A White Christmas

What a busy last few weeks we have had. In the time since our last post we put up and took down our Christmas tree. Jay was counter-productive when we were taking off the ornaments and he kept trying to put up ornaments that we had already taken down. He cried when we boxed up the tree. It was so sad!

Christmas came and went much too quickly. The day before Christmas we started to get sleet in the late morning. It then turned to snow and before we knew it, the roads were a mess and the city was blanketed in snow. Although it was Christmas Eve, those University employees who were working were allowed to leave at noon because of the poor weather. Christmas Day Sarah went out and shoveled but because of the amount of snow we got and the underlying layer of ice, it was tiring. Patrick and Sarah's step-dad helped clear the driveway, as well. The kids came out for a short time and were pulled around the yard in the sled. The following day we attempted to take the kids sledding at a small nearby hill, but the snow drifts were too deep- in some places the drifts went up to Patrick's knees!

On Christmas Eve we sprinkled a treat outside to tempt the reindeer to our house. The kids helped Patrick make a plate of cookies for Santa as well as some carrots for the reindeer. Christmas Day was full of lots of good surprises from Santa! Jay received a big boy booster seat so he no longer has to use the high chair. Elle received a spread of Barbies as well as a number of new outfits for them. It was a lovely day and we ended it with a yummy steak dinner. Over the holidays, Guinness also wanted a part of the Christmas cheer and decided he'd eat an entire batch of fudge made by Sarah's mom. Here is a picture of Patrick displaying a present from Elle. In class she painted and decorated a light switch with jewels, which was wrapped up and brought home to go under the tree.

The other big news for us is that we have a new vehicle. We parted with Sarah's 1997 Subaru Legacy, Lyle, and acquired a 2006 Honda Element, which we are considering naming Legolas, which is a name from the Lord of the Rings. Incredibly enough, it's shorter than Patrick's Honda Civic even though there is so much more room. It has been really nice having a vehicle with 4 wheel drive with all of this snow! When we were looking at cars, Elle said she wanted to pick out a purple one! Leave it to Elle to want a purple car. I'm actually kind of surprised she didn't say she wanted a pink one.

New Year's Eve was a taxing day on us. After more snow, the city came down the street overnight and it seemed like they plowed a pile of ice onto the end of our driveway. Patrick left for practice in his Honda Civic, unaware there was a pile of ice at the end of the driveway, and promptly got stuck. Patrick then left in the Element so he could make it to practice while Sarah was left digging out the pile of ice from under the Civic. It was exhausting!

We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year and new decade!