Determined to get the sock off.
Proud of removing the sock.
Working on the next one.
See how innocent she APPEARS!
Licking her finger so she can . . .
stick it in daddy's ear!
These kids were THRILLED with the snow that fell a few weeks ago. We've had LOTS and LOTS since then. The reindeer on the left is completely covered now, and just the antlers of the other are showing. None of the foreground bush to Ivy's right is exposed now.
Inside with Comet (or Cupid?)
Outside were some baby goats and lambs.
These snowmen withstood the rain that was falling really well. Although it was cold and wet, the kids didn't mind a bit.
A pretty waterfall - part of it is frozen solid in falling form. 
A single moment when they were all together. Most of the time they played "tag" among the trees. We narrowed the choices down to two different trees - and Cooper and Ivy both voted on a different one. I actually should have been the tie-breaker, but couldn't do it. Ivy was hugging "her" tree and rattling on and on about how that was the one she wanted (Maia did too), and Cooper was insisting that his and dad's tree was "the one." We even had two employees come to try to help with the decision. I said I wasn't having any part of it and walked away. Finally, I took the kids with me and Richard went and picked a totally different tree. Both kids were happy.
The decorated tree. Since we didn't bring any decorations from Utah, we just bought snowflakes and candy canes. Simple and fast! And the kids love it.
Santa came on the fire-truck. Maia and Emily are happy to see him.
Tessa and Lauren
Coop and Ivy. The line was VERY long but Cooper was not about to give up until he had SEEN SANTA!!!!!
The kids and their friends in front of the city tree. McKenna is off with her friend Heather somewhere.
Decorating cupcakes.
Rudolph was there!
We saw Frosty too, but I guess I didn't take a picture.
I took the little kids to Wilson Farm - to see the animals and all the Christmas stuff while, unbeknownst to Cooper, Daddy had come home fromschool early and he and McKenna decorated Spider Style!
Trying to spin webs!
With his new Red Sox shirt on that his daddy gave him for his birthday.
Cute party girl. Isn't she sweet?!
Our little boy is growing up! I remember his 3rd birthday so well, in Highland, knowing that his daddy was leaving soon.
With his favorite guy!
All wrapped up - but Spidey can get out of any trouble!
Got new Spiderman pj's - ready to blow out the candle on his giant cookie.
On the hill where the pilgrims who died that first winter were originally buried. In the background is the monument built over Plymouth Rock in its original location. To Cooper's right just a block or so is the Mayflower.
Mayflower in the background. Ivy refused to be in the picture. I refuse to fight with a tired three-year old. Austin sat in the car. I won't fight with stubborn 17 year old either.
Look who sailed on The Mayflower! Humility Cooper - we'll have to do our genealogy and figure out if/where we're related!
The family checking out The Mayflower II. It's a replica that was built 50 years ago, and has sailed the actual route of the original.
Dreaming of what it would have been like to have lived on the Mayflower. Oblivious to the reality of 102 people crushed into a small space for months, rotating through the few beds for four hours at a time.
On the Mayflower. Notice that Ivy either hams it up for pictures of is COMPLETELY uncooperative. No middle ground for her.
Plymouth Rock. This rock is not large - and smaller than it began. Years ago it was being hauled to the town center or something - when the rope was tied around it and the wagon pulled, the top portion only came off. That was loaded in the wagon, and then that top portion fell out some where along the way and split in two. Years later the top portion was put back on the still-buried piece. The crack you see is the repair of those two broken pieces.
The entrance to Plimoth Plantation. Fun to have family come and share the experience with us! (Ivy's not happy about being in the picture. Big surprise!)
Mason and Cooper LOVED seeing the REAL bows and arrows made - with wild turkey feathers that they got to touch. We saw a flock of wild turkeys not far from our house in early November. It was a BEAUTIFUL sight!
Took this picture for my dad. In the Arts & Crafts barn this man is making furniture - the very old way.
This is the fort/church. The upstairs has cannons (Ivy's peeking out the opening for one of them) and the downstairs has a pulpit and benches. It's at the top of the slope that the colony is built on. Richard and I are standing facing the fort in the next picture.
See the ocean in the distance? It was an absolutely gorgeous (and unseasonal) day. Perfect!!
Cooper has his sticks. Carried them EVERYWHERE that day and even brought them home. At one point Tessa said, "I'm sure glad I didn't live back then," and Cooper gave her the MOST incredulous look - like "you are the dumbest girl I ever met. Who wouldn't want to chase animals, play in the dirt, climb trees, shoot guns, and play with sticks all day long." It was a VERY FUNNY moment. He truly didn't understand why she would make such a ridiculous comment. 
Actors live in the colony and it is 1627. They know nothing of the world beyond that date. Men wander with muskets and women mend on stools. Families or individuals "live" inside each house and grow gardens or raise animals outside. Everyone has a real story to tell - and lots of information to share. VERY informative.
Chasing and feeding chickens in the Pilgrim Colony. What's more fun that that? Notice Cooper's sticks again.
Beautiful setting. This "Plimoth Plantation" (spelled one of the versions that the govenor used) is three miles from the actual place where the pilgrim settled - but that's all "downtown" now.
Playing in the woods at the village
I definitely didn't try the venison they were roasting. All of these participants are decensants of the actual nation that welcomed and helped the pilgrims. I can't remember the spelling of the nation --- W.....
Checking out the Native American village. Very cool. Cooper really liked watching a real Native American boat being made - the middle of a log is burned out to create the shape.
Eating Thanksgiving Dinner. Kenny being weird as usual. We didn't make reservations for the "nice" dinner on time, so did this cafeteria-style one which was "first-come, first-serve." Better than cooking, especially since my oven was broken!
