Opening Day - Ski Season

This year, Chrissy, Jack and I bought season passes to Mountain Creek. We kicked off the season with a mini-holiday at the Appalachian hotel, right on the mountain. The heated outdoor pool and hot tubs were perfect for soothing our tired muscles. Con came too, though unable to ski with his "football knees", he enjoyed tubing in the afternoons as well as the apres ski scene at Hex's lounge. Jack loved the Kids camp and by the end of the week both he and Chrissy had mastered their skis and boards.

We found a local Irish pub, the Irish Cottage Inn, complete with an authentic thatch roof, installed by "master thatcher" Colin McGhee, which was perfect for a family style dinners.

The Rockettes at Radio City

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is my favorite Christmas Show. Chrissy, Jack and I have been many times, but this year was Con's first show. The show, updated for the 75th anniversary, still had our favorites “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and “Here Comes Santa Claus” as well as Santa's 3-D flight through Manhattan. Our third row seats were a perfect viewpoint for the “Living Nativity,” which revisits the first Christmas with camels, sheep and donkeys. I was disappointed, however with the finale narration, which in it's new format was not nearly as moving as previous years.

Peddler's Village

Christmas is my favorite time of the year and the official kick off of the holiday season is our trip to Peddler's Village in Lahaska, PA to shop the specialty craft shops and view the fantastic entries in the annual Ginger House in the Villlage Gazebo.

At dusk we headed to the Cock 'N Bull restaurant for an early dinner and watch the illumination of the thousands of Christmas lights throughout the village.

Pumpkin Picking at Ort Farm

This weekend was our annual outing to Ort Farm in Chester to pick pumpkins. Jacked loved the John Deere tractor that pulled our hay wagon out to the pumpkin patch. Con's ribs were ultra sore from his recent accident, but he still managed to endure the bumpy wagon ride and help us carry several massive pumpkins back from the patch.

At the farm, we stocked up on fresh apples and apple cider along with some farm made apple and pumpkin butter. Jack fell in love with a new litter of pigs, and petted several other farm animals including goats, lambs, a calf, several chicks and ducks. One animal we did not pet was a very cranky donkey who was busy terrorizing his equine friends.