Christmas with Delaney and Beckett

Grandkids, Christmas, it doesn't get any better than this.

Delaney is a week shy of four months old and is a constant bundle of joy.



Lots of lap time all weekend with Grandma and Great Grandma.




Beckett set the pace, and it was brutal.




Delaney got a rocking horse, while horsing around we discovered it talks when you squeeze an ear.




The horse got a good work out.



The carnage after gift opening.  That's Delaney's Labradoodle stuffed animal on the back chair.

Let the Games Begin!

My Christmas present from Lucas, Renee, and Scott was as Extreme Croquet set.  Yep, google it up, there's even official rules (which we appear to follow pretty well).  The mallets are hard wood with long handles and one end beveled for lofting the ball...critical on the Up North Championship Course.  The balls float; critical for errant shots into the lagoon; Travis landed one somewhere out there that sank.  The new landscaping will allow for some new challenges and opportunities, especially at the top of the course.  All the windows will present a challenge as well.  Can't wait for the snow to melt, or June, whichever comes first.



The mallets are custom made, you can specify the angle of the pitch.




Unfortunately Macy put the kabosh on an indoor practice round between Frank and I




So the game will start and end at the traditional spot at the front door.  Players will have two opitons.  One is down/up the stone stairs.




The other option, the wimp way, will be the Gator path.  While not the quickest way down, it may prove to be the best way up.



Winter Fun

Last winter Beckett wasn't so sure about sledding.  The fact that Dad and Grandpa each caused a down hill crash into a snow bank didn't help matters.  This year was a different story and a good time was had by all.

Getting the gear on.



Warm up lap



Heather made sure there were no approaching bears



First solo run down the hill from the stairs to the bridge



Ready for the Holidays

Christmas celebrations began this weekend with a visit from  Delaney, Beckett, and  their family.  My mom is up for a week.  Lots of pics to follow.

Baily got a trim for the holidays, cleared the hair out of his eyes and around his toes...where ice balls have been forming and driving him crazy when out for a walk.



Ready for a game of cards.




I didn't notice at the time I took this pic that Beckett was pretending to eat Baily's chew stick...I think he was pretending.




Grandma gives everyone their marching orders for the day.