This evening everyone test fit their cold weather gear for our upcoming dog sledding adventure on the frozen boundary waters of Minnesota. Although the trip is not for a month, we needed to search the house and gather all of our existing gear before making a shopping list for the remaining items. Who knew we already had five balaclavas? Kyle does a quick mirror check to verify that he looks acceptably fashionable, warmth apparently is a secondary concern.

 
Maya has started rock climbing. Here she is shown climbing upside down in what she calls the cave. The object is to retrieve the bandanna from one of the rocks. Even though she has a harness on, it is not roped in. A fall at this stage is about ten feet onto a mat. Her instructor describes Maya as a determined and fearless climber. For this, her father will take partial credit and remind family members of the “Brave Maya” training he “inflicted” on her from the age of two.

 
I really enjoyed watching my two favorite girls working side by side. I did provide some threading and bobbin winding consulting. My mother taught me to sew and I am pretty good at it. Today, however, it was strictly a mother daughter project.

Meanwhile, Maya and Jeanine work on a sewing project together. 

 
Later in the day, Nicolai is still on the couch. This time with a group of friends watching the big Patriot’s game. Leave it to Nico to invite three girls and no boys to a football party.

 
Nicolai and Nala intertwined on the couch this morning as I returned from a 2-hour futsol scrimmage. I have lost 7 pounds in the last 10 days while on Jeanine’s cleanse and have gained a good deal of quickness at the expense of some energy.

 Yesterday, my brother Mark passed his final test and is now a commercial airline pilot. He left the engineering profession to stay at home with his kids for a while and then trained to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. We are all extremely proud of him and can’t wait to visit with his family in late February when we travel to Minnesota for the kids winter break.

 Maya was not feeling so well this morning but recovered sufficiently later in the day to go rock climbing.

By popular request I am posting this early video of Maya which explains why she has grown up so tough. Please note the level of concern demonstrated by her father and brother Kyle.

Maya Goalie Practice from Carl Calabria on Vimeo.

Even the horse farm across the street takes on a whole new look when blanketed in snow. 

 
On the way into the office this morning I paused for some wonderful snowscapes. I do not know if this image will translate well on a small scale. At full size and resolution it is something I am quite pleased with. Click on the photo for a better view.

 
Today Nicolai will make a presentation to his English class as, Hel, the Norse Goddess of death. The mask he fashioned represents life and death. Nicolai hopes to be voted by his classmates onto the twelve member Council of the Gods.

An enormously proud father with his son. 

 
Inspired by the music of the day, Maya and Chloe perform their own duet. I really admire the fact that Chloe treats Maya like a little sister.