Frogs, Snails, & Puppy Dog Tails: Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. On Christmas Day, we woke up and Santa had visited. He brought a lot of toys for Michael and filled all of our stockings with goodies. Michael got really good at ripping the paper off the presents. After the last present, he was giving us the sign for "more." Fortunately, there for one more big present waiting for him outside. We bundled him up and found a yellow Hummer outside our door with a big red bow on it. It has a working radio. he loves driving it and listening to his music.

After opening presents and getting ready, we headed to Bill's family get together. We enjoyed spending time with his family, eating, and chasing Michael around. He has so much energy! Afterwards, we came home and made sure we were packed for our early morning.

The day after Christmas we woke up at 3 a.m. (UGH!) We got ready and made sure our luggage, the car seat and stroller were all by the door. Bill's aunt Anne and his cousins Maggie and Kelly picked us up just before 4 a.m. We headed to the airport where we boarded a plane to Boston. Gamma and Papa met us at the airport. After gathering our luggage, we headed to New Hampshire. We had a big breakfast and then went to the "Shire house" in Rye. We had our second Christmas there. Michael enjoyed pulling bows and name tags off the gifts the most.

We had a great time visiting with Gamma and Papa. While we were there, we enjoyed a heat wave in the 50s that melted the 2 feet of snow they had received the weekend before. We did get to sled before that round of snow melted. Michael did not care for that one bit. We took a trip to Maine where we saw the Bush residence in Kennebunkport. We also went to the HUGE L.L. Bean store and the Cabela's in Maine. That Tuesday we headed to Boston and retrieved Aunt Carrie and Patrick from the airport. From the airport, we went to the New England Aquarium. I think everyone in New England had the same idea. After the aquarium, we had a nice dinner at a restaurant that looks like a ship. I can't remember the name right now. On Wednesday, we were able to enjoy trekking out in the pouring snow and blistering wind. We got 10" of snow that day and night and had wind chill factors of -20. Yep that is right! Negative 20!

New Years Eve was fun. We were able to enjoy our family tradition of having a bunch of tasty munchies and just staying in. It would have been to cold to be out anyway. On New Years Day, we played in the new snow and on Jan. 2nd Bill, Michael, and I flew home.

Now that we are home, we are trying to get back in our routine of going back to work and daycare. It has been a challenge after being on vacation for two weeks.

Enjoy the pictures. Check back in a few days. I should have another update up soon.