We could set some records here...

I've just come in from shoveling part of the driveway and shoveling down the snow banks on either side of our driveway. I've never done that before but it is already so high that I cannot see if cars are coming for me to pull out. I just checked the forecast, wanting to know if we're supposed to get MORE snow. Our local meteorologist Bill Steffen keeps a blog and he had some interesting facts to share.

1. This could be the Whitest Christmas Ever, all we need is one more inch on the ground, we have 21" and we need 22".

2. This could be the month for the most snow fall. We're at 49.8", apparently that puts us in 4th place right now.

3. We just may make the record of "cloudiest month ever". How's that for Seasonal Affective Disorder? We've had less than 8 hours of sunshine all December. Yikes, that's depressing.

The First "Snow Day"

I still can't believe it... school was closed today! I guess it's still a surprise because earlier this week, when everyone predicted it, I refused to accept that the last day of school before Christmas Break (read: Class Parties, etc...) would really be canceled. Our school decided to carry on like nothing would happen. Plus, those weather forecasters usually get so excited about storms that they exaggerate a little, I think. Anyway, I did prepare my students in case this did happen: basically reminding them that we'd have our party in January and they'd get their gift then... I was thinking this would prevent some tears if school really was closed. :) So, how do I feel about this whole thing? Hmmm.... considering I slept in until 9:30 and am still sitting here in my pajamas... GREAT!! Sorry to all of you out there in West Michigan with non-school-related jobs. :(

Announcing Mr. and Mrs. Joyner!

What a beautiful wedding, beautiful weekend, and beautiful couple! Pictures say more than words so I'll keep it very brief. This is the family praying around the couple at the rehearsal.

Party time at the rehearsal dinner. We're just CHILLIN' here right Amy?

Some royal treatment for the princess:

We love you Mrs. Joyner!!

First Dance with Tate:

"Cinderella dancing" with her father:

Amy and Becca show off some moves:

Congratulations you guys! We love you!

The Contents of My Camera

I uploaded the pictures from my camera onto my computer tonight and here are a few that I found. I was reminded about how crazy Michigan weather can really be! This is early-November:

We were gone the weekend we received our first snow (Nov. 16), so all our leaves are buried under this snow. (Zeeland, 5 miles east of us, didn't get any recordable amount of snow. ) After a week it rained and the sun came out so a lot of it melted. We took advantage of the nice day and worked outside (Nov 29). My husband is acting like a dork. :)
Yuck! I hate cleaning out the gutters. It is so cold because it's partly wet soggy leaves and partly ice chunks that you have to maneuver out of the trough. (I don't like this picture... it's just baggy clothes people.)
This is the next day! I managed to get up the Christmas lights JUST in time. I was still hanging the last few in the snow and Derek started waxing the car in the garage. Brrr! I took this as soon as I finished.
I thought I'd document just how low gasoline has come. I think it's funny to see a gallon of milk so much more that a gallon of gas!

Recovering at Home

Thanks for the prayers. TJ went home yesterday and is recovering well. I think this serious of a surgery will just take a lot of time to heal but everything seems to have gone well so far.

Happy December everybody! Can you believe Debbie's wedding is just 12 days away? I can't wait to leave the snow and head for some sunshine!