Solemnity of Mary

 

See the peace in this picture.  I can feel it. 

Have a very happy day.

Happy New Year!  Just popping by to ring in the New Year and then back to a blog break.  Lots going on this week.  I’ll fill you in on our vacation/trip later.

Part 4: 12/31/10

 

It’s New Year’s Eve Day!  This was a beautiful clear day on the mountain. Everyone was excited to go skiing today.

 

Dash and my brother, Doug, loading the van with skiers.  We usually hit the slopes around 9-9:30am.  The younger kids were at ski school by 9:30am and all the lifts were open at 10am.  My brother, Eric, below.

Ben, my brother-in-law, peeking around the corner.  Some of us had to sneak off so the littlest babes wouldn’t get fussy! 

SIL, Anne, went skiing today for the first time.  She’d been under the weather, so hadn’t been out before today.  Before I started blogging, she took the most pictures in the family … she scrapbooks.

My sister and her husband – Ben and Julianne.

Anne & Collin’s oldest – Mr. L, who is off to ski school today.  Have fun!

 

 

This is Mr. W – my sister’s son.  My dad was eating some banana bread and Weston crawled up on the chair and stuck it away!  He’s scarfing it down before Grandpa realizes he’s been tricked out of his favorite bread.

 

Mid-morning, my dad, Greg, Anna and I hit the slopes.  I finally took pics on the mountain.  It was still frigid!  My fingers were stiff from just taking these couple pics.

 

Above, Dash in in the background and my dad is in the foreground.  Below is the lone picture of me!  It proves I ski!!

Ok, my sister banged up her knee today.  I did see the whole ‘accident’, it wasn’t pretty and made my stomach flip.  She got down the mountain and iced it the rest of the day.  (As I’m pre-dating these posts, I’ll let you know that she has an appointment to check her knee this week.  I’d appreciate if you could offer a few prayers for her.)  Anyway, she didn’t want the moment recorded which is why her face is covered up!

 

My dad watched Collin & Anne’s kids while they worked on preparing the evening meal.  Collin and Anne make great Chinese!  They’ve had the fortune (good or not) of getting this theme each year thus far.

Chicken breasts with a pineapple sauce was the meat course.  It was delicious.  I can’t remember the sides (a drawback of writing about a trip WAY after it has occurred!)  They also made the sugared dough balls for dessert.  Just use a tube of Pillsbury biscuits; cut the biscuits in half, roll in sugar, and bake according to the instructions.  Simple and GONE!!

I’ll just let you know now, that all the New Year ‘stuff’ was left over from 2000!  My mom packed it up and brought it in a large suitcase.  I did try to talk her out of it … it’s stuff and ya need to bring it on the train …  but, she prevailed.  Moms are smart and the kids had a blast.

I admit it, I’m a party-pooper sometimes.  I like things neat and simple.  Most times, that’s not as fun.

Anyway, my parents are pictured above decked out for the New Year.  Dash is ready, too.

Miss M. is really excited for the New Year – because she gets a new sister!

Collin & Anne, cuz they prepared food tonight, received the EXTRA special headgear.  Thank goodness it was their night!

Miss M and Graham having fun.

Ben and Mr. W ready to ring in the New Year.  I cannot remember which New Year we used (we didn’t keep all these kids up until midnight!).

Angelina and her Uncle Eric…

 

Graham – waiting

 

Ben & Julianne – the last time we went on a ski trip as a family, Ben proposed to Julianne.

Alright, I know this is an odd pic, but in the center, just above the picture, is a small remote control helicopter … yep, my mom just had to bring one for each of the guys (Dash and up).  So, they were all trying to figure out how to fly them tonight.

 

Collin & Anne and Pat & Anna

Kid magnets…

Happy New Year!

Part 3: 12/30/10

 

 

Louis waiting for breakfast – Aunt Anna in the background.

My brother Collin’s son, Mr. L.  He’s waiting for breakfast, too.

 

Helpers or samplers … it was a small kitchen, but that’s what draws people in, right??

Each of the ‘sibling’ families took turns in the kitchen.  My brothers Eric and Doug paired up for a couple breakfasts (Doug’s wife wasn’t able to make the trip - something about being 8 mos. along in her third pregnancy and 12 hours away from her doctor in December/January in Montana where snowstorms are frequent – we missed you, Laura!). 

 

If you are interested in the recipe – check this link Amaretto French Toast!  It’s absolutely yummy.

Doug’s daughter … Miss M. (and my God-daughter).  She can’t wait to try the French toast.

Above:  Graham in the yellow coat at his first day of ski-school.  I didn’t want to disturb him, but did call out to say hello.  He let his ski instructor know that I was “Mom” and then waved a happy hello.

Now, although these two pics are not good (they were taken on my cell phone), I just had to record the scene at the Kid Center.  The three cousins – Miss M. who is 4yo, Graham who is also 4yo and Mr. L. who is 3y 4mo were enrolled in ski school.  Ski school includes instruction, lunch, and playtime until around 4:30pm.  In the above picture, Mr. L is on the left under the curtain, Miss M. is on the right below.  I’m not sure where Graham is, but I was told he had a great time with the puppet stage, too.

Pat & Anna were in charge of the meal on this night.  They made lasagna … different from what I usually make, but it was great!  I don’t have the recipe to share, but it had Italian sausage and a special tomato sauce.  Anna made a liquor drink to serve and truffles for dessert (they were some of her family recipes).  I could’ve eaten at least three more truffles.  She told me the ingredients … it’s simple, but I cannot remember the process and will have to post that later on my cooking blog.  (at this point Valentine’s Day is coming up and they’d be a great treat to make for that special day!)

Above: My sister, Julianne, and her husband Ben.  I’m not sure why they are so serious!

Below:  My brother, Doug.  We look like a ball of fun, don’t we.  I’m not sure what it was about this trip, but we didn’t stay up as late.  That’s a good thing … save the energy for the slopes.

Greg and my mom, Sharon, above and my dad, Dave, below.  My dad brought the t-shirts from each of my brother’s ‘bachelor parties’ and wore the t-shirt on the day/night that son prepared a meal.  It was real cute on his part.

 

My brother, Eric, with his nephew and Godson – Mr. W (Julianne & Ben’s son).

This isn’t all the skis and poles, but it’s close!  Some of the kids’ equipment was kept up at the ski school.  I need to make a similar storage area in my garage to house all the cross-country skis we own.