Oh Snow!

Hope is growing at an unprecedented pace, she has recently made the transition from a chubby cheeked baby into a lean happy toddling machine—just in time for her second birthday.  She is making amazing progress in her speech and development—in fact the service provider is almost at a loss for what more she is able to do.   We will see over the next three months what happens and if services are stopped.  She is now able to use 50+ words or word approximations (like saying mew for cat). 

So Friday was a good day even though it was very low key for Hope’s first birthday with us, but we gave her a play kitchen that has taken up the spot that our Christmas tree formerly held.  She loves playing with it.   We had planned a parent and very close friend birthday party to occur on Saturday.  In anticipation, we had one of Mom’s best friends and her husband drive in 4 hours from Michigan.  The roads were slick, but passable and we were expecting about 5 inches of snow that night.   With the gathering planned for later in the afternoon, we figured that the roads would be clear enough for all to make the drive in from about 2 hours away.  The forecast for the first time that we have been living here had under estimated our snow fall.

When we woke up on Saturday, we found about 30 inches of the white stuff on the ground.   Living near Lake Michigan, we have a unique weather pattern that causes winds to pick up water and drop it as snow in very specific areas depending on where the wind is blowing.  We were the fortunate recipients of the most snow to fall on any single day since 1909. Needless to say we had to cancel Hope’s party to ensure the safety of all who would be traveling into the mess.  If you drive 20 miles east or west, you would find less than 10 inches on the ground.  

I ended up spending about 4 hours clearing our drive, walks, and even a path for the dog.  We had an additional six inches fall during the day. Then on Sunday the neighbors and I ended up clearing out a path for cars to get to the end of our street- I think we will be plowed tomorrow.  We are anticipating another foot or two in the coming week with no chance of major melting.  When it does melt, we will be in for quite the flood.  Below are pictures of the weekend. 

I continue to work to develop a business or find a job.  I have had a few interviews, but no offers yet.