Cousins

First it was "How many days until Christmas?"

Then it was "How long until Robbie and Ryan get here?"

Luckily, both have arrived!

And luckily there's snow on the ground for both of these special arrivals (because when you are visiting from 68 degree balmy weather, one does like a change of climate).

Let the sledding begin!

Dave and his baby brother Pat. (They do have baby faces--for real. It's no lie.)

Jonah sleds over a jump--on his knees. Ouch.

(Well, "ouch" if you are nearly 40. Fun if you are under 18.)

This park is just down the street from our home--how cool is that? (Let me answer that for you, "cool.")

Paigey hit a jump--not on purpose--ouch!

Jonah has more energy than our whole crew put together. In the 2 hours we were sledding, he made 3 trips back to the house--for his snowboard, sled, and shoes with slick masking tape.

*Note on the masking taped shoes:

This may be the next big "As Seen on TV" invention. You basically ice skate down the hill with this shiny tape on your shoes. It's incredibly fast--and fun to watch.  But, I'll admit, it scares the crap out of me to watch (I'm thinking head injury. La, he needs to wear that helmet!).

Robbie and Ryan were totally set for the snow. Big jackets. Big gloves. Boots. They're locals now.

LuLu weights like 28 pounds (not really--that's hyperbole), so she ZIPS down the hills. Think "Clark Griswold" in Christmas Vacation--when that disk/sled gets souped up with some cereal gloss. She flies down the hills. It makes me laugh so hard.

Camry, Robbie and Kaya (and Ryan's back).

Paige in the lone and dreary snow.

Ray goes face first. EEK!

Jonah, Camry, Robbie, Kaya and Ryan.