Happy New Years Folks!

Well it was another get-together with the Wood's where fire was involved.  These boys love a good fire...  This time Craig came with the idea of a Chinese sky lantern. Unprepared the boys set about looking for the right supplies and gathered what ingenuity they had to construct 2 lanterns. Here is what happened.

Construction

Spectating and these ladies thought up a reality show in great detail called "Man, go make fire."

Here we go

Again

And again

After two sky lanterns they made the resolution to be more prepared at the Chinese New Year with a better design.  Fun does this mean we get to have a Chinese New Year party?

Today was a 10

We started the day off a little slow.  Went out to feed the animals and check the pond ice for stability. I was able to walk on it but the sun had melted the snow yesterday creating a layer of water on the ice that then froze an inch. So there was a one inch layer of ice on water on 5 inches of ice underneath... No good. What to do now? Hmmm.

Ah yes... lets clean the playrooom.  Haaahhhaa.  THEN WE WENT SLEDDING AT OUR FAVORITE SPOT.

DAD and E flyin down the hill

Torai Flyin down the hill

Mom and Z flyin down the hill

Gettin Air

The beauty of the Threefold Auditorium

Lookin down the hill as Daddy and E walk up

Mom and E ready to take off

You might be wondering where A is... She was sleeping in the truck near by.

Whew that ride was so fast it blew my hair out!

When we got home there was a package on the doorstep from Kiyoko, Torai's Mom in Tokyo. A care package! So sweet! Thank Kiyoko-San.  You didn't have to, but we are so GRATEFUL!

Tons of origami fun, snacks galore and a beautiful scarf for Mom. Again you didn't have to, your beautiful son has been a gift enough to have around this holiday season. I wonder who told you what we would enjoy!

Today Dad set to work making dinner (something that doesn't happen often). What did he make? One of Torai's favorites.  Pasta Carbonara.

A showing us her favorite desert (sludge) concoction.... ick! We all had a good laugh, even her.

Christmas morning

Christmas morning is special as in any home. The kids wake the parents and want to go down to see if St. Nic brought them what they asked for and if there are treats in there stockings. This year the list Santa was.

New Ice skates for Z

a puzzle for E

and a car for A

Aunt I and clan bought tea sets for the girls

In the back ground you can see the dress up clothes rack for  Daddies girls  that he made himself

Overalls for the girls from mama

Dresses from Gma and Gpa 

Ice Skating out back Christmas day is the family tradition

Loads of fun!!!

Christmas Eve with our loud Italian American Family

Christmas is all about the food... as with any holiday i suppose.  In our family the Friets are the comfort food of choice. My mum in-law makes the dough... and it rises and rises then she adds the insides. Essentially back in Texas we called them fried pies but these are not sweet they are savory and delicious.

Frankie assembling the frites.

Mum in-law getting ready to fry the artichokes

Papa in-law heating the oil

Grandkids hangin out waiting for food

cooking and cleaning

anticipation

I think our crazy family wore out our friend

and then the craziness of gifts

alas Jac's birthday acknowledgment and the yummy Italian pastries my brother in-law  waited an hour and a half to  buy





What a Wonderful Life!

A day in the City

Guess where we are...

Torai under water

Z under water

Origami Christmas Tree

Not so wooly mammoth

forgot the name of this one 

A day of family fun with Rexi...


At the Museum of Natural History in...

Holiday Guest with us from Japan

Torai is a Japanese boarding exchange student joining us for the holidays. He has become one of our family for the next two weeks. Here he is in the guest room settling in. We hope to see some sites and introduce him to our festive Italian American Christmas.  My girls love him and it seems he is fond of them too.