Winter headaches...and it's not even winter yet

I guess the question of whether we'll have a white Christmas is answered, eh? As I write this, yet another snowstorm has dropped 4" outside and is supposed to continue all day today. This is the 5th storm since December 3rd, when the snowstorms started.

While this is causing massive headaches with our house project, Ava is having a ball. She loves to play in the snow. She's even helping mommy by "shoveling" (snow back on to the clear spots) and "sweeping" (snow off the cars...a cupful at a time). Nonetheless, her efforts are appreciated. It's the thought that counts.

The 2nd picture shows how little room we have to push snow back from the driveway already - it's already up to the windows! We are snow-blowing a big patch in the back yard to park in because we expect to be down to a 1-lane driveway pretty soon.

What happened to global warming?

Visit with Santa

Santa visited the little kids at the library's storytime on Tuesday. Ava rattled off a long list of things she wants...Santa was very patient. Actually, she was one of the few who didn't burst into tears when placed on Santa's lap!

Smurfalicious

Ava refuses to wear her hat any other way!

Ava's "Spaceship Control Panel" video

...everything you ever wanted to know about life in space. Enjoy!

Classy livin'

We know we've integrated into the neighborhood when we shrink-wrap our windows. Not kidding. They are old, leaky windows and it was freezing on the first floor, not to mention the price of heating oil is ridiculous. Now we are cozy and can even sort-of see through them. Our "Herd O' Herefords" holiday lights complete the picture. Oh, and snow. 8" today and still counting. Winter has arrived!

Fun with Grampa

Ava got a ride on the ATV at Grampa's house the other day. Here's a little video:

Festival of Lights

Ava and I were invited to participate in Brigton's "Festival of Lights", which is a night-time parade welcoming the holiday season. My friend, Tracy, put together a float for her store and invited us to ride along, wave, and throw candy. Despite our pickup truck full of 4-to-9 year olds excitedly throwing ALL the candy overboard within the first 2 minutes (leaving none for 9/10ths of the parade attendees), the experience was a lot of fun. At the end of the procession, we waited expectantly out in the cold with the other parade goers as the First Selectman made a little speech ahead of the ceremonial tree lighting. In the shadows, Ava and I could see a huge, lovely tree and pointed to it, expecting the huge form to light up spectacularly as the Selectman counted down..."5, 4, 3, 2, 1"...suddenly, next to the big tree, a small, scraggly pine tree no more than 6 feet tall lit up. What?! There must be some mistake! But no, the dwarf pine is, in fact, the town Christmas tree. Maybe Bridgton is expressing its humble nature? Don't know. Just when we think we've settled in, we learn new things about our community every day.

Seriously, I am impressed by how much locals up here embrace the dark, cold winter months and use community spirit to make it fun. The parade is just a start. Soon, winter sports will be in full swing. Ava and I can't wait to go ice skating at the town rink, with it's free hot chocolate and ever-hot wood stove just outside the rink. Fun!

Ava and Willow again

After getting weepy from my last post, I needed to add a happy picture. Here are Ava and her buddy Willow mixing "witches' stew" in our living room. Real ingredients: toys. Imaginary ingredients: ...you probably don't want to know!

In memorium

We lost our beloved Aimee on November 5th. While she is gone from our lives, she will live on in our hearts forever.

Halloween '07

Ava was a cute little firefighter. She and her friend Willow (a/k/a "Cinderella") had a great time trick or treating in Fryeburg. It was funny how at first they were shy and quiet about saying "Trick or Treat!" but after half a dozen houses, when they realized how well it yielded candy, they were pretty much shouting the magic words. Lots of fun.

Trip to Montana

Well, here is my second "Maine Life" blog post and it takes place in - wait a minute - Montana?! Well, they have mountains too, as you'll see below. Ava and I planned this trip months ago when we learned that my sis Julie was pregnant. "Baby Carl", as Ava calls him, is 3 months old and cute as a button!

The little guy!

Ava did a great job taking care of her little cousin.

This is "Rusty", Julie & Craig's next door neighbors' horse. He hangs out at the top of the hill most of the day and didn't mind me coming up to pet his nose.

Carl loves to play on his mat. His smile is infectious!

Pig Scramble at the Fryeburg Fair

We had a ball at the Fryeburg Fair this year...fried dough, apple crisp, gravy-smothered roast turkey...mmmm....what was I talking about? Oh yeah, and the fair was pretty cool, too. Ava and mom rode the ferris wheel and then even did an adult ride - the big boat that swings back and forth (can't remember the name). Yikes! That was a bit much for the little munchkin but she handled it stoically and made it through with eyes closed and knuckles white. What a trooper!

The highlight of the event was definitely the PIG SCRAMBLE. Twelve 8-to-10 year olds ran crazily after 10 squealing piglets. Not only did they have to catch them, they had to put the piglet into a yellow mesh bag to win it. Words cannot describe how hysterically funny this was, but here is a fuzzy camera-video to try to convey some of it:

Tractor Wheel Fun

Ava enjoyed hanging out in the monster tractor wheel!