Tuesday & Wednesday 2/1/11 & 2/2/11 - Winter Storm 2011

Over the past several days, our local meterologists have made everyone in the bi-state area freak out because of some ice & snow.  Depending upon where you lived, depended upon what you were going to get.  Some people where supposed to get an abundance of snow (over 24 inches) and others were going to get 3-4 inches of ice.  Where we live, we were right on the line.  In one forcast, we were supposed to get 7-9 inches of snow PLUS a few inches of ice.  In another forcast, we weren't going to get much snow, but the ice was going to be the killer.  Only time would tell where Mother Nature decided to put her white fluffy stuff or her shiny glaze of terror.  I would like to make it VERY clear that I, by any means, am NOT a fan of winter.  I am NOT a fan of white fluffy stuff OR the shiny glaze for that matter.  However, I would rather get snow than ice.  Atleast snow can be cleared away.  Ice is there until it melts.  I decided not to chance driving to work so I took off today & tomorrow.  Yes, I was one of those who the media scared the living daylights out off...lol.  Sorry folks, but when I'm being told to stay home because it's going to be a mess out there, hey, I'm listening!  Actually, the office I work in was closed tuesday so I had no choice but to stay home.  :)   The first day of the winter storm, the kiddos waited for the snow ALL DAY LONG.  It NEVER came.  We got a lot of freezing rain and sleet, but NO SNOW.  I was a little disappointed myself, I must say.   In this pool net, is some of the sleet & freezing rain we got. 

Our patio door was starting to accumulate ice on it so it made it difficult to take pictures.

We got roughly 3-4 inches of sleet and ice throughout the day on tueday.  My poor doggie didn't even wanna go outside.  Our deck was so slippery, I was afraid she'd slip right down the stairs!  The ice proved too much for our power lines, therefore, we lost power for almost 2 hours.  The kids were scared at first.  After I lit candles and found a few flashlights, they were feelilng a little better.  Jacob kept trying to turn on his bedroom light.  He would say, "Mom!  Light won't go on!"  I told him it was due to the power going out.  I'm not sure if he ever grasped the concept.  :)   Fortunately the power came on just in time for us to go to bed. 

The wood on the top of our deck

This morning we woke up with only a few inches of snow on the ground.  The kiddos were disappointed (I kinda was too).  It was like we had a layer of ice/sleet, then snow, then more ice/sleet.  It was nearly impossible to shovel it to get a path made.  It was VERY slippery outside!  You know it's bad when you can't made foot prints in the snow because it's HARD as a rock.  I swear...spring can't come fast enough! 

What a nasty day outside!  It was so cold and windy! 

The trees were starting to lean and droop due to all the ice on them

Due to MORE ice on Wednesday, our power was off for over 3 hours.  We were right in the middle of making dinner when it went out.  Well, look on the bright side,  I got a candle light dinner out of it!  :)

If you notice in the background of this picture above, the snowdrift was about 3 ft tall!  Our picket fence is 42 inches tall.  Have I mentioned that I'm DONE with winter??  Come on March 20th!!   Atleast it wasn't like some of my friends in Jefferson City...they got over 20 inches of snow!  YUK!!