New Years Luminaries

Its a neighborhood tradition that start when the first home was built in 1986 - they put luminaries along their driveway as part of their own Christmas eve decoration.  With each home that joined the neighborhood, they added luminaries.  Now they plan for 2500 luminaries and on Christmas Eve day, the neighbors get together, assemble them and distribute them through out the neighborhood.  As it gets dark everyone lights their own and if you are away the neighbors light them for you.   This year Christmas Eve was predicted to RAIN ALL DAY - and it DID.  So the neighbors moved it to New Years Eve.

Its made up of a white paper bag, 2 cups of sand (or dirt from your back yard if we run out) than a candle.  A real candle)  The coolest part (in my opinion) is the neighbors working together in the freezing temps to assemble and distribute them.

Nick was covering down on candle addition

Shane was on Truck detail.

Before I realized it, Shane was headed out on distrobution - next to 2 college ladies (one being his first babysitter in the neighborhood!)  Good work Shane.  I was a bit nervous about him riding in the back of the truck, but I knew Abby would take good care of my dimple man =)  Her folks were the ones to orchestrate it all.

Here we all are - seriously the best part.

Here they both go!  Trip #5 I think.

Drew came in to join in the process.  He quickly inserted himself.

Here's what it looked like. 

Later that day I escaped for a movie date with Molly to see Wild that we had both read and truly enjoyed.  What an emotional movie - 

So no time to make dinner (and after all that entertaining - no interest either) so the next BEST thing for New Years - TACO BELL.  We will even eat it there - NO MESS.

But first, a quick video of the drive out

http://youtu.be/a79zrlUsUiI

Here is our home, Christmas lights and luminaries

My folks came over for a glass of wine and a walk through the neighborhood.

My New years goal was to be sleeping before midnight - ACHIEVED!

After we all said thank you for such a wonderful event, the neighbors asked if they could publish our kind words to the local paper.  So here we all are - published and all.

Images of Canton: Holiday illumination

January 5, 2015 Community, Photos No Comments

Photo by Jeff Schaetzel

Story Courtesy of Michele and Kevin Brophy

For more than 20 years, residents in the Bidwell Farm/Breezy Hill Road/Farmington River Turnpike area in Canton and New Hartford have been assembling and lighting luminaries on Christmas Eve.

Due to the rain on Christmas Eve last month, the celebration was moved to New Year’s Eve.

Each year, the neighbors gather at one home to to open and fold the bags, add the sand, and drop in a candle.  The luminaries are then loaded in pick-up trucks, and the children and teens distribute them throughout the neighborhood.

At night, residents light the candles,with neighbors helping those who are unable to get out of the home. This year, more than 1,200 candles were lit.

“The luminaries were beautiful, and working together with the neighbors was truly my favorite part,” said Sara Leadbetter, a newer resident to the area. “I heard so many folks say that this one day is the day they look forward to all year.  Now I can see why — how awesome.  We are so fortunate to be part of the tradition.”

Neighbors assemble the luminaries.
Photo by Sara Leadbetter

Photo by Jeff Schaetzel

Photo by Jeff Schaetzel

Extend the holidays with Liz, Sebastian and Winslow!

Just a few days after Christmas Liz, Seb and Winslow were able to make a 5 hour drive to extend our family Christmas celebration.  Liz and Tam have endured the 18+ hour HAUL to VA on countless holidays and were thrilled by the 5 hour simple commute.  Liz made it look effortless.  She even did the trip without Tam as he truly needed a few days to recoup after fighting a crummy flu season.  We missed him, but were thrilled he let her travel on without him.  The cousins LOVED it too.  They are all really at the age where they can just enjoy each other and they do!  

We finally took this picture a day after they arrived - meaning we had another Christmas gift exchange but they almost didn't need it as all they wanted was to play with each other.  But here we are, I insisted they stay in PJs

and do a goofy face photo

Charming.... not always, so I will take it.

Pauli was getting some love from Winslow

And opened a doll for her doll to play with (yes I am a sucker for WANTING to buy a doll for Winslow - prom dresses next right?)

Finally!!  I have a captive audience to knock out my birdseed craft.  I have been wanting to do this....  A few toilet paper rolls, some Crisco to smear over, than roll it in birdseed.  RATHER decent mess, didn't take too long.

But the birds loved it (once it snowed and they were STARVING and found it)

We went for a walk behind our home to the river, but found a mountain top that was WAY more entertaining.  Love how these guys played together.  Notice anyone that doesn't want to pose for this photo??

Chris almost had to get the fire extinguisher - all the fat from having cooked the Prime Rib was now literally ON FIRE - almost 3" high.  So dinner, was cooked.  So were Chris's eye brows.... o.k. not his eyebrows, the is faster than that.

One cuddly movie night before they head out.

We all loved it and are already looking forward to re-connecting up north at their Saranac Winter Carnival (and I need to prep our cold weather gear!)  Thank you to Liz for packing the kids, yourself, some YUMMY popcorn and the best blackberry pie ever!  We love our casual time just enjoying each other's company.  Thank you for valuing it too.  You guys have so much ahead of you to think about and we cannot wait to see where it takes you.  Its not easy - but it will be worth it.

The Carlson/Charron/Leadbetter Christmas Celebration.

Its Christmas Eve in Connecticut - the one place where I believe our chances of getting a white Chistmas are relatively high and what happens this year.  It rains.  Wait, IT POURS.  It is literally disgusting.  We were doing last minute errands and getting totally soaked.  Our family had a late breakfast at dish and dat (horrible idea as its in our Canton shopping mall were LOTS of folks were getting last minute stuff) so new tradition please!  

The Carlson/Charron/Leadbetter family all met at the West Avon Congregational Church for their LIVE Nativity Christmas.  It was put on by their youth and had sheep, bunnies, goats, (almost a live baby, but they opted for a doll at the last second - those babies sure are unpredictable!)  No Church photos, only memories.  Now onto some family time at our house - seafood casserole, lobster bisque and fish sticks - yum for all!(good tradition!)

Here we are at the dinner tables - kids table and all.  I am so grateful to have a home that we can all gather at and feel truly at home and comfortable.

Even Jackson found a god place to relax

Yup, they were the Fish Stick eaters...

we held onto the bisque =)

That night my folks (after a few glasses of wine) offered to host us all at their house for Christmas as well as Saturday night when Liz would arrive with Winslow and Sebastian.  Loved their enthusiasm, but it might have been wine induced.  When we talked to them the next day we said we were happy to have folks back to out house and it was sweet to see a bit of relief in my moms face as I think she was not dreaming of sugar plums - but 6-8 grand kids running through her home!  My dad brought the Christmas Lamb and Ham over and Chris made it all happen!

But wait  - there is more Christmas Eve excitement

Who should stop by?!?!

Hugs all around for this busy guy.

If only we could capture the true wonder in their eyes

Santa had just finished delivering gifts to all the German boys and girls and managed to squeeze in some time to bring the Magic to us.

Glad I thought to snap a photo with my sister too.  I think we have one that looks rather similar - from just a few years ago...

Now a little snuggle time with Home Alone - another soon to be Christmas tradition. I have found memories of seeing this movie in the theatres with my family to include my grandfather.  So fun to watch the movie again through my kids eyes.  Their bellie laughs are fabulous!  (and they make sure to get ready and out the door on time for fear of being left behind!! Works 2 fold)

look at that toothy grin - I think he has more teeth than Nick!

Well here is it Christmas morning.  At 6:45 Nick came into my room literally springing with excitment.  I cuddled him in bed for 15 more minutes - cuddles is a strong word, it was really tying down a caged animal.  Finally they were off and running.  The stocking first and now the tree.

Had to savor the beauty before a different kind of beauty unfolded.

Monster truck for the monster - rather appropriate if I do say so myself.

Another interesting selection

The cousins came over later for their gift exchange too.

Always a treat watching them exchange for eachother

This was the favorite opening of all.  Stacie went to the Patriots store COUNTLESS times in search of this hat - there was finally ONE in stock and only because the lady in front of her was returning it!

Needless to say, it was the gift of the year.

very very very genuine smile.

3 hats for 3 ladies

I do love it when the adults take over the kid games.

Well after a few days of food, family, gifts and celebration, this weather made us want to celebrate the big outdoors too.

my sister's family loves to hike as well.  So we found Endures forest with some awesome natural water slides.  My sister and I actually came here while in high school (although my memory doesn't seem to go back that far...) it was a BEAUTIFUL and warm day for a family hike (and MUCH needed!)

Nice timer action Stosh!

Jay's version of Ansel Adams - impressive

This fallen tree could have occupied them for hours...

See what I mean?

Loved loved loved the family time together.  No scheduled activities, just free time for the cousins to get to know each other better and celebrate.  It was a wonderful first start to some great traditions we hope to carry through the years.  Love the Carlson/Charron/Leadbetter Christmas.