Merry Merry!

Oh what fun it is to be on Christmas break!

We have been having such a wonderful holiday! David and Ben are taking a break from their daily obligations and Amelia and I are relishing having "the boys" home with us 24 x 7.

Christmas was wonderful and BUSY! We had a great few crazy days with family and celebrations but the best part has been hanging out together. We have spent a ton of time home with no schedule and although it has been very out of the ordinary for us, it has been such a nice change of pace.

We have ventured outside every day for some type of skiing or sledding and David and I even had a date a few times! So fun to hang out and make grand plans for 2011. It's going to be a great year!

Today Amelia had her first try at Cross Country skiing and was such a trooper. It was a little shuffle, shuffle, slide, fall, giggle, shuffle, shuffle! After an hour of that we hit the down-hill slopes at 3:15, just because the sun was out, it was 40 degrees and heck, why not?! - how lucky are we!

And we wonder why we always have such a hard time leaving
N. Michigan - it's so beautiful here!

Ben found the heart in the ice over a little stream. We definitely had to take a picture!

How gorgeous is this?!

My girl loves to spin!

Very happily it was a Lego Christmas.

We hiked to a little hill behind Papa and She She's for some sledding.
We were roaring down the hill!

Pretty much happy no matter what!

Our very, very dear Cousin Janet was with us again at Christmas time. We love our Christmas traditions with her!

Happiness is Cross-Country skiing!

She was hiding from the boys and I just couldn't resist the little face
peaking out from behind the tree.

Ben's reaction when he spotted his sister - he's really one of the sweetest big brother's out there!

I love, love, love watching my kids warm up on the old floor vents. In the morning you can be sure to find them all jammied and blankied right here.

My first sweater Ben - if only it were a little longer....

Ben's Christmas wishes..... Corn skewers and an electric toothbrush. We (and Santa) were very happy to fulfill those wishes!

Doll houses and Legos at Papa and She She's - happy wishes!

You've got to appreciate asking a 2 year old to smile :>)

Remember this. Popcorn and cranberries makes for hours of fun stringing and then endless delight watching the squirrels eat them!

Amelia received a chef hat and apron from our Cousin Janet!

My kindergarten heart-throb at his Christmas concert. Mommy was all teary eyed!

Perfect Weekend!

• 3rd birthday party for our dear friend Brennan first thing on Saturday morning. The kids sled, we had lunch and cupcakes and played outside - so fun!
  
• Slow afternoon at home to rest up and I worked, unsuccessfully, on Ben's sweater
  
• Ballet at the performing arts center in Harbor Sprints. Amelia was in AWE of the princesses that were dancing on stage! Pointing, smiling, gently bouncing in her seat, you could practically see the excitement vibrating within her. Ben also sat so still and was carefully watching with reverence and amazement at the talent that was on stage. It was an awesome event to attend with the kids despite that fact that it didn't begin until after their bedtime. We are so glad that we did it!
• Church on Sunday morning where I was Ben's Sunday School teacher which I always enjoy.
• Skiing all afternoon where both kids had a ball and we bumped into many wonderful friends!
  

We are so lucky to live in Northern Michigan!!!

Cabin Updates and Winter Happiness

I am always reminded of how beautiful life seems when I stop and take pictures of the simple happiness around me. Sometimes life can seem a big hectic mess and I miss all of the small things that are so important - especially in this busy season!

That being said, we have been having a ball with the return of winter! Trips to check out the progress on the cabin, cross country skiing through the Bay View woods where the kids notice the sun sparkling on the snow, sledding, doing 100% of our Christmas shopping downtown while the snow was falling (why people shop online boggles my mind!), making gingerbread houses with wonderful friends and hanging out playing in front of the fire.

Sheer Joy!

The little angel making a snow angel - in the middle of a construction site!

View of the cabin from the front door out to the lake. We can't wait!

Can you see the pile of dirt behind B & A? Our dear friend and landscaper Paul is going to work magic with that this spring! Note: The kids are standing on a pile of wood about 5 feet high and that dirt stretches about 20 feet to the left and right as well as 30 feet back!

We were all chilled to the bone after so swung by the Cedarville Motel to hop into the hot tub!

Happy Trails!

First Day of Skiing!

Yes, it's that time of year and it was a monumental moment for our family! We rode up the green chair as a FAMILY! All four of us went up the big hills and this mama was a bit teary eyed. I was sandwiched between my little ones and each was wearing a big smile and I felt like we reached a new milestone. It's exhilarating yet slightly melancholy. No more naps to contend with, no more diapers, you know, you get the picture the sky is our limit now and I must admit I think we're going to soak it up!

My little guy was loving being back on skis and was carving up the hills. I actually jinxed him at one point. I was just thinking, "man that cutie hasn't fallen yet today" when sure enough he took his first and only digger of the day. I must admit I don't even worry about him on skis anymore - can you believe it?! WOW!!

Miss Amelia was a trooper! Despite the fact that the wind was blowing and we were in the middle of the biggest man made blizzard ever experienced, she loved skiing and kept wanting to do "just one more". What a difference over last year (she loved skiing last year too but we were pretty much sledding with her on skis)! We were letting go and she was confidently skiing from us back and forth with the biggest smiles ever!

Life is good up North!