Trunk

I had to make space in the garage for the outdoor furniture so had to crack the whip and get the trunk out of there. Had great fun

Old and rusty

Shiny and new.

Cove Island

We had the most beautiful weather, so loaded the bikes up and went to Cove Island in Stamford for a bike ride. Good fun together.

We bought a new camera so I played a little bit. Pretty little girl.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is like Christmas. Shops close for one day everyone is in a panic and fist fights in the shops for food. Thanksgiving is a really nice holiday, no gifts just great fun.

This year Karina and Thierry had us over for Thanksgiving with Mark and Stacey and Trevor and Victoria. Once again only English.



Pretty cool number 3939. I entered my first walk / run race. I did 2.7 miles. I had such fun. Running for me is so difficult and normally swearing while doing it but I do it. I feel good afterwards.



Kara annoyed because she was cold. Still stuck in autumn clothes, so not properly dressed. Leon and I were laughing because as mommy's do, we told you so??????



Here comes the winner runner:)))))



5000 people entered. Most of the people did the 5 miles race.

Kara our baker.

Kara was desperate to bake and do it on her own. As you all know me I like to take over. I really had to step back and let Kara do her thing. Kara made cupcakes all on her own. The only thing I did was put the batter in the oven. I told Kara one day she will be famous and a reporter will ask for a picture of where she started her passion and I will be proud to hand over this photo of my darling. She quite liked that.

Hurry up, I want to eat.

 The Thanksgiving gang

Mark playing with Seth

Leon took the day off which was nice. Iworked in the morning and got messed around by my adult lesson. Two private lessons and the guy still has not paid. The weather was so mild and beautiful that we needed to get outside. I took everyone to Southport beach .

The ice rink is open. So the kids had a little play.

The Rockettes

Friday we took the kids out of school and went to see the Famous Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes at Radio City Hall. The show was fantastic. We were so amazed because they had a nativity scene in the show. Victoria told her teacher Jesus is an amazing man and she was told not to talk about Jesus in school. Take that. So wonderful to see a Christian side of Christmas in America. Its also very difficult to find Merry Christmas cards as its politically correct to rather say Happy holidays.

http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/newyork/index.html

The lights and chandelier were beautiful

 The Christmas tree is up but no lights.

 After the show we went to Ellen's stardust Diner for lunch. The waiters and waitresses all sing as well as serve. Very different. The Harpenden karaoke ladies would have fought to get the microphone.

 The kids not impressed we bought them to this noisy place. NO HAPPY CAMPERS.

 Martin came to spend Friday night with us. Well Leon and I are light weights, we were a little slow on Saturday. So good to be with friends. We were quite excitable.

Devils Den
A Sunday walk

 One, two, tree smile. Sorry. Kara has a wonderful sense of humour and quite sharp.

Vermount, swimming

Where have we been, what have we been doing? Feels like a crazy pace. Feels good been busy.

Vermont

Vermont meaning, Green Mountain in French. I believe from the guide book. Anyway it is a beautiful state with rolling mountains. The people are unbelievably friendly. The drivers let you cross the pedestrian crossing without trying to take you out. The service is outstanding and friendly staff. The further you  move away from New York I think the better.

To get to Vermont we had to drive 5 hours, go through Connecticut, through Massachusetts. Just driving to Vermont for the weekend you get a sense of how vast the states are.

We hired a condo. What a laugh a small little chalet from a friend of a friend. Some South African. Basic but clean which is all that matters.

We took all the bikes up. We never rode ours. Too cold.

 Cold morning. Kara having a laugh on her bike.

 We stayed in the town called Stowe. The Von Trapp family built their lodge there. Stowe is very much geared for the skiing. We did not go at such a good time as everything was closed before the masses arrive for the snow.

 The village of  Stowe

 Leon did you say you want us to come and ski here down those rather large mountains??????

The views of the slopes. Lots of ski lodges with ski in and ski out facilities. 

 A beautiful ski lodge



The Von Trapp Lodge - Sound of music

The Von Trappe lodge


Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory
Ben and Jerry are still best friends today. they stared out as childhood friends and enrolled in a $5.00 correspondence course on making ice-cream. The factory is immaculate. The ice cream was amazing.

 Victoria's favourite flavour

 Leon are you a chunky monkey????

You again too many favourites

 All the flours that did not work out

Magic hat brewery

Nothing for you kiddies, not even a cool drink. Leon and I had fun tasting the beers.

We had election day last week so the kids did not go to school. I enrolled Kara into a cheer leading course at the high school. She had great fun with her friends. Not sure they going to be cheer leaders. Too much laughing and falling over.

 There you got it. Quick you heavy.

16 years
Leon and I celebrated our 16 year anniversary on the 11/11/2011. Good year

Connecticut Masters swim meet

Not the most flattering picture, sorry. I signed up and did my first masters swim.

50 m freestyle in 32.52 seconds. Not bad

50m butterfly 39 seconds. A bit tired

50m freestyle - disqualified the team as I left the block too early

A good afternoon. Lovely to have support from my special family.

 Kids getting in the swim mood.

 Me dying doing my butterfly

 Check out the tattoo. The ladies wanted to make the event fun so we all had to put tattoo's on.