(Finally) A (bit of a) Winter Wonderland

Today when we woke up at the lake (aka Pake and Beppe's house), we could hardly believe our eyes.  It was snowing!  HUGE white flakes fell straight down for most of the morning.  It was beautiful!  So of course, we had to head out and play in it :)

Little Miss Z and I constructed our first snowman of the season.  

Z named her "Tricia".

While we were putting together Tricia, the boys (Michael, Pake, T and his buddy E) were having fun with their own building project - "an ice fortress"!

Where the frozen lake meets the shoreline, a large ridge of ice has formed.  Much to little boys' delight, rather large chunks of ice can be stomped apart creating perfect building blocks for a fort.

Sometimes the ice pieces were a little too heavy for one set of hands and teamwork was the name of the game!

And of course, what better way to end your winter play time than with a tasty hot cup of cocoa.

Good to the last drop!