We got a little time outside today

Before the wind really kicked up! It was ok in the front but even a few minutes in the backyard resulted in watering eyes and stinging cheeks.

I got a new lens for my camera and I have been enjoying playing with it. My kit lens didn't have much of a zoom so it's fun to have more flexibility. My favorite place to take pictures is outside and unfortunately we haven't strayed very far from home lately so there isn't much variety.

Fairy princess

Unfortunately this fairy princess did not want her picture taken. However we wanted Grandma to see the dress up clothes in use.

What a treat

We've actually seen the sun several days since the New Year! Yesterday was really nice, as long as you stayed out of the wind it was quite "warm". The kids got out their snowshoes again and ventured into the back yard and woods. Maya tires quickly in the snowshoes because she tries to keep up with Alex so she waded around in just her boots for a while and then helped me shovel while Ben and Alex went out in the back field.

We also accomplished getting the Christmas tree undecorated and out of the house, all the other decorations put away, the mountain of laundry clean and put away, 2 football games watched (YAY Packers!), many Legos built and fairy dress up clothes worn.

Shoein'

Alex got some awesome hand me down snowshoes from the neighbor this year so that means Maya inherited the "snow stompers" as Alex dubbed them. (the kid's Redfeather snowshoes he had that make Yeti tracks in the snow)

Alex is loving his new ones, they are smaller and lighter and have the crampons on the bottom for climbing better.

Maya is doing a great job with the stompers. They are wider and I was afraid she'd have trouble getting use to having her feet out wider, I know Alex didn't really go full swing on them until he was 4. She caught on right away and just catches a toe every now and then and falls down.

Alex had them going through quite an obstacle course today - over snowbanks, touch that tree, go around the bush, over the other snowbank.....

It was fun to watch.

I shoveled.

That wasn't quite as much fun.

Our own sparkly snow globe

Fresh snow, sun peaking through and some dusty lake effect in the air......

Attempting

to knit socks.

All my local knitting friends be aware that I will soon be calling/visiting one of you to help me through the heel instructions.

Berry Bowl

I'm so excited! Yes, I am excited about getting a berry bowl for Christmas.

Christmas gift crafts

Maya got a Melissa and Doug brand decorate your own fairy wand that she was excited to start. She got the decorate your own magic mirror this summer and really enjoyed it. The glitter glue is easy enough for her to squeeze out but the opening is small enough that she can control the amount somewhat.

Alex got a paint by number in his stocking. "Santa" got it in the dollar bin at Joann's I'm pretty sure. I didn't know if he'd be into it or not but he really was. It was pretty detailed with lots of small spaces and most of the spaces required you to mix two colors of paint together to make a new color. He really liked that part.

I'd call both those gifts a success!

Happy New Year!

Having just gotten home later in the day on Thursday, we decided to have a quiet New Year's Eve at home. The kids had a bit of vacation/travel/holiday hangover and home is often the easiest place to deal with that!

We did make your own pita pizzas for supper and I had bought watermelon (in winter! and not on sale!) and chips (chips!) and sparkling grape juice so they thought it was quite a celebration. We played some of our new Wii games and planned on letting the kids stay up until things got out of control with a goal of a 10pm or so bedtime for them. Maya asked to go to bed at 9:30 and Alex didn't argue with that idea at all so 9:30 it was.

I tested out my new blender and made some strawberry daiquiris and Ben tried out his Appletini mix (ala JD from Scrubs) from Matt and Amy. Matt, that picture is for you.

Some random outside shots

SKIS!

Alex got a surprise when Grandma and Papa started to unpack their truck. They found Uncle Matt's old cross country skis in the attic and they are almost the right size for Alex! Just a little big but he managed quite well. Of course the first thing he wanted to do was to ski up the driveway so he could ski back down. He went up and down the driveway countless times, then around the yard and up and down the side hill for over an hour.

We didn't have room to bring them home this trip but we'll have them by the end of the month - and right now we hardly have any snow left so that will give the snow time to build up again.

He caught on to the basic ideas pretty well and really enjoyed it. Uncle Matt was pretty excited to have a little skier in the family.

Back to Grandma Ruth's

Tuesday after lunch we left Green Bay and went back to Rhinelander for a few days. We spent some time at Grandma and Grandpa Bergeon's house. They had some fun stories to tell us since they had just taken a road trip to Nebraska to visit my aunt Linda. Yes, you read that right they drove all the way from Rhinelander to rural Nebraska - well really my Grandpa drove since my Grandma can't drive.

When we got back to Grandma Ruth's it was time for dinner and the Wisconsin Badger basketball game was on TV. Both kids snuggled up with her in her bed and watched basketball. She taught Alex all about the scoring and some rules. He was really into it and was actually doing some pretty complicated math figuring out how many baskets each team would need to catch the other one and how far ahead the Badgers were at the end.

We had no idea but back in Green Bay Matt, Amy, Mom and Dad were having some interesting times. Amy took both dogs for a walk (Obey and Abbey) and unfortunately the thaw/freeze/thaw/freeze that had been going on had left some really icy spots on the roads. By the end of the walk Amy wound up in the ER with a dislocated shoulder.

Wednesday morning we played outside while we waited for everyone else to get there. Maya was completely happy to wallow in the snow banks. Alex was more interested in sledding. We were just getting the kitties out to play when everyone else started to roll in.

After Christmas

Dec 26th we spent a fun and relaxing afternoon with Paul, Karrie and the boys. Visited, watched some football (Go Pack!) and snacked the afternoon away.

Monday we had another football party at my mom and dad's house for Monday night football. Doug, Joy and Maddie came over so the kids got to play together for a while. More food (seems to be a running theme even after Christmas!) of course.

Abbey spent much of these few days chasing prisms and light spots in the living room. She was very persistent to the extent that we had to shut the blinds a few times so she would quit digging in the base boards or furniture. Poor girl was probably quite frustrated.