New year's eve at Milford

For new year's eve, we skated on the mill pond...until we heard the sound of ice breaking up. Sort of a cross between an underwater cannon and a muffled pile driver, at first we thought it was the construction happening on the north side of the pond. But as daddy made a turn and heard a cracking sound, we knew this mild new year's eve was bad news for the ice.




We quickly rounded up the kids, got off the ice, removed our skates and loaded the car with tobaggans and pails and shovels and headed to the dunes at Sandbanks. We had the whole beach to ourselves. Of course, it was hovering around the freezing mark,and no one dared to swim, but it was a lot of fun. We had a snowball fight lasting 2 minutes because we used up all the snow, made snow/sand castles, and attempted tobaggoning down the dunes. Unfortunately, the sand was wet and the friction too great. Better luck with dry sand in the spring.





Apologies for the quality of the pics...we had only our cell phones.

Post Christmas Crazies

Myra (sorry, i mean Elf) and Vincent heard we were going tobogganing so they felt they needed to practice.



And when Vincent is away the Elf will play (the drums, that is).

The best part of Christmas Baking...

...is not licking the spoon, but having someone small offer to clean up the mess!

Trim Trim Teree

Myra is making and eating a Santa sandwich. She now says "Call me Elf." We suspect it's because she's realized the great responsibility of delivering the gifts all on one night. Plus she told Daddy that she doesn't like to go into chimneys and fireplaces.

Tree Trimmin Two: Electric Boogaloo

Mummy found some old-timey tinsel so it was back to the tree. Please note that tree adjustments are undertaken at one's own risk. Entanglements can lead to strangulation so trim with caution.

Further adventures of Woody and Buzz at GWL

As we check in with our heroes, it seems they have lost their mummy while looking at a massive gingerbread house.
Woody looks left.



Then he looks right. No sign of her anywhere.



If Mummy doesn't show up soon, Buzz will go home with this snowgirl.

Buzz and Woody at Great Wolf

Tree Trimmin

Vincent picked the tree. He walked up to the firs, scratched his chin, poked his head behind one of the front trees and pointed at a bagged 7 footer and said, "that one!" It was a perfect fit and smells beautiful.



This year, all hands can decorate. Myra got in on the action too.



Few ornaments were harmed in the trimming of this tree. Well, one elf lost its legs but that's what crazy glue is for.




This is Vincent. Without eggnog. Rumballs. Wine. Beer. Without any excuse really. Yes, he's hiding under pine boughs and wearing a mask.

Snow angels

Although our first snow fall of the season left little on the ground, the kids insisted on wearing snow pants and making a snowman. When they realized there wasn't enough white stuff for that, they settled for snow angels. Grass angels?

Gingerbread house

Today's big activity: Decorate a gingerbread house!



After chasing one too many round candies off the table and onto the floor, we soon learned the importance of containing the hard candy in small bowls.



It didn't take long for Myra to discover the candy was not just good for decorating but for eating too.



And this was the stickiest project of the season...until we put up the tree.