~Winter in Woodstock...... Songs & Such......~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkOKCWDJ4iA&list=LLki8g2CvArK99QMc1CVfNLw&index=7




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11txPqM3L30

One of my favorite spots on Earth.....Hilly in center of it!

Jenne Farm in Winter......

Ms. Anderson (Sylina) and I  (I'm trying to say your name without Ms. in front....lol)

Mt. Tom Trail

Sleigh Ride!

Candle making......

~ Christmas 2014 ~

Grammy and Pappy are still hanging in there with us to celebrate this Christmas......with the 'have you brushed your teeth yet?' or 'quit fighting' and the 'stop, be nice!' being yelled at most all times. LOL Our Christmas Eve was very RAINY....I took the kids to Peebles to pick out gifts for one another and Grammy and Pappy. That was fun. Hilly was so proud to be using her OWN money to purchase a gift. Brock was thoughtful too as well as Cooper (but he was broke- so Brock was nice and loaned him some $$$ for his gift lol). These kids.......Anyway, that night we had dinner at the Common Man in NH. It was a nice night out. Afterwards, we came home and opened up gifts. The kids had a great time.....We made cookies for Santa, Hilly left out her letters, I read Twas Night Before Christmas to everyone, and off to bed. ..........Early rise of 5 am on Christmas Day! (foreshadowing here)




It was my first Christmas not in Tennessee, without my mama and Rick.......we talked over the phone....but that after dinner walk on Luther Lane, or riding 'up the road' was not present. Funny thing....Mama bought an ipad just for this event, and couldn't get it to work. Good thing, she met a stranger kid who is tech savvy who is going to help her load it on Saturday. I just know I have taught him at some point....she couldn't remember his name......Anyway, here it is: it's Vermont, no snow, and the fourth warmest on record. What the hell? I thought this was a white Christmas for sho! Nope. Well, I've enjoyed all the snow up to this point,....so pretty, so I am thankful for that. Right now the sun is rising over the  mountains onto the hillside behind the house- the light is pretty as it shows through the window.


Had the traditional (as we have been told) Prime Rib for Christmas dinner. It was good. Here are some pics as of late.....I'm off for a run in this warm weather, then to start the day......xoxo

Coop and Hilly pictured in a paper.....just happened to notice this....it was associated with Morgan and Vanessa's ski equipment donations.

Early morning cookie making....

Our Christmas Day walk

Prime Rib.....dinner....Christmas

From my mama's today......

Brock said ...."Something positive ......I needed this for  the team....they are always- I  CAN'T-" Lol

~ End of a Road~

Well, it's a snow day! Woke at 4 am - and just got the phone call...now, I can catch up on this! These past few weeks have been busy, but especially the last five. Brock had a game last Friday against Weathersfield and LOST by one measly point! They should have had that game! Little Layman, Kendall, Glenda, Barbie, Grammy, and Pappy all got to be there....it was so awesome! Brock performed for them. lol. Cosmos really wanted it....but it didn't happen.


After Brock's game, we went to Cooper's at the Community Center. Coop played well, but they lost- they faced Hartland. We all enjoyed a supper at Subway after all the games. (The kids all discussed skiing anticipating tomorrow on the mountain.)

Saturday was Okemo Day - ski rentals- Vermont Country Store- Moon Dog Café in Chester, Vermont. It was fun! We picked up the kids...they were tired! Gary and I went out to celebrate the ending of my MASTER's DEGREE (so happy the end of that is here!!)  We went out with several friends of ours to dinner at Harpoon Brewery in Windsor and afterwards,  to a fun little honkey tonk up the road. I won't go in to too much description here! Good times. I will depend on memory to serve us well on this!

Sunday was ski day #2 for the kids.....snowy day. Hillary and I attended Joe and Morgan's church. Hillary and Ava had a cookie party with Grammy, while Gary and I tried to accomplish Christmas shopping with little sleep and needless to say - I was not nice......I was too tired to SHOP!

Today was the scheduled student versus staff basketball game.....we've all been talking a lot of hype since the beginning of school ....kind of hate I didn't get to go to school today. LOL. Brock was all TALK last night......I think he was going to guard me, so he was in for a treat. ha.

Pictures as of late~

Miss my mama and Rick.......thinking of you both as I write this......

Our fun night out.....Morgan loves to request songs.......the DJ loves for her to request them too! ;)

Hillary made before we left at Thanksgiving....

Gingerbread house making....

In my faculty room....liked it.

I think this is my all time favorite pic.....the delight of fun is so vividly captured with this picture. (Cooper's sweet eyes are full of fun )

Pre - wipeout  pic......falls forthcoming.....

~ Basketball~

Both Cooper, Brock, and Hillary has started basketball. ....the season has arrived. Brock and Cooper both played in a tournament this weekend. Hillary just had practice, followed by a fun sleep over at Ava's that involved a visit to Ava's church with Christmas festivities afterward....Santa!
It was a busy weekend....off and running....pictures to follow. Hoping I have time to shop for Christmas.....:)


On another note, Brock got a plaque at this tournament......for all tournament player. Nice job to the whole team!!!! So proud of them all! Those boys fought so hard that last game and lost by only 2 points...much was gained in terms of how much they wanted the win and support!

Cooper played great also! He played a tournament at Green Mountain and his team won 2 games on Saturday! Coop had several points and a lot of rebounds! Great job.

Cosmo's Girls....

Cosmo's Boys....Brock is number #22

Our view on a snowy day this week :)

~My First Vermont Snow Day~

Latest in paper.....

To the HILL

Our First Snowman

 

 

Today started early...a run, a little work, some light house work.....then a call from Superintendent & Morgan...lol ....oh, and Gary made delicious omelets this morning and coffee.

 

We went took a small drive to Chester to admire some beauty......pretty.

 

Rain mostly here....then the snow hit...and boy, did it hit! Brock and Coop got to go by rec center for a while to play - when they returned we all had fun sledding for a bit.

 

It was truly beautiful!

 

(Yes, I know I will get tired of it....but for now.....just georgous!)
Tonight we are watching the 50 year anniversary of Rudloph the Red Nosed Reindeer.........yep, it is confirmed Christmastime now.  :)

~Shoveling Snow for the first time & Our Card 2014 ~

I told Shane he would make my Mom Blog with this pic....he's all Vermont in this pic....shorts and t-shirt + snow! lol

Boys cleaning the deck....

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZNWLRy5buGLvY&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

~ Baby, It's Cold Outside ~

Hillary, Ava, and Camille (All in First Grade together)

One of my favorite Christmas songs is Baby, It's Cold Outside by Ella Fitzgerald. Pretty. Also makes me think of Gary's family's tradition of watching White Christmas every year......(you know that was another connection to Vermont). All these little things about 'place' that have intertwined. Here are some pics of late.......
Listen......:)  http://youtu.be/1uUmRbl_0lg

Good quotes, like this one ....from a student I used to have in child care...is quite unique. I liked it so much, I stole it for my blog.....by Robert Herrick- "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" is perhaps one of the most famous poems to extol the notion of carpe diem. Carpe diem, or seize the day, expresses a philosophy that recognizes the brevity of life and therefore the need to live for and in the moment.

Again, liked it......we are all in need of larger perspectives than just ourselves......

Last night...while snowing....we waited in this long line in downtown Springfield to meet this man.....Ava and Giles joined us for supper and Santa.

Morgan and I ......standing in line with well rested, excited children....need I say more?!?!?!

Grammy sent us this at daycare today......we miss you all!!!!

My run this morning.....was wet, and wet......rain on top of snow.

Hillary has lost 2 teeth this week!