Picasa Album - 2010_12 New Years Eve

New Year's Eve with three under the age of twelve (barely) - glow sticks and  biodegradable confetti (thanks Julie!!). 

http://picasaweb.google.com/Evandermark/2010_12NewYearsEve?authkey=Gv1sRgCMLDubqro77NTg

Sent via Web Albums App

Liz Vandermark

Monkeys in trees

Climbing the traditional New Years Virginia Pine and waiting for the evenings festivities! More soon.

Horsing around

Ellie and I have recently been learning how to ride Western, thanks to Michael out at Gentle Reins in Chelsea, Michigan. It has been a humbling experience for me - not to mention a somewhat painful one but we are having a great time figuring it out together.
At the Farm, we are surrounded by horses - these two were particularly friendly.

Waiting for the New Year at the Fort Valley Farm

Henry, Ellie and Meg, hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Culver at the Fort Valley Farm. Wearing orange so the hunters know that the three explorers excitedly building forts in the white pine woods are NOT edible. I have a feeling that the yelling might also be a clue for them but we want to be sure!
They named their 'city' aqualand a couple of years back because the 'world' under the overgrown christmas trees feels deep, deep, deep underwater. Now the 'economy' (in Ellie's parlance) has a hotel, house, fort, gym, wonderland and bar (!?) and the whole thing 'runs' on pine cones (everyone evidently has a money tree, very convenient). The kids sleep on star beds - all the better to gaze at the stars :)

Ellie's one bowl band

Ellie's rather ingeneous use of lawn bowls...
...Michigan is melting (at least today).