No, we're not buried under all the snow! :)

We're in the thick of Michigan winter and hanging in there! We've often heard of "lake effect" snow....now we know what it is! Basically, as cold air moves in over the warm lake snow clouds form and dump the snow near the lakeshore. The area impacted is relatively localized and the clouds don't move on out. Remember how cartoons often have an image of a rain cloud hovering over one area? That's what the weather radar looked like here for over 48 hrs. this past weekend. It's made for some beautiful, christmas-card-looking scenes!

We've had some sickness, the worst of which hit Abby. She's been fighting a bad cough for a few weeks now and finally got to a doctor today who says she has bronchitis and it will just take more time to get fully rid of it. Pray for her as she has to spend so much time walking out in the cold across campus.

Speaking of prayer, our house in Tuscaloosa is still unsold. We'd appreciate prayer that that would happen SOON!


Abby was back home for a quick weekend visit. It wasn't that she really missed us already, she just had someone special for us to meet. Now the whole internet world can meet him, too!



His name is Simeon and he's a sophomore at IWU. Thankfully, he met with everyone's approval! :)

Update

The New Year is ready to settle us back into routines, but with a few minor changes. We enjoyed - and got very used to! - having Abby home for Christmas, but she's returned to Indiana Wesleyan University for her second semester. She almost had to take Daniel (our family nickname for him is, rather appropriately, "Monkey".

Leaving with her good friend, Holly Carlton:


Joshua has started a part-time job at Burger King. This will be his final semester of high school, so lots of decisions and changes ahead for him!

Paul starts Driver's Ed. classes tomorrow. Michigan has a very structure driver's licensing plan. He'll be in class 2 hrs a day, 3 days a week for the next 4 weeks. He'll have 6hrs of driving time with an instructor, and then may test for his permit. After 30hrs driving with parents he takes another series of classes, does 20 more hours of supervised driving, has a waiting period and then can finally qualify for a graduated license. Mom's hoping he'll be ready to take over as errand runner when Joshua starts college!

Thomas, Philip, Sam, and Andrew started indoor soccer practice yesterday. They'll have 8 weeks of drills and scrimmaging before regular season can begin in March or April (pending how much snow is on the ground!)

Speaking of snow.....here are a few more pictures of the wintry scenes around our house. I know only our southern friends appreciate these......you northern folks feel free to groan!! :)

Niece's wedding

Beth was thrilled to be able to get away this past weekend and attend her niece's wedding in Macon, Georgia. It was a wonderful weekend! Here's the bride and groom, Jack and Sara (Neyman) Pyles



These are the Gorveatte family members present. The back row is Fred, Ruth (Beth's sister), Sara and Jack, Stephanie, and Joseph Neyman. Beth's brother Joel Gorveatte and his wife Tracy are behind Beth on the far right. Their children Kate and Seth are in front of Tracy. On the left are Beth's parents, Ken and Anne Gorveatte. Beth's sister-in-law Sherry is behind Ken and her daughter Jordan is beside Anne. Sherry is the wife of Beth's brother Mark Gorveatte who along with his 3 sons was unable to attend.

Ice Skating

We've discovered a fun family activity in downtown Grand Rapids. It almost makes you feel like you're at Rockefeller Center in New York! The best part for our large family is it only costs $1 per person!!

Thomas (14), Joshua (17), and Paul (15)

Update

Someone asked us the other day if we'd skipped Christmas because we hadn't updated our blog! We didn't, and here are some pictures to prove it!

Paul surrounded by onlookers Abby, David, Andrew, Peter, and Daniel


Daniel and David opening a shared gift.

Additional snow fun

Southerners are still amazed with snow. Here's some afternoon video after 7 inches fell last night.

Christmas concert

Four of our boys participated in the West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts Christmas concert. Philip played the cello, Sam played the trumpet, Andrew & Peter played recorders and sang in the choir.

Sledding video

We had a little more snow last night. Behind our house, there's one small hill which is handy for sledding. For our younger 6 boys, this is their first real snow.

Shoveling Slush

Sledding

The forecast today called for some "wintry" weather. Sure enough the snow started falling last this afternoon......




It wasn't long before it was beginning to accumulate and the boys were anxious for it to be enough to go sledding. Unfortunately for them, about the time it reached that point we had a dinner meeting and they were sequestered in the downstairs den. Finally, about 10:00 everyone was gone and we released them. We even woke Sam up so he could get in on the fun!

Joshua


Philip



Paul


Samuel


*Note to cousins Kate and Seth: Thanks for the sleds!!!