Snowshoeing in Millcreek Canyon

My Little Kate

I'm having fun with my sweet Kate. I can't stand that she'll be gone from me all day in the fall. She's such good company, and still willing to have her picture taken: a nice combination.

Crystal Cove

Can you stand even MORE pictures?

And can you believe we did so much over Christmas break? No wonder we're all exhausted...

One of our traditions is to go to Crystal Cove with the family. I think this was the very first time we've gone without Eric and Christina, and we all missed them so much. It was a bonus, though, to have Kurt and Ashleigh and Mike join us for the first time.

My kids love poking sea anemones, I love playing with the coastal light (gorgeous, although I didn't get any spectacular pictures), and we all love being on the beach.

Aspen Grove

Mom and Dad gave us a fantastic trip to Aspen Grove for New Year's. Bri & Mike couldn't be there because of the impending birth of baby ?, and Ananda and Steven couldn't come either. We missed them all a lot. Hate to say it, guys, but you missed a party.

Skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, eating, games, staying up way too late (this seems to be a theme for me lately. Argh.): fun fun fun. I loved being with my family so much this break.

Thanks, Mom and Dad (and also to Mom for watching the littles so I could ski with David and Josh. That was fantastic.)

Christmas Memories

I can't believe Christmas 2008 has ended. My house can't either. It's still covered in Christmas decorations and downstairs the presents have yet to all find homes. But the calendar tells me it's over, so I'd better accept it and prepare myself for some cleaning extravaganzas.

Before that, however, here is some evidence that this holiday season was well-spent.

First, the Heber Christmas parties. We spent the Saturday before Christmas with David's extended family at his mom's house for our annual caroling party: cold Heber nights, warm soup, and lots of fun conversations. I especially love watching the cousins together, both older and younger. I love the mix of ages in David's family, and how much love is shown to us by everyone. The next night was our annual Sinterclaus party with Paul, Cindee, Rachelle, Bill, & Mom. We eat a simple dinner, then move to the highlight of the night. Poems. Everyone is assigned a person and writes a poem describing all his or her wonderful attributes. At the end, we add a little something that person could work on this year to be even more amazing. Funny funny funny and also often sweet. Paul and David's poems generally become way over-the-top songs. The kids started joining in a couple of years ago, and their poems are sweet.



Christmas in California was NOT warm, as I had hoped, but we still managed to have a fantastic time.

Christmas Eve was filled with memories. The extended family party was held at my Nana's house, just as when I was growing up. She is a gracious and kind hostess. The food was delicious, and the BEST PART OF ALL...I made it to the grown-up table. Yes, I did. I never thought it would happen. I've been at the kids' table my whole life, but because we were missing Aunt Jan and Uncle Jeff, the powers that be decided that David and I were ready for that big step.

The Nativity was sweet. Kate was an angel, Sophie was Mary, Josh a shepherd, and Cole was Joseph. The older cousins were wisemen. There were no animals, until later that night when Cole was surprised with a puppy. Oh my. Our gifts fell short after that.

Christmas morning we met on my parents' bed as always (it's always funny) for prayer before heading downstairs to open presents. Sophie didn't get a lime green sewing machine, but she seemed happy enough with the white one that showed up. Waffles with ice cream and strawberries were next, then laying around the whole day. We watched a few episodes of Planet Earth, played some games, and napped a little. Some of us never changed out of our pajamas, but I won't tell which ones. We had carne asada and chile relleno casserole for dinner. All in all, it was a truly successful Christmas day.

Christmas is Coming

We love Christmas around here, at least in theory. In practice, making Christmas special is tricky, and leads to lots of late nights and therefore, grumpy kids. And Mom. And sometimes Dad. I'm sure that in the long run, the traditions are all worth it, though, and really make December life feel exciting.

Some of our favorite traditions:

Picking out our Christmas tree, then having hot chocolate in mugs bigger than our heads.
Decorating the family room downstairs, too.
Doing the 12 days of Christmas for a couple of families every year. (Oh no. We forgot last night. Oh no.)
Reading in front of the Christmas tree.
Reading Advent scriptures.
Sleepover in front of the Christmas tree.
Christmas lights on Temple Square.
The creche exhibit in Midway (which we missed this year due to illness. Sad.)
Decorating gingerbread (Ahem. Graham cracker.) houses. We had a BLAST with Eric and Christina making them just last night (thus forgetting to do the fourth day of Christmas. I could just slap myself. Argh.) Thanks, guys!
Watching Christmas Story.
Acting out the nativity on Christmas Eve.
An impromptu Christmas Eve concert, complete with drumming to Little Drummer Boy.
Clam chowder and a Yule log for Christmas Eve dinner.
Taking treats to people we love.
Lots of fun.
Lots of treats.
Lots of secrets. The good kind.

I love this season. I love the idea of the Christ child in all his purity coming to earth in the most humble circumstances possible. I love teaching my children about Goodwill to Mankind. It's all good.

Except the not sleeping enough.

Thanksgiving 2008

I'm finally posting our Thanksgiving pictures.

The truth: My basement did NOT get fully organized before Thanksgiving. I did not recover any chairs, make any new curtains, or even take a shower before the first guests arrived. (I DID eventually take a shower, but after the first group showed up. It was embarrassing to be caught in my pink striped pajamas, especially when I realized that my shirt was inside out. Oh well...take me as I am, I guess.)

The other truth: It didn't matter. Perfection is not a prerequisite for gratitude. I was surrounded by my little family and some of my wonderful extended family, we ate delicious (I mean De-Li-Cious) food, we laughed, we relaxed, we loved.

So Happy Thanksgiving, a week late. I'm still eating like it's Thanksgiving, and I'm plumping up daily. Time to renew my commitment to exercise and eating right. Well, not right, but right-er.

Joshua vs Goliath

Fall Pictures

We spent last Sunday afternoon in Heber, having scones with David's mom, his sister Rachelle, and her family, and watching the afternoon session of General Conference. To top off a lovely day, we drove back into Wasatch Mountain State Park to enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.

(That last picture of clouds was taken by Josh. He's getting grabby with my camera. Little stinker. Now I have two kids fighting over it. I asked him if he wanted a camera for Christmas, and he said, "Not some dumb little one.")

I love this kid.