Central Illinois Daily Life:Dec 17-21

Photographer: Robin Scholz

City of Paxton employee Randy Swan, left, and ICE student Kyler Swanson cut up the 45-foot Paxton christmas tree Friday morning after strong winds from Thursday night's storm blew it over from it's position on Market Street in downtown Paxton. The tree is not going to be replaced. Shot Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Laura Burns, Champaign, uses a broom to clean the snow off of her windshield of her truck parked on Lynn St. in Champaign on Friday morning, Dec. 21, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Employees of Atlas Restoration work under a tarp to repair the underpinning of a storage building along the Boneyard Creek in Urbana as part of the restoration. photo taken thursday december 20, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Lamiya Tillman,6,and Quandrell Phagan cross Neil St. from Stratton School. Crossing guard Glenn Simpson stops traffic on Neil St. by Stratton School thursday afternoon dressed as Santa. He has been guarding children at this crossing for 2 years, and is amazed at many peoples disregard of the law and the safety of children. .photo taken thursday december 20, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Crossing guard Glenn Simpson stops traffic on Neil St. by Stratton School thursday afternoon dressed as Santa. He has been guarding children at this crossing for 2 years, and is amazed at many peoples disregard of the law and the safety of children. .photo taken thursday december 20, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Educator Erica Schneider holds up two seals as children learn about other creatures that live in the sea. Outdoor Little School at Anita Purves Nature Center in Urbana. Pre-schoolers learn all about penguins in this discovery based learning experience. photo taken wednesday december 19, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Dad Kevin Price helps Evie,3,put glue on a foot of her penguin puppet. Outdoor Little School at Anita Purves Nature Center in Urbana. Pre-schoolers learn all about penguins in this discovery based learning experience. photo taken wednesday december 19, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Parkland College Student Services Building construction. photo taken tuesday december 18, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Emily Ramirez,3,with her mother Jo Ramirez. Toddler Tuesday at the Orpheum Childrens Science Museum. Children were making reindeer and trees, and reinforcing shapes. photo taken tuesday december 18, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

At Unity East Elementary School.A teacher, Mr. Carver, and other teachers have decorated their cars to look like reindeer and have parked together.photo taken monday december 17, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Giavanna Meneely,15 months,there with her mother, finds a Rubiks Cube fascinating.At the Urbana National Guard Armory.Tina Meneely,FRG( Family Readiness Group) for the 33rd HHC IBCT National Guard Unit in Urbana,organized the toy giveaway as a way to "pay it forward" after they had leftover gifts from their family christmas party that were donated to them. She arranged for 7 families to come and pick out gifts for their Christmas. photo taken monday december 17, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Zack Reeves,3,Gibson City,there with his mother Lottie, finds something he likes on the table. At the Urbana National Guard Armory.Tina Meneely,FRG( Family Readiness Group) for the 33rd HHC IBCT National Guard Unit in Urbana,organized the toy giveaway as a way to "pay it forward" after they had leftover gifts from their family christmas party that were donated to them. She arranged for 7 families to come and pick out gifts for their Christmas. photo taken monday december 17, 2012.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Tina Bennett, who babysits for the children of a single dad, picks out gifts for the children. At the Urbana National Guard Armory.Tina Meneely,FRG( Family Readiness Group) for the 33rd HHC IBCT National Guard Unit in Urbana,organized the toy giveaway as a way to "pay it forward" after they had leftover gifts from their family christmas party that were donated to them. She arranged for 7 families to come and pick out gifts for their Christmas. photo taken monday december 17, 2012.

Photographer: John Dixon

Stand Alone - Pedestrians hurry through the intersection of Wright and Green Streets as temperatures fall and rain changes over to snow, late Thursday afternoon, Dec. 20, 2012.