Last winter we enjoyed very warm (60-70 degrees!) weather during the first few months of the year. Not so this year!! On Monday we got our second heavy snowfall of the year; it started snowing mid-afternoon and when we got out of bed Tuesday morning, there was over a foot of snow on the ground!! Needless to say, Dad's work was canceled, and Seth was pursuaded to take off for the day to go sledding with us. :)
The snow drifted quite a bit, and our younger ones discovered huge 4 foot drifts all over our yard!!! Just before noon, we gathered the sleds and headed for the field behind the house. Those first few minutes of sledding were tremendous fun!
(The purple sled was Seth's but he rode on the tractor that round using his video camera!! The footage he got is really something!) :)
Unfortunately, we had only been sledding for about 10 minutes when the tractor became stuck in a huge snowdrift! This was quite surprising because in the past 10 years of sledding with the tractor, it has never once been stuck. It was very difficult to get the tractor out, considering the facts that it was going slightly down hill (you wouldn't have guessed by the picture, would've you!?!?) and once you dug all the snow away from the tires, you found a thick layer of ice...
Trying to dig the tractor out.
Once the wheels were somewhat clear, pushing the tractor out!
After a hour of trying to get the tractor out, Seth decided to see if his truck could pull it out. He hurried over the hill to get the truck, while the rest of us took a much needed break from shoveling and pushing. Before too long, Seth came back over the hill.......on foot. Unfortunately, the truck was also stuck in the knee-deep snow.
To make a long story short, after 2 1/2 hours of pushing and manuvering, we succeeded in getting the tractor out. We then were able to pull the truck out with the tractor and both vehicles and their passengers made it safely back to the house. No one was exactly eager to go back out immediately to go sledding, but this afternoon, we'll be heading back out, only this time, we'll try and avoid the drifts......:)
Valentines Day is a much annticipated day at the Ulmers, for with it comes the arrival of fresh Florida oranges!! Grandma generously has a case sent to us every Valentines day, and they don't last long around here!!
After the oranges are all gone, Silas loves to use the box as a boat!
This little man is 26 today!!!
Happy Birthday Andrew (1 week early)!!
Mommy teaching Justice how to play the piano.
"Yep, I've got both these boys in neck-hold!!" (Uncle Silas)
"Okay guys, photo shoot is over; I'm out of here!!" (Paul)
"We'll smile, but we won't look at you, Aunt Elizabeth!!" 
Last winter we enjoyed very warm (60-70 degrees!) weather during the first few months of the year. Not so this year!! On Monday we got our second heavy snowfall of the year; it started snowing mid-afternoon and when we got out of bed Tuesday morning, there was over a foot of snow on the ground!! Needless to say, Dad's work was canceled, and Seth was pursuaded to take off for the day to go sledding with us. :)
(The purple sled was Seth's but he rode on the tractor that round using his video camera!! The footage he got is really something!) :)
Unfortunately, we had only been sledding for about 10 minutes when the tractor became stuck in a huge snowdrift! This was quite surprising because in the past 10 years of sledding with the tractor, it has never once been stuck. It was very difficult to get the tractor out, considering the facts that it was going slightly down hill (you wouldn't have guessed by the picture, would've you!?!?) and once you dug all the snow away from the tires, you found a thick layer of ice...
Trying to dig the tractor out.
Once the wheels were somewhat clear, pushing the tractor out!
-Marcus Scott Anson-
Uncle Noah and Marcus.......
Susanna, Phoebe, Julia, Justus and Charity!
Mom and Mrs. Stangl
Tabitha and Lydia helping make pizza!
After we girls made supper, the boys pitched in and cleaned up the kitchen!!
