We have a couple of New Years traditions that we hold fast to. One I wanted to stop for reasons of pure laziness er I mean insanity er I mean because all the children had grown up, (but the Mr. would not hear of it, stating traditions are important, and then I think he sang the tradition song from Fiddler, which you're going to be singing now lol) At any rate you get the point! On New Years Eve, Father Time leaves a family gift under the tree. Something simple like a game or a movie or sometimes a new dvd player. Always something that the family can enjoy together.
The other tradition is tubing/sleigh riding on New Years day, followed by a feast of Clam chowder and ham of some kind. Sometimes we go up to the mountains, and sometimes we stay closer to home. This year it was bitter cold. (BTW we here in the Uintah Basin have been the coldest place in the US or so they said on the news..... ) anyway we stayed home so we could come in and warm up totally thaw out
and have hot chocolate, and hit the tubs again! We did get FROZEN :-)
One of our neighbors gave our teen an old snowmobile, which he and his cuz fixed up , and he has been in motorized heaven ever since. "Zooming" (because there is no other speed to a 14 yr boy) up and down the lane. My opinion? It's been sooooooo cold it's warmer to walk than ride on a "zooming" sled! LOL ANYWAY,
We pulled tubs and sleighs behind both his "sled" and the four wheeler. It was pretty fun for the bigger and fearless, and those with less sense, while the little guys just got pretty cold. Here it is, our teens pride an joy! Why did they make them with only one eye headlight?
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This is our son and his son. Look how red little brothers nose is!
This is our teen and one of the twiner grands. 
The other fearless twiner
Here is big brother looking cold too. His hat was knitted out of wool by his mom. Love it.
The teen trying out a "slower" version of a sled
This is Bo Dog. He's the back room lay about! He's around 16 this year, so I guess he's due.
This is big brother and I. Do I look comfortable? I was not. Couldn't do it. I needed more air in my tub or a smaller hole in the middle or..... something or rather! LOL I kept dragging my rear end , so we tried something different.
This WAS an accident waiting to happen! We were ALL tied onto the four wheeler, and I can't tell you for sure how many times we had to stop to collect someone on our mile ride. And yes, that's me sitting on my tub, and I rolled off of it as many times as the little kids did!
Here I am running to get back on. You can see how beautiful it is where we live. It was also just up the road about 20 feet that I found the cougar track.
Ahhhh! The warmth of a wood stove!
After we had eaten and warmed ourselves up, totally thawed out, we headed back outside for fireworks! We made a "valiant" effort to hoot and holler, wishing the cows and coyotes a Happy New Years Day!
Here's the best clam chowder recipe you'll ever want!
Clam Chowder................ Vern Kaaiakanamu
2 61/2 oz cans minced clams
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced celery
2 cups diced potatoes
3/4 cup butter (has to be butter)
3/4 cup flour
1 qt half and half, or cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash pepper
Pour clam juice over vegetables, (adding enough water to "just" cover them) and simmer for 20 minutes till done. Set aside. Melt butter in heavy pan, add flour . Cook 1-2 minutes until thick. Add cream, whisk until smooth and thick. Add vegetables and clams. Do not over cook.
I mostly double this, or more depending on how many are here to eat.
This year we ate it with open faced ham on homemade bread sandwiches. Soooo heavenly
Don't forget to go here and leave me a comment to be entered in my winter give away. Monday is Jan 10Th is the deadline. Carpe diem.......Seize The Day 
