New Year

Yes, I am 8 days late.  Already.  I really can't figure out how we managed to get 8 days into 2016 already.  It is already the end of the first week back to school and the days go zooming past me with no signs of slowing.

Once again, my blogging habits, or lack there of, get the better of me.  I make no apologies.  John was visiting for 2 1/2 weeks and we all had better things to do than share inner workings on the internet.

But, now all is quiet and routine once more, at least for us, so updates and pictures.

Christmas arrived in its dream of white.  We had over a foot of snow a few days before Christmas and Christmas itself graced us with flurries.  Cousins arrived from Seattle and Uncle Mike made it up from TX.

Grandma and the cousins took advantage of snow and Grandpa's bone collection to build very creepy snowmen...snowdeer...? Glowing snow aliens...?

We had our traditional Christmas Eve donuts.  The boys were displeased that I didn't make them homemade this year.  Store bought GF donuts did not make the cut.  Next year we'll return to true tradition.

The kids, of course, made out like bandits.  We always say it will be a small Christmas, but that's just not going to happen until they're older.

The duck.  Our tradition every year since Zack's first Christmas.  Covered in butter, wrapped bacon, roasted until perfect.  Yum.

At our favorite GF pizza place in Billings, MT after dropping Mike off at the airport.

The cousins had a sleepover.

And it was adorable.

The new skating rink opened with free open skate thanks to town sponsors.  Zack starts hockey next week, too.

Happy 2016!  The boys made it to midnight for the first time.  They feel asleep promptly 2 minutes later.

It's 2016; they're 7 and 8 in 2nd and 3rd grade and they still can't sleep apart.

Please keep Afghanistan in your prayers.  And Happy New Year.