Stowe for More!

Taking advantage of one final weekend in the white stuff.  Stowe reported 22" of snow in the lasts storm.  Why not check their reporting.  They typically do not make much snow relying on snowfall for conditions.  Figured it would be a good springish skiing chance.  

Maybe we should dress up? 

Drew was the only one for day 1 - he got lost of 'Moos' from the chair lifts..

Great bar food dinner out on Friday

Day 2 I joined in with Drew

Gotta love how he owns a custome

Check out the videos - fly chicken fly!

https://youtu.be/8hhHhen7KSk

https://youtu.be/mHoY4jLcJE4

https://youtu.be/REwuX837Rq0

https://youtu.be/GGKzO39937c

It proved to be a windy, but great weekend for pretty decent conditions.  The sunniest part of the mountain was closed.  We took the lift over the to other side to check it out and quickly came back.

Sugar Shane, sunshine Shane - lots of Shane's to go around.

Cheers to the slopes 2024!

We actually did a little Stowe exploration enjoying the Idyltime brewery while watching the game.  The kids independently did some grocery shopping.  Win win.  Love the ski bum hat representation.

Special weekend marked by the birth of our good buddy Asa Briggs!  Kids were in charge of putting up the decorations.  Rebecca made the family favorite cake and fried chicken.  Nice of them to let us bombard on their weekend away.  The Briggs were using this weekend to both celebrate Asa's birthday AND go to the UVM acceptance day.  But Ashley committed to CU Boulder and wasn't even interested in heading back to UVM even if for a little bit.  Such a good feeling to just know what you are headed!

Sunday - the kids were thrilled for one more photo at the top!

Here I managed to get everyone but Chris who opted to catch up on some design work in the lodge.  Thankful for his mobile work capabilities.

Final grab bag lunch at the end of the day.  It was a smogeboard of odds and ends with very minimal bread - gotta love their ability to be creative and not picky - These kids really are the best.

Ski season is a wrap for the Leadbetters - WE did our best to chase as much snow as possible.  Next year our mile may need to be a bit further for longer.  Its just a matter of making/finding the time.  

 

Mt. Snow for one more

There is still snow at Mt. Snow - matter of fact, the rain we got yesterday they say was snow up there (with a little rain) so I took the boys and up we went.  

Notice Nick in these photos by the way

The boys went to Carinthia but Nick opted to ski with me and i LOVED IT!

See - again?!

Snow was pretty good for end of March!

Mr. Briggs is back on the slopes too!  Blue bird day too!

Ramon for the win!

Signs of success

 

Wrestling Banquet

We got to be in charge of the wrestling banquet this season.  Thanks to some great moms we dressed up the Lodge in Canton

Mr. Inlow owns a limo and offered to bring all the Seniors to the banquet in it.  Unique experience for them all.

All the wrestlers at one table.

MVP Award for Nick - Loved coaches' description of leadership and motivational contributions to the team this year. 

 From being brand new to wrestling his freshman year to being a team captain as a junior is just huge.  Every match, win or lose, as soon as it is over Nick always asks, what could I have done better.  He is not afraid to make a decision or be in charge.

The captians were asked (by me) to give speeches as they gave the coaches gifts.  Well, done boys

Freshman got to do dishes and Chris was a rock star in the organization here.  Love that the freshman appeared willing to do it too.

Successful wrestling season in the books!  Great team, great bonding great job all!

 

Our new +1

Tate is 18 and an adult.  With all his acceptance letters in time to make a decision.   On his birthday he decided on University of New Haven - A great school with a focus in criminal justice and wonderfully only an hour away from us!  We feel like we gained a McCullough!!  I was beyond thrilled to get a call from him on his birthday telling us his decision!! 

Love this decision matrix and will need something very similar next year.

With all the uncertainty of the other McCullough plans - they are thrilled to at least be able to plan Tate's next steps.  Huge congratulations to him!!  The hard work has gotta feel good.

 

Shane's Bball

Shane enjoyed the BBall season playing swing for Freshman and JV.  Mr. Spencer his Math teach was the bball coach for JV and Shane enjoys his style.  The games are super early in the afternoon so a challenge to make them.  Loved seeing Shane's confidence progress as he took the charges and drove to the basket several times.  He sure does have a nice 3 too. 

First annual Adult vs. Kid HS bball game!  Adults lost in overtime (they ran out of steam according to Chris).  Chris rocked it with his Canton Soccer shirt on proclaiming his soccer skills (and lack of bball skills)

Banquet time - impressive Freshman representation

Shane's award and newly claimed nick name of Sugar Shane!

These guys did have more wins than the Varsity - the future is looking bright!

 

A piece of childhood moves on

Yup, its time.  The set is falling into disrepair, the kids aren't really using it anymore.  Time to put it out there for a new family to care for it.  Free on FB and it went faster than I thought it would.  A family came by while Drew and I were away for his tournament.

I was thankful that I wasn't home to see the first part of it leaving.  great to know it will be appreciated once again.

 

Drew's Bball

I do love to watch drew on the court - he can be such a scrapper, tenacious and like he is playing his brothers on the driveway.  I managed to catch this 3 going from his hand - next photo would have shown it in the hoop! 

Their team became really good this year - toughest loss against S Windsor (that we thankfully missed)

Final weekend is a tournament in Providence RI - I will admit to loving the time with Drew and want to treasure watching Dumb and Dumber

this is one of the moments I enjoyed, getting the boys out together

We got to scoot away for a bit to see Riley playing at Providence RI

The Charron's came to see Drew's game at the Longplex - They sure are sports people to come on it all together.

We were thankful for a bit of a sporting break to enjoy St. Patty's day with them and their neighbors!

We even went from here to see her friends do some line dancing!!

https://youtu.be/HrPuwMQlr6E

Organize a quick team photo before the final game.

Thankful Drew and I pulled over on the to get a closer photo of the battleship.

Best part of the weekend was time with Drew.

 

The gang back together

Back to a family of 5 and headed to Greenhouse Tavern for birthday dinner.  I love the time all together and Chris's new rule of phones on the table makes for much better time together.

Back at home opening some birthday love from someone that knows me all too well!!

Honored to be a recipient of a Barbara Leadbetter original from one of our favorite places!

The weekend was spent together with double hikes!!  First one is the one Shane, Drew and I intended for over my birthday.  Chris was able to find it better.

Something about the running water

I do hope we can always hike together

Just feels good

Yes, its mid-march and I am still loving the wreath

Have always oogled this guy when he put out his display along the road.  This time I had to stop, take a photo and ask.  Great little love birds.

Day 2 and we got to hike AGAIN.  This one was a simple out and back with the boys and girls.