New Years Day

Okay, this is the last holiday post, I promise. I realize I have a problem. I take way too many pictures, and I post way too many pictures. But, that is another post for another day. However, for the first 2010 post, I only have four pictures!!! FOUR! Count 'em! Woo hoo! You may actually get to the end of this one!

Although New Years Eve is usually a lot more exciting than New Years Day, our unplanned, uneventful New Years took an unexpected turn when my oldest brother called Richard. I don't know what he said exactly, but the next thing I knew, Richard was having the kids gather up their snow clothes. When I finally caught the drift that we were going snowmobiling, I started to worry, just a little. I have always had a fear of snowmobiles, four-wheelers, etc. I know. I am in the wrong family to be afraid of such things. It could just be the "mother" in me that somehow dreams up every possible bad scenario, and then worries and agonizes about it as if it has already happened. Maybe it stems from the time when Thomas (4 or 5) was riding in my parent’s backyard. It was just a cute, tiny little snow machine, but it didn't seem so tiny when suddenly Marianne (2 or 3) walked right in his path and he didn't stop. Nope. He just started plowing her over. I watched helplessly from the house, frantically pounding on the window. (As if that would have helped.) Luckily, my Dad ran to her rescue. He lifted the machine off her, and she was just fine. My wild imagination would have suggested otherwise, but fortunately, Mom's aren't always right! (Who knew?) And, this proved true New Years Day. I walked into their house, and Nicole was in the kitchen cooking up some yummy Taco soup and hot Wassail. Jared arrived shortly after with the snowmobiles. The kids and Richard hopped on, and I managed to snatch a few pictures as they headed off.

James with Uncle Jared. I think he was pretty excited. Children just don't seem to have the same worries that Mom's do. It's not just me, is it?

Thomas and Sarah

Richard and William

Magan and Marianne

Now, I was perfectly content sipping wassail and visiting with Nicole in the warm, cozy house the entire time. But, Richard had other plans for me. He came back a while later and coerced me to join them. I hesitated a little, but didn't want to look like a wuss, so I put on my coat, hopped on the snow machine, and hung on for dear life. I pleaded with him to take it slow, and then he pointed out the fact that we were hauling a child in a sled, so I calmed down a little. This was that imaginitive side taking over again. Seriously. I needed to chill, which is what I did as soon as Richard made me take the wheel. It was snowing. And, even at my tortoise-slow pace, I got plenty of that cold, white stuff in the face. At this point, I still wasn't sure what I was doing out there with a freezing wet face, attempting to keep my eyes open just enough to see a blasted thing! Luckily, Jared saw my predicament and lent me his goggles. Then, the fun began. I was actually enjoying this! Once I started seeing beyond what was right in front of me, I looked around and noticed that my children already had the hang of it, and were riding themselves around like little pros. Well, William got the machine stuck a few times. Those skinny little arms of his had a hard time turning before he plowed into a drift. I really did have a great time, and so did the others, but before long, the cold got to me and I was craving more wassail.

Thanks, Jared and Nicole, for helping us start the New Year with a bang!

2009 was a good year for us. I am not sure what 2010 has in store, but I hope we will be brave enough to face whatever comes our way! Either way, we look forward to the growth that will come as we face the good, the bad, and the....well....whatever! So, bring it on 2010!

And, it looks like I made up for not posting lots of pictures by writing a book. If you actually read it all, well, I am impressed! Thanks for hanging in there. :)