A Northwoods New Year, Pt. I

We headed up to northern Wisconsin for New Years for the 3rd year in a row. I was mostly excited to see a part of my family since not being able to see them for Christmas.

We first made a stop for lunch at Burrito Cubano. I was glad I thought of this before we got too far for fear of having to get fast food on the way. 

Somewhere along the first couple miles I dropped the burrito on my leg. Burritos that big are not meant for eating while driving.

We followed Snoop Dog for awhile.

I was a little nervous that there wasn't going to be much snow up north. Halfway there there was still just a dusting on the ground.

By the way that's Purple flavored Colt 45 he's shilling for.

My parents called and asked if we could pick up some coffee. I don't think I've ever seen them not have coffee in the morning so I knew it was an emergency. We stopped at Trig's in Rhinelander on the way.

We also picked up some beer, which I picked out. When I got to the register Brooke showed up and said she needed help. She'd never used the bean grinder in a grocery store before. 
 

I came home to slumbering Mr. Mike and Blake reading something about foraging and/or peaceful protests.

Actually he was doing a crossword puzzle. 

They had dinner ready when we got there. Scott was confused and thought the taco dip was for our tacos.

My dad and Blake had cut down a tree and decorated it before we got there. In middle and part of high school we always came up north for New Years for a second Christmas. I used to hate doing that. Who wants to hang out with their parents for New Years as a teenager? Now I love it.

 

After dinner we exchanged Christmas gifts. I made the mistake of letting my mom open her gifts first. She would take her time examining each thing before opening another one, leaving the rest of us dying in anticipation. 

She literally would read the packaging in front of us!

I got Blake and my dad the same thing so I made them open there's together. 

Blake got me another cookbook for my collection. The Silver Spoon for Children. Another book we checked out from the library and loved. 

We also have The Silver Spoon, but it's such a lummox of a book. 

I was super excited to get this classy shop vac. 

It'll be especially useful when water seeps in the basement. 

Our tree is pretty patriotic. Note the Simpson's tree skirt.

And our homemade angel that Chelsea made years ago.

Of course we had to bring Catan. Although Blake kicked our butts, I don't think I want to play with him again.

He had twenty or more cards at multiple times during the game. We've never seen anyone have more than ten.

The next day we got ready for some time out in the snow. First my mom did my hair. I bet she misses doing that.

But wait, Santa came last night.

We each got more presents to open.

Brooke handed everybody their gifts.

My Mom got the funniest gift. Lady Anti-Monkey Butt powder.

This is what I got: Storage containers, chicken poop chapstick, a flashlight with batteries and a mosaic art kit (more on that later).

I also got a flash light, batteries, a calculator, bungie cords and chicken poop chapstick.

Blake got the best gift. A new kite.

We got our snow gear on and headed outside. For Blake snow gear includes boots and a sweater.

It was pretty warm outside, so I think he had the right idea this time.

We decided to take a walk around the lake.

Actually Brooke showed up about 15 minutes later after getting her hair did.

If Scott scrolls back a few photos he'll see that I got my hair did before we opened presents. I was really doing dishes. 

All of the docks were lined up on shore at each lake home.

It's strange how you can walk on something that you'd be swimming in during the summer.

"That's a bad fisherman," Blake.

Maybe Blake's snow gear wasn't so goofy after all. I became too warm halfway around. 

Blake's been really into foraging lately. He got a few new books for Christmas. My dad made the joke that one day he's going to get lost in the woods and come back fat.

Our neighbors were also up.

The only time my mom comes outside is to do her favorite thing. Light a campfire.

When I first saw her I thought she was a random. I didn't recognize her in her outerwear.

The snowmobile trails had just opened the day before so my dad didn't bring the helmets thinking we couldn't ride. We were only allowed to go around the lake. Scott has had his license for 2 years now and hasn't had a chance to use it yet.

In recent years I've become afraid of driving on the lake for fear of falling in. Is this something that happens to women as they get older? Does some kind of motherly instinct kick in anytime something could be "dangerous"?

Yeah, mom.

We each took turns snowmobiling around the lake, except for Brooke.

I really want to get cross country skis.

We headed back inside for lunch. Tomato soup and grilled cheese.

Blake and I started an impossible puzzle.

They gave up on it shortly thereafter.

To be continued...