker collection. His favorite nutcracker is the Donald Duck one over by itself on the round table.

So we're beginning the last week of school. The boys and I are both done on Friday. I'll stay late at work and get in all my final grades before leaving. Party on Saturday!

First Fender Bender Experience

This past weekend, Harrison was a backseat passenger in a friend's car. His friend lost control going downhill (bad weather) and they went off the road. Luckily, they were only going 15 or 20 miles per hour becaue of the conditions. The car stopped right up against a tree. We're thankful all were ok, the car was also fine and for an important lesson for the boys! They were all scared out of their minds!

Christmas Cat

Isn't Shanty a beautiful cat?! She's such a good kitty, too. Harrison took this picture yesterday while Shanty looked in through the back door.

Happy Birthday Harrison

Yesterday was Harrison's 17th birthday! It's so hard to believe he's that old. We had a nice day, including a snow storm, which we also had the year he was born. This is the 3rd year in a row he's had a snow day for his birthday! We got a total of about 8 inches. There's a photo of Harrison opening a gift in the morning and the next photo is a snow man (about 7 or 8 feet tall) Harrison, Clay, and 3 other boys built yesterday. Unfortunately, when I finally got my snow gear on and went to take the picture, Clay came in the house, so he's not in it.

Today, the boys built and even bigger snow man at the home of one of the other boys. The one in our yard now has a 12 foot tree stuck through it for arms (the snow brought it down - snow is really heavy). We've shoveled 5 times in the last 24 hours ... and it's still snowing. I hope it stays to just an inch or so tonight!