Skiing in the New Year

 

Charlotte's artwork

Click here for:

Eva's Ellicottville video

Tradition!  We started the new year off on a skiing trip with no snow.  For the past few years we have met in Ellicottville post Christmas, to ring in the new year.

This year the conditions were rough.  The kids were champs, skiing over rock, mud, and sometimes patches of grass.  It was cold; beautiful days.  It was just dry.

We spent three lovely nights up on the hill, with a view of the ski slopes.  We watched them groom what little snow there was.  

The cousins were able to spend some quality time together.  Everyone came home in one piece, a good way to begin the new year!  Yay 2024!

Holiday Cheer

 As much as I love this time of year, it is so stressful, and it goes so fast!  I find us so busy that it is hard to keep up with many of the traditions we do every holiday season.

But we manage to squeeze some in.  For example, we made gingerbread houses, we decorated, we bought a tree, we went carolling and I took Eva to see A Christmas Carol.

Christmas morning was lovely because we were healthy and I have grateful children.  They unwrap slow and savor every moment.  Breaking often for a pet or parent gift.

In the afternoon, we visited my sisters. As we visited Jeff's family on Christmas Eve.

My gift from Eva that she made!

The Michigan

 Sat 12-16 930

Ann Arbor

We played hookey on a Friday, and headed for a hockey tournament in Michigan.  When we arrived we met up with some families in the lobby.  The first game was not until the next day.  The boys quickly settled in.  They set up a knee hockey rink in the hallway on the third floor.  

It was a long weekend with a lot of drama.  They didn't do so well.  And eventually the knee hockey in the hallway got closed down by one inept guard.  But in between, the kids had a lot of fun!

More Hockey

https://youtube.com/shorts/Y24sH3uka3Y?feature=share 

Dylan is now playing for a second team.  The OTHER Southtown Stars team is down a few players.  He has been filling in for them.  So this has meant double the practices and an extra tournament.  Here's a sample of HarbourCenter.

https://youtube.com/shorts/xqVktA4uk6k?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/4_b5Lwy2CXM?feature=share

Without a Hitch

 Eva was thrilled when she found out they were doing "Into the Woods" for the first show.  Even thought she has been with ATA since she was 7, this is her first year with the top program, AEE.

So imagine how excited she was to find they chose one of her favorite shows! Eva played the part of the steward, with a brief scene as Sleeping Beauty.  The show was two hours and 45 minutes.  She did lovely!

Eras!

 Eva did not end up getting Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert tickets.  I had told her to be patient; I had a feeling a concert/movie would soon come out.  Sure enough, it was released a couple months ago.  

Eva, however, was extremely picky about who she would go with, (They had to be a Swifty), and then there was the question of scheduling.  

The stars finally aligned and she and her friend went.  They had the whole theatre to themselves!  This is the afterparty.