Let the Holidays Begin...

I do not intend to write very much in the next few blog entries, as so much has gone on and I just want to post pictures anyway. I will try to enter captions as necessary with pictures. Please enjoy the first "phase" of holiday extravaganza, which began with a visit from Don, Hope, Kenny, Beth and Stephen.

Mark's Birthday and Another Snow Day

As of 4:30 this morning, I officially started my winter break. This comes a whole day early, as school has been cancelled due to yet another snowstorm! I have to admit that I am a little disappointed since it is a Friday and it is the last day before a big vacation (you see, I love Fridays and it doesn't really matter happens at work on Fridays, because it is Friday), but I am also a little relieved too. I have been battling a cold all week, and I actually missed work on Tuesday. I thought I was getting better Wednesday, but yesterday I was not faring well. I did go to school and did my tutoring, but by the time I got home, I had lost my voice and was coughing. Blik.

More snow

The cats check out the drifting on the porch

Mark is determined to keep me on the couch, but I find that very boring and I have too much to do. He also thinks it's pretty funny that he can be all sassy and I can't say anything about it (my voice is totally gone). I just hope to be better by tomorrow when Bragg Family South comes for a visit!

This is where I am supposed to be resting...

Mark's 41st birthday was December 11. We treated ourselves to an excellent dinner at Louisianne's in Middleton, a wonderful, small restaurant in downtown Middleton which features Cajun and other southern flavors in their dishes. Yummy. Of course, I jumped on the chance of Mark being dressed up for a quick photo op!

With Britches

This past Sunday night, Mark's mom, Judy, invited everybody over for Mark's homecooked birthday dinner. Both Mark and his dad always request the same meal for their birthdays: chicken and pheasant ghoulash, crusty Italian bread with butter, rhine wine and selzer, and German chocolate cake. Let me tell you that it is really, really good. Particulary good this time was the decadent German chocolate cake. Wow.

Lizzy was pleased that all her friends came over

Lily loves Judy very much

Phantom Sam

Our good friends, Joe and Krysta, joined us for the meal. They also got to witness the Canine Christmas we have for all the hounds in the family (although Fanny and Britches are also very thoughtfully included with gifts as well). Even though we are not exchanging gifts with each other because the upcoming Charleston trip is "our gift to each other," we like to do something for the dogs.

Lizzy and Abby open a gift

Joe and Krysta

Especially fond of this occasion is Greg and Renee's dog, Abby. Ever since my first Christmas with the Valaskey's, watching the thrill Abby gets over opening gifts still provokes joy and laughter. Lizzy was also really into it this year. Sam and Mingo prefer to play with whatever it is that's inside the wrapping and Lily, well, let's just say Lily is still just about afraid of everything. Thanks to Joe and Krysta who tolerated Lily's need for comfort and cuddles.

Lily makes herself at home on Krysta's lap

We also need to give a big ol' thanks to Greg and Renee who came over a couple weeks ago and helped set up our very beautiful but gargantuan Christmas tree. Mark picked the tree himself while I was tutoring one evening and he turned into Clark Griswald from "Christmas Vacation"--he even admits it. The only way we could get it into the house was through our 2nd floor patio door, so ropes were used to hoist it up!

Renee and Greg

Mingo likes to see what Judy is doing in the kitchen...

I probably won't write another blog until our return from the trip, so we send our love and good wishes to everybody during this Christmas season. We love you! Merry Christmas!

Van and Judy's tree

Turkey Day, Part II

What a wondrous day today is! Why? Today is our first SNOW DAY!! This is very lucky for me, as I intend to finish my weekend cleaning, complete the Christmas cards, and wrap the gifts for a few little southern dolls who will be visiting us on December 20! Since there is no school today, that also means that there are only 8 school days left until WINTER BREAK! Now, I definitely remember looking forward to vacations and snow days (though we never seemed to have any of these in Rhinelander) when I was growing up, but my goodness, I'm not sure if that feeling was quite as intense as it is now as an adult working in the schools!

Jonathan and me
Playful Romeo

Anyway...I thought I would also seize this opportunity to finish with the Thanksgiving pictures. I believe I left off with the Thanksgiving game night...

Jonathan and the Hurlburt clan left Friday after a great leftover lunch. Although Mark and Jon didn't even see any deer during the 2 days out, I think that they were still quite happy just going out and "trying". They both love being outside and hunting provides relaxation for these two hardworkers.

John and Adam on Davenport Street

Bill, Bob, John, Mark and I were sticking around Rhinelander until Saturday morning, so we decided to go downtown to the sportsbar Bugsy's, except for Bob, who was being plagued with a horrible toothache that day. John and Jim and Mark and I had done this 2 years ago when we were in Rhinelander for Thanksgiving, and really had a good time playing pool and watching a very small holiday parade down Brown Street. This year, John's good friend, Adam, met us out and instead of playing pool we ended up playing shuffleboard.

That's my teammate, Bill!

Mark dominated this game

Mark explained the rules of the game to us and "sat out" (note the game Mark was glued to)while Adam and John teamed up against Bill and I. I don't think our game would have been considered very thrilling by shuffleboard veterans, but we all had a good time laughing at each other's novice techniques. The victors? The formidable team of BILL AND LAURIE!! Rarrr!

Shuffleboard champs!

Holiday parade, Brown Street



We did watch the 2008 holiday parade, which was adorable (think a few horses, the high school band, antique car, and kids throwing candy), and then we headed to the new little "park" located where the old McDonald's used to be. I have to say, we were all quite surprised at the large crowd that was gathered. I think we were also a little confused and taken aback by the lone red pepper pinata hanging from Davenport Street?!!?

Hmm.

Safety first!

The crowd had gathered there because this was the spot Santa was arriving and because Santa's real, live reindeer were already there! I have to admit, I was feeling a little bit of the "holiday spirit" and was really excited to see the cute little reindeer that you were allowed to go right up to and pet (the baby, that is, and it was soooo cute!). I did not, however, push aside any young children (that is the rumor that is being spread) in my exuberance. I may have gotten in the way of a grandmother's photograph of her granddaughter, but I apologized....

I'm pretty sure this is Blitzen I'm petting

John and Bill make some new friends

Following the downtown festivities, John, Mark and I treated ourselves to a fantastic fish fry dinner at The Fireside Supper Club on Hwy. K. Bill and Adam decided not to join us, but they should have, just to eat some of the tasty french onion soup. Outstanding! Thanks for the recommendation, Adam! We had a great time hanging out with everybody and enjoying the northern Wisconsin night life.

Big Foot?!

Before we left Saturday morning, Dad joined us on a walk out to the pines where Mark and Jon had set-up the new tree stand. Dad proceeded to give John and Mark a tour of the property line and Bill and I took the crazy dogs for a walk and back home--though Mingo was pretty concerned where Master Mark was....
Bill in the pines

Our dear dogs were quite delighted with the exciting weekend they had and after driving several miles outside of Rhinelander, decided that they were ready to settle down and nestle in the back of the big black truck for a much needed siesta. Thanks again, Mom and Dad, for hosting the big event and for our Christmas present!!

Lily and Mingo make sure we're not off to another exciting place

Lily

Sound asleep