Two 'cross and One Down

Thursday it was hoops for Ella and a hard loss on the hardwood but she played a good aggressive game. The rest of the weekend was like a crossword puzzle clue: Two 'cross, one down.  Friday was just Grace and the parents.  Ella was at a sleepover, so we hit a new set of cross country ski trails north of town for some night sking.  The trails were recently lit and the setting was beautiful.  Grace had to remind Amy to challenge herself as the little speed demon passed. Without any steep cliffs for a sense of danger we choose instead to look for wandering bears.  Grace wasn't about to be the slowest on the trail. We topped it off with a stop at a fancy pizza joint for some wood fired pizza and comically huge bowl of fries.  Saturday we grabbed Ella and hit another trail that was new to us for some more cross country skiing the trail wasn't as nice but the weather was amazingly beautiful and we soaked in the UV.  Sophia had an early morning gymnastics meet in Sheboygan and she placed on bars as well as took number one for the team competition.  With the snow gear loaded up we headed to Kewaunee and Winter Park to do the downhill tube runs.  We could have done the hills in our tshirts but our lift tags were already attached to our jackets.  The temps had to be pushing 50.  It was enough fresh air that the eyelids were growing tired and the idea of cooking at home lead to a detour to a local pub for an early dinner. Nobody made it to the end of the Superbowl, but it was a great weekend in the outdoors.

Surprise Snow

 The forecast is calling for a big dumping of snow this week however much to our surprise we woke up last week to about 5-6 inches or unexpected greatness.  With a fresh blanket of snow on the ground the kids were able to play in the backyard after school and actually have something to do back there.  This weekend was warm and after a family trip to TR to plan for even warmer weather we headed out 'early' on Saturday morning to fish with the neighbor kids.  We hit the ice with a crew of eight and pulled in only a single bluegill but plenty more laughs.  The kids ran around the fresh ice snow playing soccer and cut the pie and we set up the new Christmas present ice shack.  It has sense been returned as it snapped a rod putting it up.  All six kids hung out inside of it for about 45 minutes snacking and gossiping at one point Sophia gashed her hand pretty good but we rubbed some snow on she wore my larger sized gloves and then was fine to play cut the pie some more.  It didn't seem to hamper her social engagement of a sleep over any.  Sunday morning with our belly filled with cinnamon rolls we headed to Webster hill but it was wore down to the dirt so we trucked it over to Triangle and hit the big hills for awhile before Ella had to head off to a birthday pool party.  A little domestic errand running and then as the rain picked up we decided it was time to head back outside to build some snow forts and a small snowman army in preparation for the big snow storm and hopefully snow day to come.  With the zipper clunking sounds of jackets and snow gear in the dryer it is time to gear up for the week to come.

Pagophilic dreams

  Ella hit the hardboards on Thursday for her first Basketball game and they had an outstanding victory.  The weather was mild and we spent plenty of time outdoors.  Friday night did find us indoors however, Grace and Ella had sleep overs and we took everyone over to Lambeau for a dinner before heading across the street to the Gamblers game.  We were also able to hit both of the pro shops, but didn't buy any team swag.  The Gamblers won the game and scored a powerplay goal which lead to everyone getting a free ice cream sunday at Culvers, so our trip home was slightly detoured.  Saturday we hiked at Fonferek Glenn and after crossing a frozen river and glissading down a decent grade we were able to get behind a frozen waterfall.  It was really beautiful and after traversing the iced over river about four more times we came to an eye in the sky arch about 60-80 feet up on the limestone cliffs.  We found a really great fort built by some local kids but then headed back home for some lunch and quick nap before setting our skis to the trails.  Ella was pretty tired after the sleepover and stayed home but Grace isn't one to miss out on an adventure.  She has really improved and by our count hadn't been on skis for two years. We rounded off the weekend with a trip to Triangle Hill for some serious incline sledding although the show was thin the laughter was great, Hot chocolate was promised all around but by the time we got home we were sidetracked on another idea....might have been supper.

Fortunate to Call this a Normal week

Grace is still in strummin' the six string each week but she did get roped into some errands after practice this week.  Luckily we meet an old friend in the store...the walking carpet was ready for a photo op.  Friday night we filled the house with girls, they came in busses and trains and brought wheelbarrows of giggles for a slumber party.  The disappeared into the recesses of the house and didn't emerge until feeding time on Saturday night.  After a belly filling munchfest of pancakes and cinnamon rolls we headed to Stevens Point with a stop at the mall first.  Sophia had a late afternoon Gymnastics meet and placed 2nd on the bars and here team took third overall.  There were tired eyes on the trip home but we managed to hit a little place for some pub grub and watch what was left of the Packers game.

An Amazing Adventure!

We started the winter vacation with a trip to a galaxy far far away, then played in the snow, had Christmas and then a trip to Florida...It was a long and amazing week!  Pre-christmas traditions of cookies and gingerbread houses were almost forgotten in the shadow of the big trip. The kids didn't know we were going to Disneyworld until Christmas day.  The each opened a box of balloons with various letters on the balloons.  It didn't take them long to figure they had to unscramble all the balloons to spell out the world.  It took them longer than expected but after about 15 minutes they solved it and were amped to learn that we would leave in a couple of days.  We left early...like people were still coming home from the bar early, and drove to the airport.  The flight was smooth and we were in Animal kingdom on a safari by noonish!  We were in the world's happy place for five full days visiting Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and then back to Magic Kingdom. We closed up the parks each night except Epcot on the fourth night.  New Year's Eve found us with two fireworks shows over Cinderella Castle as well as a Tinkerbell on a zipline from the castle top.  Tinkerbell was also our last experience at Disney and she chewed out Ella for being sarcastic/sassy and tried to force her into a time out! It was an awkward moment for sure.  The kids kept journals of their trip too and spent time before meals, bedtime and waiting in line to write in their journals.  We hit the big rides and shows in all of the parks and some of them multiple times.

Oh, The weather Outside is Frightful...

Still no snow and Sunday we awoke to the sounds of thunder.  Can't imagine the snow mounds that would have been created if the roughly three inches of rain would have  been snow.  It appears we will be mowing the lawn rather than shoveling the drive way.  Either way we are staying busy.  Ella had a sleep over Friday night and stayed up way later than Amy and I did. Saturday morning we were back in the gym for Grace and the little dribblers and then Ella's volunteer project came to fruition.  She had a wonderful brainstorm a month ago to make fleece blankets for foster homes.  She rounded up about 8 other girls and filled the floor space in the house with Fleece tie blankets.  With only a short break for pizza and calloused hands from cutting the girls cranked out about 14 beautiful fleece blankets and didn't stop giggling the whole time.  It was really great to see the girls thinking of others in the holiday season.  Sophia had a meet in Fond Du Lac so we headed down there to watch her team take first place by only 0.05 points.  We meet Grandpa and Grandma down there to cheer her on.  Sunday was a rainy day and slow morning, but Packer game slowly turned to holiday music cookie baking.  With peaceful notes carried on sweet smells the house felt like Christmas even if the weather outside was frightfully April.  Grace got a start on the wrapping and now all the gifts are under the tree and ready for the Holidays!  She did exclaim at one point "Oh well, I am screwed" catching Amy and I off guard, as she cut the paper too short.  She was allowed to say it once more before we had a short conversation about crass language and the Latin derivation of vulgar.

Los Ninos in an El Nino

 
Another great month of frenetic action.  The weather has been crazy warm with the El Nino winter so we aren't making many plans that involve snow but that hasn't stopped us from hanging lights on the house and getting the new place into full Christmas decoration mode.  Grace has become the resident expert on lights having spent some time on the ladder in the front of the house with me and then helping Amy in the backyard with the lower trees.  She is Chief Untangler of Lighting Operations...should have called her "CULiO" for short.  We did head out into the 'tree cutting' forest last weekend and cut an 16 foot tree into a 12 foot tree and then into a house sized 8 foot tree.  It was decorate with all the kids ornaments and the wide spaces in the branches and slender shape have it made it our favorite tree of all, it really is beautiful.  There were Christmas singing programs for the younger two, fortunately back to back and we spent a couple of hours singing carols ourselves as we rang the bell at the grocery store for the Red Kettle campaign.  Ella has started jazz band and with Grace continuing on guitar by next year we should have a nice little musical volunteer session.  Saint Nick made his appearance with much argumentation about which day he comes...night of the 5th or the early morning of the 5th...there was warm socks and candy when he did finally arrive along with the Herbie the elf on the shelf.  Each morning becomes a hunting game for where the elf is hidden and what mischief he got into while the kids slept.