Snow Day One and Two and ...

When we came back from Cape Cod (you know, moderate temperatures, beach, ferries, light houses, geocaches, fun) we considered going down South to Florida instead of up North. I mean, we could just say we must have taken a wrong turn somewhere.

 

Sylvia disagreed and was like "But I want to go home!" so we decided to go home after all. Where we were greeted by twenty centimeters of snow and frigid temps. We were not amused.

 

Even less so when yesterday hit with a HUGE snow storm. School got cancelled and it was cold and snowy and miserable. So grateful we have a fire place and tons of woods, so we snuggled up indoors and waited out the storm. We even made more cheese fondue since that seems a perfect cold weather meal.

 

Usually those storms are over the next day, but in this case we got another school phone call this morning. "Due to weather conditions, school is canceled today."

 

Geez, can winter be over yet?

 

By now the sun is out and the roads are being plowed and I am baking bread so we can visit some friends. Now if only the town plow hadn't pushed over our mailbox and then blamed us for it...

And did I mention there is another storm on its way?

Yearly Gingerbread House SMASHING!

I have no idea when we started this tradition, and only a slight recollection of why we started it.

 

We create and decorate a gingerbread house around Christmas.

 

On New Year's Day we all get together and SMASH the house.

 

Which is one of our fun family traditions and always quite popular with the kids :D

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

Had an impromptu New Year's Eve party with good friends and family.

 

Cees will go back to Basic Training on Thursday, so it was wonderful to have this time with him.

 

We had cheese fondue and oliebollen and freshly baked bread.

 

And of course sparking juices and champagne.

 

May 2014 be awesome for y'all!

 

May the road rise up to meet you.

 

May the wind always be at your back.

 

 

 

Ferry to Nantucket

We decided to visit Nantucket and took the high speed ferry there.

 

I love being on a ferry, it brings me back to many boating experiences I have had and I also just love being on the water.

 

It was quite windy but that only made it better.

 

The island is about 30 miles from the mainland and we took the high speed ferry, so it only took an hour. In hindsight I think we should have taken the low speed ferry back, just to prolong our time on the water.

 

Sylvia was willing to come out for some pictures, but then disappeared to the indoors again.

 

We spent the day exploring Nantucket and having a great time.

 

Sun Rise at Cape Cod

We went for a few days to Cape Cod. Stayed right next to the beach, so every morning we would get up and walk 30 seconds to the beach to witness the sun rise.

 

Our room was awesome, a jacuzzi / hot tub thingy right in the room. You know, since we all want a jacuzzi in the kitchen, to improve the access to good wine while relaxing.

 

We loved being so close to the ocean.

 

One night there was a big wind storm and we walked on the beach while the wind was whipping around us and the waves came up upon the road. That night there was almost no beach at all left.

 

The sun rises were more relaxed.

 

Barefoot Both Ways

Sylvia got the newspaper...

 

And yes it is snowing again.

Christmas Images

Happy holidays to y'all! We had a wonderful Christmas here.

 

Many presents were being opened and enjoyed.

 

We had a roaring fire and good tea.
Dawn created an awesome gingerbread house. Unlike when I do it, hers didn't fall apart 10 times before it held together :D

 

We played board games. Has any one ever played the game '7 Wonders'? We went over to the neighbors at night and we all tried to play the game and let's just say that this clearly was a game for smart people and they must have invited the wrong family, since they got stuck with us...

 

My sister got us awesome homemade liquor!

 

Surrounded by so many people I love.

 

Usually the gingerbread house decorating is free for all, and let's just say that the results look ... interesting. This year Dawn was totally on top of things and there was cooperation and planning!

 

The result looks awesome!

 

Lasagna dinner before we went off to the neighbors to eat dessert and play that game. Lasagna is traditional American Xmas food, right? :D

 

Waiting for Christmas

Early Christmas morning we heard two kids running down the stairs. Who promptly fell asleep on the couch, guarding the Christmas presents.

 

The cat thought this was a great development and joined Erik.