Family Mellmann

It has been a somewhat disappointing winter, so far. It's either cold and grey with little/no snow, or it's snowing beautifully only to give way to a warm snow-melting day. Today we get this beautiful, large flake, snow.  Perfect timing for this afternoon's snowboard lessons for Katherine, and Patrick's ski day with friends, planned for tomorrow.

Vermont winter is finally here. And with that comes ski and snowboard season. Today, Katherine started her third year of snowboard lessons. Since Patrick has graduated from the ski program (it only goes through eighth grade), Katherine brought a new mountain buddy, a classmate from Trinity.

It's our last day of Christmas break. Patrick is enjoying his last moments with a friend, Katherine is enjoying a little screen time, and Jörg continues his work with taxes and all things accounting. I have accomplished a few projects (or parts of them) over this break, but I will bid a sad farewell to this Christmas break knitting in front of the fire while I watch a TV show and enjoy the smell of beef stew wafting from the crockpot.

Christmas in the Mellmann house was quiet and relaxed; a nice change of pace to the long days and busy schedules leading up to the break.  Joerg took about two weeks off from work, and the kids had almost two weeks off from school. Our Christmas break was spent decorating cookies, playing games, sleeping in, staying up late, and enjoying the lack of schedule and obligation.  We did manage to get a few little projects done, and Joerg spent a couple of days working on finances in preparations for tax season, so we weren't complete slouches the *entire* time. :) So, from our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Frohe Weihnachten und Frohes neues Jahr!