Wrap up the year

 

We have been blessed with another great year and have spent the end of it with as much outside time as we could.  There have been gifts and travel; shooting and racing; climbing an building and all around smiles and fun.  Our tribe of six headed back to EC for a rendavous of the clans.  The Iowa 5 and Holmen 5 clans all packed into the house of the EC2.  Much like jello, when it comes to family there is always room for more.  Grandpa had the kids outside for firebuilding and even the youngest were given a box of matches and a bundle of dry tinder from the basement to build there fires.  Some of the older kids used their fires, which were nursed on and off throughout the weekend, to heat up cans of soup for dinner.  The EC2 had also established bowling teams so we headed to the lanes, put up the bumpers and out of the eighteen of us I think the high score was about 147.  Frome there we headed to Action City, for laser tag and gocart races.  Two elders were dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus while playing laser tage, while debating the ethics of shooting the jolly elf, his fair madien shot me in the back. Ho, Ho, Ho.  Cliimbing walls and bumper cars and myriad arcade games helped to wear off the chocolate calories of the holiday. With a sizable snow storm hitting the eastern side of the state, our stay was extended an extra day. Ella was under the weather but I took the other three for a short romp down along the frog pond from my days of youth.  Merrick was able to use his new tool set as soon as we got home and the kitchen chairs have never been tighter. We came home to fresh snow and beautiful weather, so we hit the sledding hill and the busted out the skis for the first time all year.  Skiing was a bit taxing but everyone was smiling as Sophia and Merrick used thier new skis.  Having forgotten the water bottle on the counter at home we were "forced' to hit the A&W for some frosty mugs and fresh fries before heading back home.  Having not thrown away the futon box, the kids quickly repurposed it into a basement fort.  This might come in handy as the temperatures drop and nerf gun action rises....indoors.

A Quick Catch Up

 The snow is here and the temps are in the upper teens.  This is good because now we have a reason to play outside.  Not quite enough to ski but hoping to get in some sledding this evening.  Merrick had friend over on Friday and Sophia was off sledding with a friend--they grow up so fast. Shoveling is still a novelty and the kids are dragging the driveway snow into the backyard to create a hill for sledding.  Initially this hill was in the middle of the driveway, it had to be moved but I gave them credit for a good idea, just not the location.  Sophia spent some time last night augmenting her ugly sweater for Christmas, the original version just needed some extra love!  So she knitted red and green yarn through out the black sweater.  Merrick shoveled the patio, and I had to chuckle over his continued obsession with shoveling, he has always loved to shovel.  The tree is complete and I think the shopping is done, this week we are going to try and sneak over to the Botanical gardens for a nighttime walk amongst the light displays. Then we will pack up our ugly sweaters and head to EC for the gathering of tribes.

Winter Wonderland time

Winter is here in full swing so let the hall decking, baking and singing commence!  The weather has been unseasonable cold but we just add another layer and smile now that the snow is here as well.  For a week or so it was just cold with no snow.  We have spent some time huddled up in gymnasiums and auditoriums with the kids singing their Christmas songs.  Sophia was beautiful and right in the front row of her choir concert while Merrick was dancing up a storm on center stage of his.  Bashful isn't a gene that they possess.  Hunkered in and out of the wind we are playing some mad games of poker and teaching Grace the strategies of chess. The four of them filled the kitchen with sugar and flour as we heated the house by sugar cookie baking.