You know you live in the midwest when...

You're daughter says "it's snowning again". (no that's not a typo)

Some days you shovel your driveway 2x a day.

You know the difference between the three different snow plows in town.

You can gauge how much snow has fallen based on when it started and how fast it's falling.

The school district calls to tell you there is a 2hr. delay.

I'm sure there are lots more but those are a few that go on around here.

(This picture is from last year but this is how they get rid of all the excess snow in preparation for the next storm.  They bring in the dumptrucks and start loading them up.  I have yet to find out where they dump it all!)

And I'm so excited about the new snow plow this year!  At least it's new to me.  I've never seen it before and based on the fact that it's all shiny I'm figuring it's pretty new. 

Its best feature?  It has a little arm that comes down each time it passes a driveway so that the snow they are plowing in the street does not make the pile at the end of the driveway any bigger.  Have you seen this baby?  I'm telling you, every time I see it I get a little giddy and yell call for the kids to come over.

It's a wonder I don't have a picture to show you all.  Probably because every time it comes I'm always gawking.  It came down this afternoon while I was out shoveling and the driver either took pity on me because I didn't have a snow blower, or he had extra time to kill, or he was just very generous!~ but he asked if I wanted a certain pile of snow removed down by my mailbox and of course I wouldn't turn that down. 

Are you kidding me?  The mound is like 5ft. high and creeping into the road and there is no way I was going to move it all with my little shovel.  It was just going to have to stay there all winter like it has been.  While he was at it he plowed away the big pile at the end of my driveway.

At the risk of boring all you non-snow-dwellers I'll leave it at that but just know I could chat your ear off about this great invention. 

(Jim is currently teaching algebra at the table.  Oy.  Matthew is the only one still sitting there very intrigued!)

Guess who got over her fear of sledding?  She looks a little dazed but was brave enough to make more than a few runs with big brother this afternoon/evening.

I had to look at this picture again because it looks like Ella Jane is starting to fall down the hill.  Sara is actually climbing up and Janie is getting ready to go down.

I love this picture.  Thank you Jim for taking it.  Look at that little smirk on Sara's face!  She really did have a ton of fun even if these pictures tell otherwise. What a great way to spend a Monday at home with the kids.  Back to school tomorrow...on a 2hr. delay.  :)