Jan 1 - in with the new !

I moved Jeffrey's car out of the way, as it is parked up at the barn, squeezed the X5 around him and set out for Britt.  We'd had some light snow or, rather, brief periods of heavy snow, and that was on 522 but you could still see the yellow center line.  69 had also been salted and since it was warm, that was doing its job.  There was a little slush in places where a brief period of snow melted.  The roads were good overall, no ice - it really hasn't been cold enough for the roads to ice.

There were perhaps a dozen people at Mass; lighter attendance at the New Year's Day Mass than Christmas and Sunday Masses.  Britt was quiet overall, no real surprise there.  It's always quiet.

Back at the ranch, the girls were out sledding again.  Lauren doesn't get her fill of sledding and the temperature has been outstanding, from that perspective.  She's so good with Emma and Zoe and always willing to pitch in; wonderful to have around.

Stef's plan is to come up this morning and stay for a visit, head back later in the day.  We'll have a brief zany period with Mya here as well and then the five of them will head out; no Kylie or Lauren for dinner tonight.  With a little luck, I'll get a family picture and of course Stef and Aaron and Mya have to open their presents.

Speaking of which ... the tree is still standing.  That will be tomorrow's activity for me -- the 3rd -- could be a record for latest take-down.

Sandy was on her feet most of the day again, cooking mostly.  We had the peameal for dinner, always a treat, along with so-called Nana Fries (oven roasted potato wedges) and broccoli.  She partially cooks the broccoli in the microwave and then adds some lemon as she sautees them on the stove for the final touches.  I threw a portabello into the oven along with the Nana Fries.

I took Cassie for a walk late in the afternoon and said hello to Bob and Lorraine Troup.   They were about to head over to Don and Claudia's.   The Maurice's are heading out today, Saturday; apparently the Troup's are here until Wednesday.  By then we'll be long gone, hopefully.   The weather is looking compatible with that plan.

On the way back from Mass I saw snowmobile tracks on Osprey Road and thought that perhaps Bob and Lorraine had been out, but I saw that those headed into Ernie's.  There's definitely no snowmobile action on the lake yet !

The lake is frozen out front but has less than an inch of ice.  The temperature is supposed to drop but we won't be walking on the ice before we leave.

Mid afternoon we did the pinata ... the kids had a blast.  Even Kylie took an adult swing at it but only made a dent.  It was strong enough for several cycles of Zoe, Emma and Lauren before it started to break up.

Time for some pictures ...

Family picture, so far ... hoping to get Stef and Aaron into one as well

The Usborne castle underway.  It provided a few hours of "follow directions" fun for Lauren and Emma.

Matthew's first trip out.

David did a lot of sledding with Lauren and Emma

Cassie was always in the action !

Matthew got quite used to being out side; loved sledding.

Cassie isn't the only puppy; Zoe's puppy is usually in evidence

Lauren is so good with Zoe

Zoe got first crack at the Pinata and was upset when she lost her turn, but we went around the cycle many times before this one broke !

Emma tried some good hard whacks

 Lauren, of course, tried the baseball bat approach, to no avail

 Kylie got her swing at it but we only gave her one !

Onward !