Welcome 2014....

Happy new year... 2014... where has time gone??? "They said" when we were kids, that the older you get, the fast time goes... I fear that is true. Or maybe.. it's just that you can have more fun when you are "older".. either way... it's the start of the new year. In keeping with a new "tradition" we had another open house this year... I was a bit disappointed to find it so horribly cold out, which meant, no sleigh... I don't like to work horses in the bitter cold (and no one enjoys the rides anyways..) But all was not lost.... 

Dave bought two snowmobiles as Christmas presents for Deb and himself... he thought they might be fun to run around our field... so, he packed them up and brought them with him. I kept "hearing" something, and then looked out to find him unloading them. It took Ed and Abbie all about three seconds to get their winter gear on and head out the door. 

Abbie hopped right on with her Papa and they were off.... 

This doesn't "look" good... I think I can see the "future" in this picture, and the snowmobiles had only been here a few minutes.....

I, on the other hand, had other things to do... we cooked another bird, and our guests were all excited to know that this was going to be the "main" course.... (he sure turned out good....)

Family and friends began to arrive. It began to really feel like a holiday (just what I was hoping)... Abbie was thrilled to see Reagan..... she couldn't believe how big he is getting!!!!

Course, my Mom scooped him right up the moment she came.....

My Mom with her "greats"......

Since it was an open house, people came and went all day long... some were able to stay longer than others... but my favorite thing of all.. 

a houseful of the people I love... the "noise" , laughter, good food.... it's just the perfect way to begin a brand new year....

The snowmobiles were a huge hit, and they didn't sit still very long. Just as I thought, I hear Ed and Dave talking in the back ground... "you can get a nice used one for a reasonable price".... (I knew it!!!)

Because it was so cold, people took turns... take a run or two around the field... come in to warm up.. and someone else got a turn. It seemed just about everyone took a little ride...

I did notice that Abbie got LOTS of rides, she just jumped on with anyone that was going... the cold wasn't about to stop her.....

Kass brought Reagan's little sled, bundled him up and took him out for a "sleigh ride"... 

So much fun to hear him laughing.......

and here are the cousins all together again.....

The kids didn't seem to mind the cold so much... they played with their sleds, got rides on the snowmobiles... crawled around in the snow...

and the big people stayed inside, ate.. laughed and enjoyed the warmth of the woodstove....

Now, Becky's Ed.. had never been on a snowmobile, and was pretty excited to give it a try.... at first, he was a bit unsure...

but it didn't take long before he was out running it all around the field...

and then, with an impish grin.....

he was off on his own.......

Kelsey took her turn driving.... Naomi on the back...

and then with her Mom.....

and alone. It was beginning to get dark, friends were getting ready to head home, and back to "real life once again". The holidays have come to a close, and now "winter" begins.....











But there's much to look forward to... and many adventures ahead, I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a great year... and I hope it is for everyone....