Evan's Week with the Boys

We started the New Year off with a sick Eli. When Eli is sick, he doesn't want to do anything. He will sit in your lap for hours and barely turn his little head. Sad little guy. Porter on the other hand was a barrel of energy!
Evan went running a few of the days he was off. When he got home, he "worked out" with the boys: push ups with extra weight, BOSU crunches with twins, double-weighted bicep curls. The little guys loved all of it!
On January 6 Italian children awaken to see if La Befana (the Christmas Santa Claus/witch figure) visited their house. This day marks the day the three Wise Men arrived at Jesus’ manger. Apparently, over the years this has been a more celebrated holiday for the children of Italy than even Christmas.

According to the legend, the three Wise Men were searching for the Christ child when they decided to stop and ask for directions. Upon knocking on the door of a small house, an old woman holding a broom opened the door slightly to see who was there. Standing at her doorstep were three colorfully dressed men who were in need of directions to find the Christ child. The old woman didn’t know who they were looking for, and could not provide them with directions. Prior to the three men leaving they asked the old woman to join them on their journey.

The old woman declined saying she had too much housework to do. However, after they left she felt as though she had made a mistake and tried to catch up with the men. After hours of searching she could not find them. Thinking of the missed opportunity, the old woman stopped every child to give them a small treat in hopes that one was the Christ child. Each year on the eve of the Epiphany she sets out looking for the baby Jesus. She stops at each child’s house to leave those who were good treats and those who were bad a lump of coal.

On the evening of January 6th, Italians celebrate the Befana by burning their Christmas trees. Evan, Vy, and Joe went to Sacile's local celebration.
Breakfast with Daddy.

Skiing with the Robinsons

The first week of January, Evan and Brett had the same schedule for minimal-manning in the office. We took this opportunity to take a day, just the 4 adults, and go skiing at Piancavallo. I have not been skiing since we have lived here so I was excited to go yet terrified of skiing.

The Robinsons grew up in Utah and grew up on the slopes. They have very athletic and competitive family members and even have members on the Olympic team. I was just looking to slide down some bunny slopes, the Robinsons and Evan had Black Diamond Dreams.

It was COLD and sunny for most of the day and it was fun to be with friends and doing something local!

New Year's Eve Bash

The Robinsons had a get together at their house for New Year's Eve and to watch the A&M Aggies bowl game followed by the Utah State Aggie bowl game. The kids were busy and there are sadly no photos of Hostess Missy--she was cooking and preparing and getting toys and entertaining and feeding Henry the entire night!

~Ella and Andrew filled their tent with New Year balloons and played with trucks and balls which are Porter and Eli's favorites.
~Danielle and Will Crowder joined the festivities.
~Porter and Eli ate their weight in Missy's meatball sandwiches.
~Henry supported his Aggie team. What we're missing is a picture of all the Robinson and Epstein boys wearing their Aggie gear.
~Vy Skyped with Angela in San Antonio.
~The Niebuhrs came over and Cade impressed us all with his super hero skills.
~Brett had sparklers and Missy had balloons filled with money and fortunes for everyone's New Year!!
~Porter found a stack of books and proceeded to flip through every one finding Moo, Baa, La La La which is one of our favorites at home.
~Porter and Eli really like Missy and Brett. Porter just climbed up in Brett's lap to watch the game.
Meanwhile back at the ranch...
After we left the Robinsons for our 9 p.m. New Year's Eve celebration, we took the boys home to bed. Vy stayed over to watch the firework show on our roof. Vy finally received his household goods from San Antonio which, much to Evan's delight, had a few Shiner beers stored away. Vy very thoughtfully shared a few with Evan to celebrate the New Year. Shiner only arrives at the base store about twice a year. And when it comes, it's only a few cases and it's gone quickly. It was like watching children, these two boys and their beers. It's a little over-dramatized for picture's sake but funny nonetheless.
Our final New Year's on the roof was by FAR the best. The first year was great but a little rainy but there were still a ton of fireworks. Last year was foggy and a little rainy but still a nice show. This year was clear, freezing cold and you could see for miles--into the mountains, down to Pordenone, all over fireworks upon fireworks upon fireworks. What a great way to celebrate the New Year and make such great memories! Here's to 2012!