Quarintine

The week before the holidays Shane's teacher catches COVID and they are all sent home.  

Here is what home schooling looked like for Shane one day.  Trumpet out, chrome book open, dominos everywhere as he is trying to make a challenging machine that does a simple task.  Lots of supplies put to the test for this activity.

Ours little pack animal was happy to continue this project with Frankie a few days later.  Think match box car tracks, cars, water, marbles.  they had it all.....  It was great....

 

Snow chasers - Hunter mountain here we come!

20" of snow predicted for Hunter mountain located in NY state.  

Guess who is allowed to travel to NY state thanks to the CT NY reciprocity!  These adventure families.

  Guess what mountain is on the Epic Pass - you guess right again!  Hunter.  

Sorry work and school - we are taking a pass for Thursday!

Rebecca scored us a pretty fabulous last minute VRBO (mice weren't our favorite part, but hey, we can handle just about anything for one night with promising snow levels)

Dinner was delicious and we have some great dish washers.  Can anyone tell who let their mom pack for them??  What's up baby bear??

Christmas game time

Game time can get pretty physical with this crew

WE went to bed and it had BARELY started snowing.  We were nervous it was over predicted.  However while we were sleeping it just PILED up.  Snow plows kept coming by (sadly none down our driveway) and when we woke up, it was almost as exciting as Christmas morning!

Nick was pumped to join Asa and Chris out there shoveling

The green machine was in the second wave of helpers.

The storm delivered in Epic proportion and was PERFECT to start our season with

Mr. Biggs, where did all your helpers go?

We made it to the mountain!

Still snowing - the powder was AMAZING

Here we are waiting for the ropes to drop on our next trail!

I honestly do not have enough good things to say about what a seize the day adventure this was.  Here's hoping its a indicator for the season to come!

 

The joy of it all

Sometimes a favorite decoration can be a dishtowel gift to you years ago- thank you Shannon!

Sometimes the lights that change, opt to not change at the same time.  Thankful the Katie Wolfhart nativity still has most of its pieces.

Sometimes the outdoor decorations are really my favorite

Prepped and ready for snow

Sometimes things that are lost, are found again =)

Sometimes sweet gifts from friends bring the perfect amount of cheer - thank you Jaiden!

Sometimes a you get the perfect final touch to a mantel - Thank you Liz!

Sometimes the Christmas card actually carries you through 2 years!

 Some of the folks in this photo are excited about the advent calendars.....

Stockings are the icing on the Christmas cake

I love when the Santa hats become part of everyday wear.

Prepping to send some Christmas cheer to Texas

Everyone remember the Disney reveal last year?  This is our yearly reminder of such an epic adventure mere weeks before the world shut down!

I really have some pretty fabulous elves

Love everything about this photo

Sometimes there is a mis-calculation in the supply purchases

Good luck Santa!

Neighborhood fire truck parade.  You need notice this is coming or you may have a heart attack

More elf appreciation for Christmas Card assembly

Swedish bells that now decorate our other mantel from Barbara

Thankful this little elf is headed off to school this morning

Somedays I can get my girl to pose for me.  Thank you Nora

A huge shout out to my friend for knowing me all too well.  Thank you Farrah

The Peloton Family

We have never been big black Friday shoppers.  I would love to think there was some purchase that would be a HUGE savings, but there isn't often anything like that on our list.   I had recently been considering a Peloton.  I feel like I am going through the stages.  I have the app and use it while I ride my road bike on the trainer.  Its fine.

Than I tried Rebecca's.  I noticed how the resistance was cued, how the pace was measured and how you really just cannot cheat!  SOLD!  Now to swallow the price tag and subscription.

Guess it might entertain the kiddos for a bit - interesting side benefit.

We haven't paid a gym membership in YEARS  - a minor perk from my instructing days.  So all the saving there can justify the bike right?  I ordered it straight from peloton - however have predicted a delivery of 1 Feb.  Now to tackle FB market place.  These things are selling like hot cakes with plenty of scams associated.  We finally found one in W. Hartford and headed out one rainy night to make it ours.

 

If there is truly a continuation of the peloton story, I never canceled the new one we ordered.  Wanted to ensure this one was fine and figured I had PLENTY of time.  So when they called me Christmas eve with a peloton surprise (they were delivering today!)  I felt SO BAD.  How sweet of them to make this possible - now what do we do with 2 pelotons?!?!  Well we put one on FB market place for the same cost and make someone else's holiday season.

 

Adventure families

How do you stay active?  Surround yourself with folks that don't sit still.

Amen!

 Izzos and Briggs will keep us all in shape.

Here we are on Sunday rocking MOUNT RACE.  Its along the Appalachian trail and has some of the steepest sections.

This was the hike of MANY layers.  Chilly at the start, sheading layers as we progress.  The water fall was beautiful!

The hike was LONG and all i kept hearing was  - the view is AMAZING.  I wasn't buying it for a few miles, but than once we made it, I will absolutely agree.  Its sweeping - you can see EVERYTHING - or so it feels.  So grand, so limitless.

These kids are mountain goats - gazelles really.  They chatter to each other the whole time.  Race here and there, find sticks, animal poop, rocks.  I try to keep up with them just to catch up on a different layer of their lives, but they are TOUGH to track!

This crew!  Adventure families for SURE.  Erin is a HUGE hiker and its crushing she missed out due to a last minute babysitter cancelation.  Really what that means to this crew is we will need to do it all again soon!

 

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas - Tree farm here we come!

We enjoy this process so much its even worth the Thanksgiving holiday long line wait.  And this year we convinced my folks to join us too.  I find this photo a bit ironic - Chris and my dad are still in the line to park, my mom and I are tree hunting with the boys, but this oddly looks a bit like football

My parents found their perfect OUTDOOR tree.  Because I am writing this blog 6 month later, I am happy to report they LOVED this tree and actually JUST took it down.  It stayed anchored to their back deck all Christmas with beautiful white lights.  It stayed green and healthy to the very end (6 month later)  I think my folks found their new Christmas tree farm tradition too!

Drew was in charge of cutting down the Leadbetter selection

Thankful for how helpful the boys can be (when they want to)

Happy Campers!

My favorite use for the truck and love this adorable crew.

Bring on the holidays!

Ta-Da!!

Excited to put a few decorations up - love my little elf at work with the nativity scene.  I purchased that from a polish orphanage when Shane was still in my bellie!

A little finagling - but favorite holiday spot

Now for some traditional PIZZA and football