December Leftovers and Chocolate Fondue

So what do you do with the random blogpost folder labelled "December Miscellaneous"?  Really, the pictures are just a bunch odds and ends that don't fit elsewhere.  Take this picture for instance: seems like an eternity ago.  But that green grass really was part of our December landscape...

...until all of a sudden it wasn't.

In December Annie played with her stuffed animals, including puppy Casey, the Cat in the Hat, and Eli's co-opted owl.  (Eli proudly purchased this owl at Barnes and Noble using a gift card that he was awarded in our school PTA Reflections contest.  Not quite sure how I feel about the whole thing since he keeps telling everyone how he didn't try very hard and still got a prize.)

We made messes with friends...


...but got all cleaned up.  The Christmas tree was not the only thing to get trimmed in December.  I meant to cut Annie's locks shorter, but just couldn't do it.

As everyone knows, the holidays can be quite exhausting.

I think every time Annika falls asleep, somebody grabs a camera to record the moment because hallelujah, it's a miracle!

Uh oh, she's back for more trouble!

We discovered our neighborhood's winter beauty, reminiscent of a snow globe with its icicle-laden gingerbread houses.  I don't often run in the evenings, but this rising moon made huffing up the hills worthwhile.

The Capitol is likewise stunning with a backdrop of white.

Much to our surprise, our neighborhood also attracts dozens of mule deer.  After a snowfall, they come down from the foothills in search of food.  I photographed these deer right in front of our neighbor Bill's house, then watched in surprised as they wandered right into our own front yard.

Last but not least, some fun around town at the library and Leonardo.

Quite the impressive cardboard train.

Where Children Sleep

Eli and the Looking Glass

And some crowns to kick-off the New Year.

What the hey, as long as we're on the subject of New Year's, let's add in those photos too.  We went back to Hyde Park to ring in 2017 with Grandma Susie, Grandpa Charles, Ben, and Christy.  We even brought along our own New Year's tradition of fondue.  Here we are in a post-cheese stupor.

Just add chocolate and the table comes back to life.  No greater way to ring in the New Year.

All I can say is that with 2017 and our political nightmare well underway, we may need some more chocolate.  Me first!