Thursday, December 31, 2009

New Year's Eve


Luiz and Rich are sick with colds. The picture of Yago sleeping is on the ski bus today. He placed around 50 in a race with approximately 70 people. Ski racer!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

First Cross-Country Race

These were the worst ski conditions with respect to wind, cold, and icy snow. And yet, both boys suited up and raced! They were great for first-time racers over a short one kilometer course. Normally, they'll race 5 kilometers, but this was a sprint race.

Congratulations, ski racers!

First Cross-Country Race





First Cross-Country Race


Yago had a bad wind gust near the finish and he almost disappeared!

First Cross-Country Race

Luiz in the start...
Luiz passing someone!
Luiz happy in the lodge...





Sauna



The boys decided to try out the sauna on a 20 degree evening with ice in the snow. Yes, they still had fun!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The Day after Christmas


After Christmas the boys decided it would be fun to sleep down stairs near the pellet stove... and they did, and Yago dressed up Rich after the holiday rush....

Saturday, December 26, 2009

First Day of Alpine Skiing

Yago and Luiz went alpine skiing for the first time today. They were great!


Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Day 2009

Christmas Morning dawned with Santa having arrived during the evening. Perhaps the most poignant gift was a LARGE, HEAVY bag that intrigued the boys. Inside, underneath mounds of tissue paper, were two red bricks (rocks) and four tubes of toothpaste. Santa sent a warning shot over the bow of the boys' boat! ;-)

Luiz and Yago attended church with Connie and her son Ian--Ben had to work in the paper mill this day. We had a great brunch of eggs, bacon, bagels, and cinnamon rolls with Orange Juice. Each boy received a LOT of socks... Santa knew that they had been borrowing Rich's nice socks over the past four months, so he wanted to help out the poor man.

We all received very nice gifts and enjoyed the day. Rich took a two-hour nap in front of the pellet stove and when he woke up, Luiz asked, "What we going to do now?"

From our home to yours: Happy Christmas, Everyone!

Christmas Day 2009

Christmas Day 2009





Christmas Day 2009





Christmas Eve with The Michauds and Kents

We spent Christmas Eve with the Michauds and Kents in North Yarmouth, Maine, about one hour south of Rumford. Melissa and Alban Michaud have four children--Rylee, Aidan & Alban, and sweet-talking, never-stopping Gavin. Melissa is Pam and Fred's daughter. We were also graced by the presence of Pam's mom, Maggie Magnuson. We had wonderful h'or d'oeuvres, a terrific dinner, and wow, what desserts. Thanks to the Michaud Family for inviting us!

Christmas Eve with The Michauds and Kents



Christmas Eve with The Michauds and Kents





Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Eve-Eve with the Venskus Family

Aunt Connie and Uncle Ben came over this evening with their son Ian. We exchanged gifts. The boys received traditional Brazilian and Spanish foods that Connie had baked, as well as a beautiful State of Maine hanging (handmade by Connie) with an inscription on the back side--see below.

The boys gave Connie a gold bracelet and a locket with their initials engraved in it. For Ben, the boys gave him a Red Sox Beer Mug and a picture (below) wearing full Red Sox gear. Ian, well, he got beer. We had a great time with this wonderful family.


Christmas Eve-Eve with the Venskus Family