Mantle-scape: Mid-Winter

A fresh difference from the red & green of Christmas!

Painting

I've been passing the time lately by doing a little painting...and really enjoying myself. Here are some of my creations thus far:

Merry Christmas: Melander Style

Christmas eve was at Dave's aunt & uncle's Patty & George. Their beautifully-decorated home was glittering in Christmas finery.

Patty, Brandon (cousin) and I all performed "Joy to the World" on our respective instruments that we're learning.
and, every year, Santa hand-delivers toys to everyone there. Oscar liked him, from a safe distance.
But he DID get a fire truck that he just LOVES!!!!


Christmas morning was our lil' family affair. We "stoked" the fire on channel 22 (Oscar would have been way too absorbed in a real fire) and opened presents and ate caramel rolls and read the Christmas story from the Bible.


and Oscar met his new friend, Bobo the monkey.

Then we headed over to Grammy & Grampy's house to celebrate with Dave's folks, brother Mark, and soon to be sister-in-law Marisa.
Oscar got this cute lil' sweater vest from his Grammy Mary. The bow tie was all me. :)

Schlomer Family Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas! (A little late.) Our first of many Christmas celebrations was in a rented house in North-Western Wisconsin with Sarah's family. It was a FULL house (all 19 of us there) and the great fun of family chaos ensued. There was sledding, games, carols, scrapes, costume changes, forts, great eats, and of course: presents!!! Here are some highlights:

For the Love of Hot Chocolate

And AFTER Fun in the Snow...it's Fun Inside!

First, remove all winter gear:

Coat, Mittens, and Boots

Snowpants

Hat and Fleece

And, voila!

Ready for some hot chocolate and nibbles!

Fun in the Snow

When you're in a Midwestern state, you have no choice but to embrace the snow, don your winter attire, and have some FUN!


And, yes, you might get a drippy nose, but...

But at least you're with good company!