Christmas

Was pretty great, with overnight visitors to Rochester

Alistair is skeptical about wearing this crazy red vest.

But cheers up when he learns this means: 

cousins, presents and...

....BOUNCE HOUSE!

Thanks to buddy Jack ZP, for sharing this AMAZING basement toy.

Al didn't quite know what to do at first, but these guys did!

The general chaos of the weekend.

Al tackles Uncle Manuel while Annie pets his hair and Grace wonders what the hell is going on here....

Swwwweeeeet....Al's Dada with Grampy and Tia Grande Sarita.

A classic.

Merry Christmas! Thanks, family, for the visit!

Eleuthera

We learned several things this week:

1. If you must take a family vacation at 35 weeks, GO TO THE BAHAMAS.

2. You will feel VERY loved if you come home and have 29 Christmas cards (plus a couple of packages!) waiting.  Thanks so much, buddies, for the gorgeous cards.

3. We have some really nice, if anonymous, neighbors who not only cleared the drift at the bottom of the driveway, but shoveled the whole thing AND the front walk. THANK YOU!

So...here are some of our pics from Auntie Alice' and Uncle Chris' wedding trip to Eleuthera. More to follow (including actual wedding pics) from Auntie Nora's fancy camera.

The old man and the sea

Al's mama and dada had a great time too.

Retrieving the tennis ball just never gets old,

but Alistair's favorite game was

Hippo in the Sand. Strict rules:

You dig a hole with Grandpa...

 ...and then you wallow

Xena, a very tolerant Island dog.

More pics to follow- these just never get old with more than 20" of snow on the ground!

OSB's Big Day

We got about 18" of fluffy white stuff yesterday.

This morning it's nice and and sunny, and cold.

Thank goodness for Dada and OSB!

Too cold even for Blue: -3

Al stays warm inside and watches all the 

snow-removal activity. 

We'll venture out later...

Snow

This weekend, we got about 7 inches and with it....COLD weather.

Alistair didn't mind, though he didn't last too long outside.

Here's Al, cozy in his snowpants, watching Dada shovel the deck.

That was it for shoveling, since a new machine arrived on Saturday:

Orange Snow Blower! 

Let's hope it makes life a little easier this winter.

Everyone is happy about Orange Snow Blower.

Action photos to follow, but let's hope O.S.B. can rest peacefully for a few days...

Tree!

Such excitement!

Alistair isn't quite sure what to think of a TREE in the living room.

He watched intently while Dada set it up and got it watered.

Unsure of the situation - what is Dada up to?

The napless Tiger Tot surveys the scene.

This is how it got home....

Finished product!

Ornaments to be added...

Good lookin' tree, eh?

In other news - we had a great weekend despite Al going on a sleep strike. 

We think we're back on track with an afternoon nap now - cross your fingers.

We also had fun visits from Jack & his parents, 

and Sophia & Yannik and their parents to round out the great weekend!

Thanksgiving with the Lanzas

Our families were in Arizona, South Carolina, South St Paul and Oregon,

 so we had a great Thanksgiving in Rochester - with the Lanzas!

Dada preps the turkey

Lots of playtime...click here for Ian and Cindy's great photos.

Al and Hunter are good buddies...

Here are the two swingin' a couple of weeks ago:

Hunter's Dada made DELICIOUS pies. 

We thought he was joking when he cut four LARGE pieces of each, 

but there were few leftovers.

Happy and Thankful.

Owly

Just in time, Auntie Alice sent a warm hat and mittens!

Thanks Auntie Alice - looking forward to leaving these behind in a few weeks 

when we head to the Bahamas to see you!

Owen the Foal

We had to miss Annie and Grace's 2nd birthday party due to a snowstorm in StP.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUSINS!

The weather wasn't quite so bad on the South Side,

so we went to visit Owen the Foal.

Here are Al and Dada at Winter Hill Farm - 

Owen was camera shy but very handsome.

Here are some pics from an earlier visit.

This time, even Blue got to come along.

Back at home, more horsin' around.

Apple and Ball

These two round objects are very hard to distinguish, 

and Alistair has been throwing lots of apples.

But, since he has teeth and loves this delicious fruit, 

it's time to eat like a big boy.

Al is a huge fan of the Honeycrisp.

Note the nibbled on apple on table.

Thanks U of M Extension!

More nibbling the next morning (mmm, the apple and milk combo is always a good one),

and importantly, NO throwing!

Happy swinging.