Snowman

A warm day following the big snow. With better snow for building today, Yukari and the boys built a huge snowman (American style, with 3 snowballs) on the front lawn.

Igloo

We had our first big snow of the year this week, as many did along the eastern half of the US. The boys couldn't wait to go outside and dig an igloo in the snow bank.

Wilmington, NC

I had a presentation at the PACE service-learning conference at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington this week. Yukari and the boys joined me, and we spent a couple of days visiting Mom and Dad in Virginia after the conference finished. On our way out of Wilmington, we stopped to tour the USS North Carolina Battleship.

The Greenway

Since we moved out of town, we haven't visited the park lately with Luke and Ian. After our first good snow of the year, we spend a warmer Saturday afternoon at the Greenway park in Boone.

Japanese nabe night

Yukari picked up a nabe pot from the Asian market this week, used for making a traditional Japanese hot pot dish. We had just purchased a portable stove, for emergency use if needed this winter. It turns out this stove is the exact one that is normally used in Japanese houses for nabe -- so we had to try it out!

Ian's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Ian's 3rd birthday with a special breakfast and an afternoon party with friends.

Everyone's favorite toy was the Stomp Rocket, which Luke has enjoyed more than anyone.

Gingerbread Cookies

Baking and decorating gingerbread cookies provided some relief from the cold today!

First Snow 2014

We have been lucky so far this winter, with no real snow accumulations and mild temperatures. All that changed today, with lows in the single digits and enough snow to get outside and do some sledding on our hill.

Ian had a little accident -- sliding too far down the side yard on his sled; over a small cliff, and onto the street. He will be okay, just a few scratches :)

The Holidays

We had a great trip around the east coast, visiting family and friends in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Of course, we spent a few days over Christmas with Mom and Dad in Virginia Beach.

Christmas Tree

One benefit of living here in the mountains of North Carolina is that there are Christmas Tree farms all around. We bought our tree this week and both Ian and Luke helped with trimming.

We have now been in our new house for almost a year. Since we moved in just after Christmas last year, this is the first tree we've had here -- it looks great through the big windows in our "music room".