Musher's Bowl Weekend!

This is one of Bridgton's big winter weeks, called "Musher's Bowl Winter Carnival" - lots of events all week. Today we took advantage of some of them. This morning, Ava and mommy went on a dogsled ride across the frozen lake. The dogs were a riot...they barked like crazy because they just wanted to run. As soon as we set off, it became very quiet and peaceful...a lot nicer than a loud snowmobile engine.
Box full o'sled dog puppies. Adorable!
Bridgton was home to a regional ice sculpting contest this week. This one is called "medieval dragon".
This crazy event is called "Freezin' for a Reason". Volunteers raise pledges and earn them by running into the local lake. Ava and I had watched some of the lake prep the day before - they sawed out the "pool" and hauled off big chunks of ice. As for the event itself, it was a balmy 26 degrees at this very moment! Luckily, a hot tub company provides a way for them to warm up after the plunge. The money goes to a local animal shelter. This event was VERY popular (for spectators, I mean!). We had a hard time finding a spot to see the jumpers, but managed to scale up a snowpile. Ava was tickled by the insanity!

To top off the day, Ava and I went to a friend's birthday party at the candlepin bowling lanes. Ava's never bowled before but took right to it. This is her "champion" look after knocking down several pins. Fun!

Even more snow...and a trip to Boston

Here are John and Ava atop the massive snowpile next to the front doors. I think from the road it's actually approaching 8 feet high. It's quite a bit taller than me. It's getting hard to shovel the front walk because it's difficult to throw the snow so high!
View from the breakfast table. You used to be able to see the neighborhood. Now we just stare dumbly at the snowpile and watch "snowvalanches" fall down from the metal roof. If you live in a snowy place, definitely have a metal roof! It is miraculous how the snow just slides right off.
Ava on our trip to Boston last weekend, doing a science experiment under the expert direction of Dr. Denise. They made giant jellied crystals and color-changing volcanoes. Very cool! Ava insisted on using the test tubes and got really good at drawing up liquid into the pipette.

Pirate Baker

I gave Ava an eye patch and the rest is history. Also some pics showing a budding little baker. She can crack and whisk eggs, measure dry items (leveling with the back of a butter knife), and she just learned how to use the electric mixer. Here, we were making homemade brownies.

Un-Christmas

So I kept meaning to post Xmas pics and have finally admitted it's just not going to happen. Now that our Xmas decorations are down, I'm not motivated! I sent online albums instead, so you saw what there is to see!