MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We paid our annual visit to the North Pole this year and Santa was very accomodating! We assured him that we'd all been very good this year and in turn, he assured us a great Christmas. We're going to take him at his word and while we're on the subject, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous New Year!

SNOW!

Winter hasn't wasted any time in our area this year. In fact, the snow didn't even wait for the official start of Winter. On Friday, December 19 and into Saturday morning, we got our first dump of snow. Our town's official measurement was 10 inches, but it sure seemed like more. We got it cleaned up during the day on Saturday, but Sunday dropped another 9 inches on us. Sure, it's pretty and we're going to have a White Christmas and all, but couldn't the same have been accomplished with a more manageable 2-3 inches?

Steve's 48th Birthday

On December 14, Steve celebrated his 48th Birthday. (I know, he doesn't look anything near 48 years old. It must be all that healthy living!)

Steve's Mom kept with tradition and made him a cake related to something that happened to him during the year, which in this case was a vacation that included parts of the South, hence the rebel flag. (No...Steve is no more rebellious now than ever!)

Getting Into The Spirit!

It's that time of year again! Thanksgiving is behind us and the elves in North Reading are hard at work decorating for Christmas. Santa and Mrs. Claus may still be hanging out at the North Pole, but rest assured that they're getting everything ready for Christmas.

Of course the Hansen family is big into traditions, corny and otherwise. Here's a playful nod to the seasonal movie "A Christmas Story." You can call it a tacky "Leg Lamp", but we prefer to think of it as a "Major Award", one that's "Indescribably Beautiful!"

Here's one of the trees through the front window.

Here's that same tree from the inside.

...and here's the Peanuts tree, covered entirely with lights and ornaments featuring the Peanuts gang, particularly Snoopy and Woodstock.

We're well on our way to our full complement of six trees, which should be completed any day now. 'Tis the season to be busy!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's that time of year again! The leaves are falling...quickly. The temperatures are dropping...even quicker. The days are getting shorter...and shorter...and shorter! It must be Halloween!

We began a couple of nights before, carving our pumpkins and roasting the seeds afterwards. YUM! (Use cooking spray on a large, flat pan. Spread the seeds out flat. Spray a thin coating of the cooking spray over the seeds and then lightly sprinkle salt over them. Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour and then watch for when they start browning. Remove them when they are as brown as you like them.)

Here are the results of our carving!

Erik dressed up as a "Woopie Cushion" this year...such a "boy thing" to do!

Rebecca got together with some friends and dressed up as bunches of grapes.

All in all, it was a spooky, fun and SAFE evening!

DON'T FORGET TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK AN HOUR TONIGHT!

Rebecca's Turn - CALs

Today was Rebecca's turn to run. The event, referred to as the "CALs", is kind of the season ending Cross Country race for the Cape Ann League. A number of schools gathered at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield for the event. This is the beginning of Rebecca's 3.1 mile race.

Here's Rebecca again, very early in the race.

Here's Rebecca midway through the race...


...and shortly thereafter.

On her way to the finish line, which she crossed at 24:16, she had one little mishap, tripping and falling over a tree root that she didn't see. She's fine though and generally pleased with her performance. It didn't cost her much time.

Here's Rebecca and her long-time friend Haley (who she's known since she was 3 months old...REALLY!) after the race.

Cross Country in Gloucester

Today we ventured to the seaport town of Gloucester, MA for an exciting event. Erik joined his Middle School Cross Country team this year. They've been practicing since the beginning of school, but today was their one and only competition. Erik and a number of other students from his school competed against many schools from Eastern Mass.

Here's Erik (right) and his friend Scott (left) before the race.

Here's the team, from a distance, getting in their last minute warm-ups before the race. Erik is in the center of the picture.



Here's Erik on the course, well over halfway into the 1.7 mile race.



Here's Erik as he finishes...16 minutes, 27 seconds.

Since this was Erik's first meet, he was a bit of a "back of the pack" type today. He did well though and we're proud of him. It was a good learning experience and next time he'll do even better.