It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas........

December hasn't felt much like Christmas!  There is no snow to speak of and it's been hard to get into the spirit of Christmas.  This year we chopped down a tree at the Schneider's "tree farm" in Pleasant Valley, Underhill.  The trees were large and a little "Charlie Brownesque", but we had a beautiful view and it was a fun adventure!

Stunt decorating!

Reaching for the high places

Oh, Christmas Tree!  Oh, Christmas Tree!

The kid's nordic ski program, Friday Foxes, started even though there wasn't any snow.  Here they are dry land training (run/walking hill repeats)

Hazey got his skis out!  Looks like he's grown a little from last year!

We did manage to get out on the snow, even if it was all gun blown (notice that there is no snow other than the patch next to the magic carpet). 

Fortunately, Santa was able to get down to the Jericho Country Store to ask the kids what they wanted for Christmas this year.  Hazen asked for a marble run and Cally asked for snow.  Apparently, Santa was a little hard of hearing and didn't really get the snow thing, he thought she said "no".

We went to the Richmond Round Barn Holiday sing:

Meanwhile,the nice weather has allowed John to finish siding the garage!  Finally, our house is sided, seven years after we started this renovation!

And the best part was that John found a new helper with the demo:

Our Little Thespians

Cally loves to sing.  John and I  are clueless as to how to nurture this talent of hers.  Neither of us have musical genes nor the understanding of a musicians life.  Poker Hill, her preschool, was wonderful because music was a part of every single day.  In elementary school, Cally only gets 30 minutes of music once a week.  So, when John ran into a colleague in the Davis Center at UVM and found out she was the music director of the Essex Community Theater's Holiday production and told her about Cally and her "talents", she quickly offered her a spot in the cast of the play.

Cally and Carol, the Music Director of "Holiday Presents"

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into!  Not only was their a pretty intense rehearsal schedule, but there were lines to memorize and songs to learn.  Because she entered the production a few weeks in, her time frame for getting up to speed was short.  And John and I really didn't know how to help her.

It was certainly an eye opening experience and a required a commitment from the whole family.  However, Cal loved it.  She met lots of great people.  It was cool to see the whole cast bond and take part in every aspect of the production (from stage set up to tear down).
 

Uncle Scotty supporting his god daughter

In the end there were 5 performances over the course of 4 days.  I'm not sure we could handle her being a part of something like this every year, but it was really fun to see her be a part of such a cool event.  It also did a lot to put us all in the holiday spirit (with all the songs).

The kids took a break between Cally's Saturday performances to put together gingerbread house kits that my dear friend, Maris, gave to them.  

And Hazey didn't miss singing during the holidays.  The annual Poker Hill Senior Sing was at the beginning of the month.  He loved being able to belt out some of his favorite songs from school.  And I loved being able to see him in what will be our last Senior sing. 

Thankful

Hazen's Thankful List:

-Jesus

-God

-My little, cute house

- My grandmother, bumpa, Nana, and Grandpa

- Maggie, when she was alive

- the wild and all of the wild animals and the endangered animals

- the trees that are helping us breath

- my kitty, my doggie, and my chickens

- the mice that Lobby kills

- my friends

- my family

-all the animals that are getting eaten

- all the love that you give me, it's like awesome

 Cally's Thankful List:
- school
- family
- money
- endangered animals
- all the screens we sometimes get to use
- my teacher
- trees and nature
- snow
- mountains for skiing and hiking
- my friends
- Vermont
- my brother
- all the love you give me, it is great
- my dog, my kitty, and my chickens (who are not laying eggs currently)

 John's Thankful List
- Donald Trump (because he'll sink the Republican Party, single handed)
- the health of our parents and our family
- Bernie's run for president
- the fact that the house is almost done (the siding)
- the fact that I'm healthy going into a ski season

Katy's Thankful List:
- Hazen's snuggles
- Cally's hugs
- John's kisses
- Zephy and Lobby's nudges
- My parents and the love and support they give me
- My friends from near and far who make me feel loved and appreciated
- My job, which gives me a sense of satisfaction and keeps me intellectually on the ball
- My body which allows me to continue running, skiing, biking, hiking, and swimming

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving at the Plimpton-Harris house with four other families.  We started the afternoon with an awesome game of touch football, ate amazing food, played telestrations, and generally had a great evening.

The day after Thanksgiving, we headed down to CT to see the grandparents and hit my 25th High School Reunion.  Nana and Grandpa served us up some great leftovers at their house.

Bumpa and Grandma made us a great salmon dinner and then babysat the kids so John and I could go to my reunion.

I was hesitant about going to my reunion.  I see the friends that I want to see when I'm visiting my parents and wondered if it would really be all that much fun.  It absolutely was.  John was an incredible date.  He made more friends (which Cally says he already has a thousand), but we both had a great time connecting with my old friends.

50!

You only turn 50, once!  And I was thrilled to get to help plan this guys big birthday!  He's very easy to please, so it wasn't hard to come up with a plan that would make him happy.

We chose to have the gathering at High Meadow-- such a special place for so many reasons.  It was a perfect night (maybe a little cold) and 70+ friends showed up to wish him well.

I think he was up until 2:30am, sitting around the fire with old friends.

Friends came from near and far to celebrate all that John is-- gregarious, thoughtful, smart, funny, and wonderful.  I can't believe I've been lucky enough to share 9 of his trips around the sun with him. A lot has happened in those years, but like a fine wine, he's getting better with age.

Art & Peg's 50th

Lynn and John threw a wonderful 50th Anniversary party for their parents over the weekend.  It was a lovely brunch with delicious food and fun with the whole family.

John and Marc- half brothers

       

The guests of honor

cousin Chris reading to the kids

Catherine and Chris

        

Hazey and Ashlynn taking a selfy

Art and Peg have always amazed me with their love for each other.  They are so devoted and tight as a couple.  In the nine years that I've known them, they've never seemed even slightly annoyed or short with the other.  I can only hope John and I will have such a strong relationship after 50 years!