Winter Has Arrived....

Unbelievable.  We started out the week with temperatures in the high 60's.  Rachael's class spent all of Tuesday outside, without Jackets on, because it was so warm.  We all thought, how wonderful that it's this late in November & no cold weather or snow.  Who knew that Friday night into Saturday we were going to get dumped on.  I watched the 10 o'clock news last night, they predicted 3"-6" at the most for Apple Valley.  Boy were they wrong.  When we woke up, we already had at least 4." 

This picture was taken @ 130pm, with snow falling steadily.  We shoveled, and it just kept coming.  This evening the stupid snow plow came in packing in the end of the driveway.  UGH.  This is that awful super heavy wet snow that is back breaking to move.  Just guessing, but I am sure we got at least 12".

This was taken about an hour later, more snow falling, more to shovel.  UGH!

 My little Angels watching out their window as the snow fell.  They wanted to get their snow gear on (thank god I just happened to buy Rachael's snow stuff this week so she could go out, or we'd be really stuck!) & get out in it & play.  BUT, at about 915am, our power went out!  I wouldn't let the kids go outside until the heat was back on so they could come back into a warm house to heat up.  It was crazy to see how often we rely on energy to flick a switch to turn a light on, or turn on the burner to make lunch, or use the microwave!  The power didn't go back on until late in the afternoon & boy were we happy when it did.  If our power stayed off though, we were going to go to my sister's house, also in Apple Valley that still had power.  

 The middle tree is covered with this heavy wet snow.  My dad noticed first, but it is leaning more & more towards the street.  If the wind picks up, we may just lose it.  All the trees are waving in the wind with this wet snow & there are power lines & trees down.

Helping us shovel...she worked very hard pushing the heavy snow to the side.  She was exhausted & ready for some hot cocoa when we went inside.  She & Daniel napped 2 hours after playing in the snow.

Daniel wanted to help so bad, so he grabbed a shovel & tried.  It was adorable watching him try to maneuver a shovel bigger than he is.  

 My Big "little" Helper!  So so proud of what he did.  Wish I could just freeze him at this age, he's so perfect.  

While we were outside shoveling, an Apple Valley Police Officer decided to drive his rear wheel drive car down our court.  He got stuck at the end, then fish tailed, while gunning it down back up the court towards us.  He narrowly missed our neighbors' car, that was stuck in the street after she tried to back out of her driveway.  Then he whipped around sliding back & forth, sliding towards our mailbox.  My mom kept saying "what an idiot, he's going to take out the mailbox" while smiling at him.  Lucky for him, his trunk was about 1/2 " lower than our mailbox & he missed it.  What an idiot.

The snow has finally stopped.  Our backs hurt & we're tired.  Winter is certainly here.  Hopefully we won't have too many storms like this this year...yeah right, this is Minnesota.