It's winter!

It was about 14 degrees out and the kids just *had* to go out and play in the snow. I took pictures and then retreated inside. Dean said it wasn't too bad -- but he spent more time in Minnesota than I did!


George wore safety glasses because he said they keep his eyes warm. It was kind of windy, so I suppose they might have helped.


It was his mission to bang all of the ice off of everything in the yard. He did it for hours for the two days the snow & ice lasted -- out for 15 or 20 minutes, in for half an hour, out for 15 minutes, back in again..... "Mama," he said, "I was like a walking popsicle!"

Charlotte was following in her big brother's footsteps, as usual.


Here you can see what a pathetic dusting of snow we got. Even the ice wasn't much, although it was enough to shut down the town.

I must say, while I wish it was a little colder here, I don't miss Northern winters. Having to worry about frostbite for the kids was very strange. But they had a wonderful time.

Done, done, done!!

The Christmas animals are all done -- finally finished Claire's gorilla:


Just to show how big he is, here he is with the kids:





Here are Amy's koala and Lauren's kangaroo, both finished & mailed in time for Christmas:



And now for something completely different..... I feel the urge to make socks on tiny, tiny needles.

Thanksgiving trip

We had a great time in Michigan.
The first thing George and Dean did was to build a snowman. The snow angels didn't turn out too well, though.












Here's George playing with firefighter legos at Bob & Denise's. He had a great time.


















Charlotte asks for water and drinks it.



Charlotte & her first cousin once removed Paul had a great time.


In Lansing, Dean and the kids went to bed and I went out carousing -- here I am with Bonnie and Hanno after the dance.

We visited Jane & Demitris the next day. We were there for 9 hours !!!! and the kids had a great time.

Sparky entertained Charlotte for quite a while.


On the way out of town we stopped at Elderly Instruments and visited with Cynthia Bridge.


Back in Hopkins we found the usual gang in the kitchen.



All the cousins prepare for an early Christmas.



George and Charlotte had a good time visiting the Krum's dairy farm. George drove the tractor -- on a road!



Then the real snow came.......

Thanks, Aunt Barb & Uncle Bob!