Forts

 

Instead of sitting on the couch to watch Netflix, take the couch apart and live in the couch.

Sure, why not.

Uncharacteristic to Me

I asked whether one belonged to one boy and one to another?

 

Why yes, mother.

 

On the left: Nicholas

On the right: Ben

You Know We've Had Too Much Time Off School

 

When you run out of things to do, so you start getting creative in an odd way.

 

 

Here: They are serving me "Daughter Soufflé"

The white is the table they fashioned to fit around her head on a platter.

 

I declined.

Not Literally Guys

 

I'm quite certain that they didn't mean that it could be shoved in your pocket and then into the wash when they printed "Washable" on there. 

Sunday Afternoons

 

Please take us skating!

 

 

Where even Ben (in the orange shirt there) who can't stand to be drug away from the house for anything, loved it.

 

Finally, an activity that the boys haven't quite mastered ahead of the girls.

 

I watched.  My back hurt just looking at them, I thought.

Then we returned home and I had a 102 degree fever.  I went to bed at 6 pm and was there until 8 am the next morning in various states of feeling like I had actually strapped on the skates and pummeled myself.  Bleh.

Nicholas

 

A million miles an hour, everywhere.

Until he just stops, wherever he happens to be.

 

His eyes popped open right after this.  "Did you really have to take my picture?"

He Loves Me So Much

 

This dog of ours loves me so much, he can't stand to be away from me, even when I cook. 

New Year's Day

 

Elaine made up breakfast. Really.

 

 

My first act of exercise for 2016--hauling wood for the fire that went all day.

 

 

Where we seriously broke in the Xbox.

 

 

And made Alida's favorite: Slobbery Cake.  (aka, Strawberry soda pop cake)

New Year's Eve

 

It was a little chilly in the woods, but we trouped out for some fireworks.

 

 

In our shorts.

 

 

And went through about a gross of sparklers.

 

Then we stayed up and watched the new year arrive flipping between the national coverage and the local coverage.  The local coverage was, well, local.  They didn't realize that we had arrived to the countdown until about seven...

And then Nothing

Lots and lots of Nothing.

 

With our new Red Ryder BB guns.

 

And a river ran through it.

(That creek is normally dry and that creek does not flow over the land bridge, it usually flows under during wet weather.  Let's say we had some rain.  Meanwhile, the girls hut over there held during the storm.

 

And they brought me flowers they found around here.

 

And we rested with the dog and watched movies.

And it was perfect.

 

I even took a bath or two.

At the end of one in the kids bathroom, I told Patric, "There are 8 lightbulbs out in the kids' bathroom."

Eight?

Eight.

There are a few light fixtures in there.

And that brings us back to here.

The Food, Of Course...

Our traditional prime rib roast with all of the sides.

Served on a soaking wet tablecloth because the AC broke, dripped water into the ceiling, and poured onto our table. 

Yes, the AC broke on Christmas. Sigh.

Pineapple upside down cake.

Ben-requested.

Then he looked at it and said, no he didn't.

Um, neither did anyone else.  That one lasted a few days looking cute before it went in the trash.

 

 

 

Candy-cane bread. 

We made four, shared three, and devoured one in about 10 minutes.

I have the ingredients here to re-create next weekend in some sort of New Year shape...

 

 

Even the dog got a new chew toy.

 

 

Not for eating, although they did anyway.

 

 

Traditional Cheese Fondue--score.

 

 

Traditional Chocolate Fondue--Christmas Eve Keeper forever more.

Oh Don't Worry

There were gifts for the kids too.

 

The year we did a little better than last at actually having things for them to open.

(Note the shorts there...)

Ben--I love this guy.  He loved his rocks and minerals.

And somehow the 6 am wake-up was pretty okay.

My Favorite Gift

Look at those rods and reels all organized on the wall back there.  Believe it or not, cleaning out the garage was one of the best things to happen over the break, during which we stayed home, accomplished a few things, and hung out with the kids for a week without hanging on work too much.

 

The air hockey table--free from a friend who was cleaning out her own garage.

Favorite gift Number 2. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Today is the last day of an 18 day break.

 

First order of business this morning,

 

heading to the dentist.

To get those smiles freshened up for 2016!

 

Then we're off to the second half of the school semester.