Snow = Good. Driving in Snow = Bad.

Mostly, snow is fun.  Like building snowmen, or forts, or making snow angels.  Or seeing a small herd of deer on your morning walk because the snow forces them to search for grass in town.

Or when snow piles up and you get to ski down a mountain, like Rachel did for her very first time recently.  The other kids are pros already!

Even shoveling is not too bad, it's a good way to work up a sweat on a day when you can't go running like this past Tuesday.  I took this photo Tuesday morning to show Papa Mitchell that the winter storm had made it to Denver after dumping snow in Utah!

School was canceled, Ella's dr. appointment was canceled, dance was canceled (make up class from another snowy Tuesday!), gymnastics was canceled.  The orthodontist, however, was open.  So we all piled in and got Caleb's teeth checked out.  On our way home...a lady lost control of her truck and slid into our lane, smooshing both of our cars.  GOOD NEWS: the 5 of us were completely OK, shaken up but unharmed, as was the other driver.  The cars did not fare as well.  My car:

Her car. See that rectangular object to the left of her flat tire?  That is my front end license plate, now stuck to her car. Doh!

So, I guess what we are getting for Christmas is a new car.  The other driver was at fault and her insurance company accepted full liability; however because our car was 15 years old and had 260,000 miles on it, they are predicting a total loss.  :(  The age and mileage means that it will be worth approximately $45.   (I am exaggerating, but only a little!).  I just keep reminding myself that we are so fortunate that no one was hurt, not even a bruise or stiff neck.  But we will miss that car, it has been so reliable and awesome.  And in the end, it kept us completely safe from a sliding, out of control vehicle.  Thank you, Sequoia!  We will miss you. :'(