Ski Bums hit Vermont for New Years!!

Anyone ready to find some snow?!?! These teens were pumped for their first solo mission to VT.  They all came to the house by 6 ready to roll.  Love that they opted to sit 3 across.  They brought up the cooler and some other odds and ends.  I just love the 3 of them together.

Meanwhile, another reunion in the making!  Wyland is up at Mt. Snow with his crew too!  Here they are on the first morning togehter!

I am sorry, this is just the cutest photo ever.  Love these 2 on the slopes together.

Not a bad ski day either.  A little soft and mushy, but white for the most part.  Shannon and crew can over bringing chilling on the first night - what great additions to our ski bum crew.

Pretty impressive kid table here.

Happy to cozy up by the fireplace with the adults.

Next day headed up with the big kids!

Just some favorite captures of our crew.

Love this dad and his ladies

THIS.IS.EVERYONE!

Leadbetters X2 (and includes bonus friends of Wyland and Robbie)

Briggs

Mays

Fire side end of day cocktails

This is the evolution of the Kid table

The kid car

Cup Pong is a HUGE hit.  Good education too

Family dinner round 2!

Shannon was observing how similar these 2 look.  YES!  The Leadbetter genes are strong with these 2.

Biggest hit of the weekend - the Karaoke machine that Mr. Briggs bought for his Mrs.  

https://youtu.be/wiu569siM00

All night long!!

We captured a family group photo.  First one since Lobster Lake years ago.  Thank you to Wyland's crew for extending a day to overlap a bit more with our crazy bball schedule.

Snow guns are out and conditions are improving.  Another great day on the slopes followed by fire side.

Some of the best folks around

Here's to 2024 - love that we were able to enjoy the fireworks - beautiful evening!

Time to pack up and head out.  Great little escape, Fun family games, great singing, loved the early morning walks, one even included snowflakes.  

Love these people, love this time!

Made it home in time to watch MIGHIGAN play the rose bowl against ALABAMA.  You know how much i LOVE to HATE Alabama.  We were OVER THE MOON to beat them.  Even done of a final defensive play.  I remember waking up the next morning and turning to Chris saying, we BEAT ALABAMA!  This team is FOR REAL!

 

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day!

This was a Christmas Eve miracle in my book.  I LITERALLY screamed in my own house.  I have been looking for my grandmother's necklace for over a year now.  So crushed that I searched Etsy in hopes of replacing it.  But what I loved about it was that it belonged to her.  ITs a classic, stood the test of time, a true treasure.  My Etsy replacement still tried to remind me of that, but it wasn't the same (obviously)  

Before getting into a nice warm bath, I started purging some bathroom baskets.  I am sure we all have them, old make-up, products etc.  This was a jewelry cleaner jar that I was going to toss.  I never take the time to clean my jewelry.  But then I thought to open it, and BOOM - there it was.  I was WILDLY thankful!  Today is going to be a GOOD DAY.  It FEELS amazing to have it back.

I convinced my folks that staying the night is the best option!  Holiday mule for the win too.  I know next year they will be headed to warmer weather, so this is really our chance.

Family seafood dinner before walking the neighborhood and card games.

Love this simple capture of Nora - can you tell she is wearing reindeer antlers?

Look what got delivered while we were out walking the neighborhood!!  Santa's bag of....

Holy cow that's a bunch

Love how beautiful everything looks to include our own Rockefeller Christmas tree!

Then we had an idea - Maybe Santa could visit the Canny's house?  Our Santa has never done the visitations.  What would the kids think?  I don't want to ruin it for Drew, but this could be magic right?

We came upstairs, Drew took one look at us and said, where r you guys going?  Guess the cat really is out of the bag - 

Thankful we captured a photo before heading out - Nick drove us in the back of the truck which was funny because folks were driving through our neighborhood and looking twice at the back of the truck.  When we parked at the Cannys, a car with a cute little girl strapped to her car seat in the back, pulled up next to us.  They rolled down the window and asked if they could have a photo of Santa.  She was so enamored.  It was heart melting.

Meanwhile at the party house.  We popped in for a quick hi.

Went by the McLellan's too - they were awesome and up playing reindeer games!

Festive night and always sweet going to be knowing the excitement that tomorrow brings.

And this year, before going to bed, Chris and I took one last walk of the neighborhood.  Peacefully beautiful.

My folks stayed in Shane's room last night.  Love waking up to seeing them with an extra bed snuggler.

Looks like there are some good dog stocking out there.

Should keep her busy for a bit.

Dog snuggles in one piece PJs, yes please

Of course we need a family photo

How bless are we to be together Christmas morning

Aggies for the win!

best personality driven sock selection ever

I had no idea that light works with Alexa - that WAS NOT my intention.

The UCONN ticket gift to Oma Sue - and she get to go with Nick and Ashley!

While this photo may look chaotic, I want to remember how well Chris plays the orchestrator of the gifts.

I managed to get everyone outside for a quick hike - felt so good after all the Christmas things to get outside.  Now a like snow is nature's true icing on the cake, but I will take this family of 5

Love that my folks came back for dinner that evening!!

Just a few days later, my sister's family came up for Christmas round 2!  We did a fun santa swap with the kiddos and adults.

We played some reindeer games that had us laughing for days.  Kudos to my sister for opting to record them =)!

Starting easy here with the wrapping bow scoop.

https://youtu.be/aIZekU9vRr8

Round 2 - a different technique

https://youtu.be/tvixty3xqs4

Watching my parent rock this is absolutely the BEST

https://youtu.be/7vW_Rkd_0LU

Had to do a demo

https://youtu.be/MUd9fyII8F4

The next generation of jingle bell shake

https://youtu.be/nrOIIrGEWQ0

Funny story that I want to treasure, as my sister was going to bed that evening she was hearing a giggle.  She checked into her girls to make sure they were asleep and not messing around.  All good.  Jackson too.  But then she kept hearing this giggle.  She walked down the hall to see mom watching the videos and laughing.  So good for the soul.  Love it.

 

The fun events leading up to Christmas, cookie swap, Mary's Birthday, caroling, ugly sweater and the LUMINARIES!

Such a fun festive Sunday night neighborhood cookie swap.  We made some delicious (boys ruled them the best!  Which I do have a tough cookie crowd) Oatmeal craisin dark chocolate. If you can believe it, there were duplicates this year.  Of the short bread!  Crazy.  Last year it was the Rolo cookies.

Later that week we were thankful for the evening to celebrate one very special lady.  Happy birthday Mary!!  And we even pulled of a surprise.  Great job Tom!

Next up - prepping for a Canny Caroling night.  They have family in from Alaska, so it was pretty epic.  We went to their house before hand, so sweet of them to welcome us in with a FULL HOUSE. it was just clear they weren't headed out to carol anytime soon.....  IT dues does take some inertia!  We got out the door, sang some songs handed out some beer - Seriously do love this kid

Than switched gears to the ugly sweater party at legitiums with my favorite dancing friend!

Holiday dance party is the BEST!

Princess loves to pile up on the pillows.

Christmas eve morning - the LUMINARIES.  our favorite.  Great weather.  Only wish is a few snow flurries.  LOTS of neighbors, great chats and beautiful mission

Love how it really brings everyone out.

These kids keep getting bigger, what the heck!!