So in our Ithaca winter (where it's always chilly, but not yet Christmas) we've been getting out and about. We've been to the Plantations to play in the snow and watch the older kids sled down "the hill" (can't wait till next year!), we've made our first family fruitcake as a family of three, discovered the magic of Holiday Trees with presents underneath, and even watched Santa jump off a bank!

Take a look...

The Ithaca SWAT team joined forces with the North Pole "jolly old elf" and this year Santa arrived in town by rappelling down the Bank America building on the Commons. No belly like a bowl full of jelly here! We're talking commando elves and a combat ready Santa taking the holiday by storm.

After standing on the Commons for an hour in the wind (20 degrees straight up, who knows what the wind chill was!) waiting for Santa, some little munchkins were unimpressed. However, the hot coffee and general holiday festivities got a thumbs up overall.

A few days after Santa arrived in town, the Winter Weather hit in ernest. Snow snow snow! And then a little more snow for good measure. We went to the Plantations to explore the strange white fluffy stuffy that fell from the sky...

Bundled up in her Pooh Bear Bunting, Laia explored the wonderful world of dada powered flight. Chilly good fun was had by all!

Snow kisses for her cuteness...

And Laia's first sit down meeting with the Snows of Winter went better than expected. Laia loves the cold weather (what a little weirdo!) but this was her first experience with snow deeper than her head. It seems to have been a happy discovery however. Next year we wont be able to keep her indoors!

Back inside, we started work on our annual Fruitcake. Everyone has to stir the batter to ensure good luck for the family in the coming year. Last year we let me belly take a turn but this year we had Laia give it a try. A bit messy, but who said creating luck is a neat and tidy experience? Yay for fruitcake batter on the floor...and walls....and ceiling...and cat...and, well, everywhere!

Let's stir in that luck!

The snows have fallen, the fruitcake is baking, Santa is in town...and there's a tree in the living room! What wonderous thing is this? We got the tree up the first weekend of December and plan on leaving it till Epiphany (12th night, or the feast of La Befena, when we will be opening presents). Laia hasn't pulled the tree down yet (I say "yet") but she sure is curious about it...and those strange shiny boxes that keep appearing under the tree!

Coming soon....the wonderful world of Yule-tide!