Snow, snow, snow (Happy New Year)

This is the most snow that we have received all at once since we moved to Nebraska! Yes, that is my birdbath buried out there in the yard. The snow is up to the middle of the arbor. Crazy. The blizzard made getting around on Christmas Eve a little difficult, but we still had many friends brave the roads and come to our Open House. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed our friends and family very much. Now that New Years is upon us we must reflect about the damage our gluttony from Thanksgiving to New Years has wrought on our bodies and will have to take measures to correct it :)

Nick's extensive tunnel system in the back yard.

Yes, college guys still like to play in the snow!

Happy New Years to all of our friends and family.

Our 2009 ornament

Grandkiddo's decorating cookies

Taylor, Elizabeth and Zach spent some quality time together frosting cookies Sunday afternoon. L' John was taking a nap. They make a huge a mess and have a great time doing it and Grandma gets decorated cookies. It's a win win situation for us all!

This is serious business picking out which cookie to decorate. This year they chose from snowmen, Christmas trees, ornaments, stars, snowflakes and a present.

The weather outside if frightful, but inside it is so delightful!

The snow that Tommy is working on in this picture is still here. It looks like a winter wonderland here in Nebraska. But inside our kitchen the elves are busy working away preparing raviolis for our Christmas Eve Open House. My favorite part about his activity is that all of my children are back together under one roof having a great time. Pete tries to rein in their excitement and keep them focused and productive. He succeeds about half of the time! They are all so excited to be together and are busy telling each other about their lives that they get a little distracted. But in the end we always end up with the raviolis finished and ready for Christmas Eve.

This year they made 160 veal raviolis and 150 cheese raviolis. The bonus is that if any are broken they can be eaten later that day as a late lunch or dinner.

Tonight, Pete will be making meatballs and tomorrow they will conquer stuffed shells. This is a fabulous time in our house! We have so much fun preparing for the Open House and our house smells incredible.

I have a new job!

My good friend and co-worker Linda B. decided to retire this summer. This opened up the position of Library/Media Para. I applied and I am now working in this lovely library. I read to the kiddo's (which I love to do) and check in and out their books. I am responsible for this space and I am thrilled. I work with really great Media Specialists - whom I have worked with for years as a computer lab para. It's a great job and I am really thankful to have it.

Pete's been canning and pickling

Pete decided to try canning and pickling this summer. He was able to use cucumbers from our garden for the pickles. We didn't have luck with tomatoes this year, so those came from friends or the farmers market. The pickles are really good! We haven't tried the tomatoes yet, but I am sure they will make wonderful sauce. It's pretty cool looking in the "wine" cabinet and seeing all of his hard work.

Tommy - Homecoming

Tommy went with a group of friends from his Drama club this year. They went as couples, but not as date, because the tickets were cheaper for couples. Huh? Anyway, he had an ok time. Lots of drama and breakups going on.....didn't he say they went as non dates? And was he not with the drama club....what else should he expect :) I thought he looked handsome.



Tommy's non-date is the one not in a dress. She was going to get dressed after dinner, so the dress didn't get dirty.