making lemonade...

Battleship Gray.

That's what West Michiganders call the color of the sky here. Apparently that pretty little lake we've got (L. Michigan) and enjoy in the blue sky season of summer, is the reason we get the "lake-effect" drear of winter.

The color Gray doesn't generally lead to jolly moods all around, so many will flock to Florida for reprieve. We, on the other hand, simply allow activities such as this :
After tiring of cleaning our over-used indoor playland...we decided it was time to make use of the outdoors...

We took the kiddos downhill snow-tubing...

One look at the gigantic hill and tow-rope that pulls you and your tube to the top of the hill...and the girls knew this wasn't any ol' sledding trip.

Lauren even managed an chin injury when her tube ran into someone else's.
Julia didn't reach the 42" height requirement to tube the big hill, so Jeff and I took turns with her on the bunny hill. She was angry (understatement) that the meanies wouldn't let her on the big hill and almost tried hiking up "all by myfelfh!!!". She did manage to have fun making full-use of her snow gear just rolling around in the white stuff...

Jeff and the older girls joined Julia for one run down her bunny hill. I thought it was a good idea to get it on video. I did not think about where I was standing...

Sorry the video isn't better (and I do apologize for the sniffing). After diving out of the way...camera first...the camera survived (barely).

I was able to get this sweet little video of Julia too (who surprisingly stayed dry and warm)...

So I'm thinking that Battleship Gray isn't such a bad color...as long as your standing/playing under it instead of looking out your window at it. It's still not my favorite, though.