SNOWMEN, SNOWBALL FIGHTS, AND BOTTLE ROCKETS

winter makes a dramatic display in white here in Germany, that's for sure...I keep expecting to see the White Witch's sledge pull around the corner at any minute...

Here's my attempt at a self-portrait...

Dan shovels the walk so we can get to the patio where we will shoot fireworks...

a snowman family portrait...These were the first snowpeople I've made since we lived in TN when I was 3...so really the first I remember...

Dan and Nette putting on the finishing touches...

E with the snow lady...

Me and the kids with our snow people. See the old army hat on the snow man? It's from a British soldier found in a German field after the war ended.

The snow hit most of Europe. It made the news. Here's a link with the story. In this picture, you can see how thick it was. My footprint swallowed my hand when I measured the depth.

Looks picturesque, doesn't it? But shoveling snow is much harder work than this Mississippi boy expected it to be!

This is a neat spiral staircase behind E & D's school. I'll post some more pics like this on my design blog. If you want to see them, follow the link on my blogger profile...

ELLEN

I promised Ellen I would post a couple of more flattering pictures of her on the blog for all of you, after showing her so many times hidden under her puffy coat and my hat. Here's one of her on her birthday that I took on the school's playground.

Here's one Ellen's mom made of her on the same day - my beautiful niece!

Here's the Ellen I remember from the last time I visited Germany. She sure has grown up a lot.

TIMES SQUARE LIVE VIDEO FEED

Here's a link to MSN's live video feed from Time's Square. If you are like me (no US TV), you will appreciate it.

HAMIN' IT UP

Guess which movie we are watching tonight...

ICH BIN EIN BERLINER

Berliner-Pfannkuchen (Wikipedia)

SHOOT 'EM UP! BANG! BANG!

turbophoto.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!

We finished breakfast, and David and Annette ran to catch the bus into Buchholz to pick up some fresh Berliners for tonight's celebration (tradition here). In Germany, New Year's is called "Silvester," named for Pope Sylvester I. Ellen and I are just hanging out around the house until they return.

You should see Dave with his fireworks. He's lined them out on the living room floor and inventoried them more times than I can count. He's planning quite the pyrotechnic display for tonight. Looking at them all spread out at my feet, I feel like I'm typing in a military arsenol.

I'll end this post by wishing you and yours a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! God bless you in 2006! I pray we all know Him better in 12 months than we do now. I can't think of a better New Year's resolution.

MAKING A SNOW ANGEL

SNOWBALL SNEAK ATTACK