{flying with the greatest of ease}

I was spontaneous yesterday.  

It doesn't happen as often as it maybe should, but everyone had the best time, and it taught me that sometimes those quick, spur-of-the-moment decisions can make some of the best memories.  

I think we were dying to do something snow-related, since we have very little snow (including NONE on Christmas) and really haven't been able to get outside and do something fun in the snow this whole week.  We were looking forward to sledding, tobogganing, and wanted to take all the kids cross country skiing, but no such luck.  I feel like we're on the clock, because Rick will start his busy season next week, and then our weekend will be fairly non-existent until March.  With him home the last couple of weeks, it was the perfect time to enjoy these things, so that's probably why I jumped at the chance to go yesterday--we all did.

We headed out to a place that has tubing runs--they hook your tubes to a pulley and it pulls you up the hill, then you slide down.  Repeat.  Over and over and over!  The boys were tall enough to go, so Rick and I each sat in a double tube with one of them, and the other three had their own tubes.  When you you were ready to go down though, you could hook your tube together by holding on to the handles on the outside, so up to four of us could go at the same time.  It was perfect. 

Kate is my little daredevil.  She will do anything.  Nothing scares her when it comes to things that are high and fast.  She was so excited to go down the hill the first time, she could hardly stand it.  She went up by herself, and down by herself--and couldn't wait to do it again.  I was a few people back in line, and Emma was clutching my hand.  She was really nervous to go, but so wanted to do it, and I promised her that I would hold on to her tube the whole time.  She saw Kate start to go down, and she turned to me and said "Kate is so brave."  I turned to her and I told her that SHE was the brave one.  Courage isn't doing something that you're not afraid to do---courage is facing your fears, trying something new, and doing something that you may be a little scared of. She looked up at me, threw her arms around my waist, and thanked me in her sweet little voice.  We got to the front of the line, and I saw her start to hesitate--I told her again I would be right there, and that I knew she could do it, and she climbed in her tube.  I grabbed a hold of her tube's handle, and down we went.  Her face was frozen at first, but within seconds she was grinning ear to ear. We got to the bottom, and she was ready to do it again.  And that she did, the whole time we were there. I'm so, so proud of my girl.  She was the bravest of all.

To say Henry loved it is putting it mildly.  I sat in a double tube with him, and I was laughing out loud the entire time we were there.  Even going up the pulley had him so excited he could hardly stand it, and he would yell out "go, go" the whole time.  He did not like to stand in line--he was ready to get down that hill again.  On the way down, he was grinning ear-to-ear, and laughed and laughed.  Several times we were hooked to Ryan and Kate, and the guy at the top spun us when he pushed us down, and Henry was in heaven.  I LOVED being a part of that.  Jack rode with Rick except for the last time down the hill, when we traded tubes.  It was really fun to go with Jack too, and while he wasn't quite as jubilant, he smiled and laughed and said "wheeeeeeee" all the way down. 

Every single one of us thoroughly enjoyed the time we were there.  It was most definitely one of our favorite family activities, and can't wait to go back again!

.....

{Waiting in line to pay and checking out the hill}

{Kate, on the way up!}

 {Ryan, on the way down}

 {Waiting in line for the next run--Ryan, Kate, Henry and I, then Rick, Jack and Emma}

 {Rick and Jack}

 {My brave girl, Miss Emma Caroline}

 {Kate, Miss Daredevil herself}

 {Kate and Ryan on the way down---Henry and I are hooked to them.  Let's just say I did my best to hold on to Kate's tube, to the camera, and take a picture at the same time we're flying down the hill...}

 {My Henry B., Mr. Perma-grin on the way up the hill}

{and Henry on the way down...his grin hasn't moved}

 {Jack Jack, on the way up the hill--our only ride together}

{the girls}

 {Ryan, sharing his music with Henry, who loves it!}

 {over and out}

Happy Winter!

{merry christmas}

Christmas Eve is my favorite part of Christmas, even more than Christmas morning.  I think it may be the anticipation of what will be, and all the things you do to celebrate and prepare before the the moment arrives and it's time to come downstairs. 

I love watching Christmas movies by the fire with mugs of hot chocolate, driving to see all of the Christmas lights, delivering treats to neighbors and friends, enjoying a yummy meal out together as a family, acting out the Nativity, reading the Christmas story, singing Christmas carols around the piano while the little ones dance around the family room, and then finally, after all the kids are tucked in their beds (with sugar plums dancing in their heads), Rick and I begin a tradition that dates back to when we were first married.  

We save all the wrapping for that night, and together, as we watch a movie (this year it was my all-time favorite Christmas movie, Meet Me in St. Louis), and sip hot chocolate, we get everything ready for the next morning.  There is something so magical about coming down in the morning, and being surprised to see all the gifts under the tree--I just love it. 

We were finished early this year, by past years' standards, and we were in bed a little after midnight--just in time for Santa to come.  :) The kids had been up late that night, so we were hoping they would sleep in, if only just a little.  We were lucky--and they didn't come in until about 7am.  Rick gathered the kids on the stairs, while I went down to turn on the tree lights and grab my camera.  

After we discovered what Santa has left in our stockings, it would normally be time for breakfast, then presents afterward.  This year however, since we had church at 11:30am, we went right to the presents.  There were no complaints.  :) The girls were thrilled to finally have their American Girl dolls, and the little boys were in heaven with Lightning McQueen and Mater Legos and race cars.  Ryan's favorite gift was an iPod Touch, and it was even more fun because it was a huge surprise. I love it when it's something they don't expect at all! 

Breakfast needed to be a little faster than it might have been otherwise, but we still enjoyed it and were able to get ready in time to leave for church.  I love when Christmas falls on a Sunday, and we're able to go to church.  It brings me back to the actual reason we celebrate Christmas--not the presents under the tree, or that Santa Claus came, but that a little baby was born in a stable long ago--who was Jesus Christ, our Savior.

 I sat with my family in the chapel, looked around the room at some of our dearest friends and family away from home, and felt an immense gratitude for all that I've been given.  Singing Christmas songs together, listening to beautiful musical presentations, and hearing Christmas messages was the perfect way to celebrate and enjoy Christmas Day.  It was wonderful!

Merry Christmas!

[nativity 2011}

Acting out the Nativity has long been one of our favorite Christmas Eve traditions.

It usually takes at least five takes to get a presentable final product, especially with such little kids, and this year was no exception.  We had baby Jesus stolen from his manger by the shepherd, Joseph beat up by the shepherd (notice a trend here?), the angel was losing her robe, and Mary fell of the donkey.  In the end we managed to get a version that was pretty good, but at that point anything short of chaos would have been acceptable.

Cast: (in order of appearance)

Donkey: Ryan
Mary: Emma
Joseph: Jack
Shepherd: Henry
Angel: Kate

It really is our little family's celebration of the birth of our Savior, and we are so grateful for Him--for His teachings, His life, and especially His sacrifice for us.

{santa house}

The last few weeks have been a blur.  Every year I talk about how busy the holidays were, but I think this year beats them all.  With the Nativity and concert, a wedding open house at our home, cooking a turkey dinner for 250 people (our ward Christmas party), plus all of the other festivities, activities, parties, and family traditions squeezed in, I was going non-stop.

Needless to say, blogging hasn't been a possibility, and I have a strew of things to post.  Rick is home is this week, and it's allowing me to catch up on a myriad of things, including posting about some of our holiday adventures.  First up?  One of our absolute favorite traditions...going to the Santa House.

 

Once you step inside, you're transported to a magical place full of elves, a doll's workshop, life-size nutcrackers, toy trains, and more climbing its two story walls. Santa is there, and he lends his listening ear to all those who sit on his lap.  You can sign his book, and leave your list behind, in hopes that at least one of the things you are wishing for will show up under your tree.

 

This year we went during the day, after the girls were out of kindergarten.  It was mostly to beat the long lines that can form, and avoid standing outside in the cold with our little ones.  Ryan wasn't really up to going and sitting on Santa's lap this year, so we went while he was in school.  It was a good plan---we didn't have to wait long, and there was plenty inside to entertain the kids while we waited for our turn with Santa.

The little boys would have nothing to do with Santa.  Henry kept backing up, and soon he was at the door, ready to leave as fast as he could.  Jack wouldn't leave my side--there was no way he was going anywhere near him.  Kate was the first one there, which is no surprise, and then Emma carefully walked up to him and let him lift her on his lap.  

There is a sleigh inside the Santa House that's perfect for capturing a family photo, and I love comparing them from year-to-year, seeing how our family has grown.

We were on the countdown now...Christmas was almost here!

{christmas sweater party}

After some discussion, some of my girlfriends and I thought it would be the best idea to have a Christmas sweater party. You know, the kind where we try to find the ugliest sweater possible, and then where it for the whole world to see.  :)

 I had searched and searched for the perfect sweaters, and I knew exactly what I wanted.  Unfortunately, the thrift shops were stripped clean, and the ones I found at the store were totally expensive! Who knew?  

I finally settled for some sweatshirts I found at Walmart, and they were pretty ugly.  Rick also had a lovely green turtleneck to go with it, and we were looking pretty fancy. 

The plan was set...we met for dinner at a Genji's, where our sweaters were revealed for the first time.

After dinner we headed back to the Carns' house for some pretty crazy pictures...

After pictures, we played the most hilarious Christmas version of Minute to Win It, which Brook and Chuck put together.  Hilarious.  We all made total fools of ourselves, and were just fine with it...we all wanted to win!  It all came down to a tiebreaker game, which Erica won...the Joneses were the big winners of this beauty (and I am still totally jealous)...

 

 

It was a fabulous night, and I'm sure it will be the first of what becomes a very fun tradition!

{a conclusion and a bump}

Important conversation after finding one of the playroom pails dented in and smashed...

Me:  What happened to the pail, Emma?

Emma: (in her very small, but very matter-of-fact tone)
I stood on it.

Me: (in my not so small, but definitely matter-of-fact tone)

  Why did you stand on it?

Emma:  I wanted to see if it could hold me.

Me:  And???

Emma:  It couldn't.

Hmmm.  Good to know.

.....

And in other news, it's a long distance from the top of the island to the floor for a 2 year old.

This picture doesn't even do it justice--it actually looks a lot worse in real life.  You can't see his other eye (which is probably good for you), because he and Henry have both had pink eye this week.

Poor baby.

{trees, cookies, cards, and a concert}

I feel like I really haven't stopped moving for the past couple of weeks. It's been busy x 1000, and it seems as though everything is in fast forward. It's a little past midnight, and as I'm sitting here typing, my eyes are feeling a little droopy, and all I want to do is turn off the light and go to sleep. I press on, because I know if I don't do it now there are no promises as to when it will get done.  

My parents are leaving in the morning, and I suppose I'm somewhat in denial.  We've had a wonderful couple of weeks with them here, and I know we are all are going to feel their absence. We have packed a lot into the time they were here, and I'm so glad we were able to experience so many fun Christmas activities and traditions together.

.....

The first on the list was decorating the trees...we have one in the family room, and a kids' tree in the basement.  I {love} having a tree for the kids---it's the perfect place for all the ornaments they make at school and for their own personal ornaments. They definitely had the most fun decorating this tree--probably because I let them do it however they wanted to.  :) One of my favorite parts of the whole process is just sitting back and watching my kids--what they say, which ornaments are their favorites, and just how their personalities come through with their individual decorating techniques.  I wish I could freeze certain moments in time--and this was one of them.  Tradition states that we make and decorate sugar cookies on tree decorating day, which I think is very appropriate.  :)  I was happy because I discovered the most fabulous gluten-free sugar cookie mix, and there was barely any difference between them and our favorite cookies.  Emma was thrilled, and that was worth it all.

Kid's Tree

Family Tree

.....

I've had my Christmas cards for several weeks now, but this weekend my own little assembly line got them put together in no time.  Ryan attached the letter and the address label, Emma stuffed, and Kate licked. Very efficient, if I do say so myself! 

.....

 Each year our church presents a Nativity Exhibit to the community, featuring over 500 Nativities, and I absolutely love it. It fills every room of our building, and showcases the most unique nativities from all over the world.

  I have been really involved with it since we moved here, and every year it's one of the highlights of the Christmas season. About four years ago, we added a concert one of the evenings of the exhibit, and I have been responsible for organizing it since it's inception. It has been really good for me to be involved musically, since I don't get nearly as many opportunities as a busy mom.  I really enjoy working with musicians from the community, as well as from other areas, and I appreciate their willingness to donate their time and talents for such a wonderful evening. The highlight this year was a handbell ensemble, specifically a handbell tree solo that was absolutely incredible.  I just love music, and I can't imagine the season without it.  It brings the spirit of Christmas like nothing else can, the evening was a huge success.  It was worth all of the craziness getting to that point, for sure. This year I was especially glad that my parents were here to see it. They were also a HUGE help during the week.  Rick was out of town, and it would have been so much harder to get things done. 

.....

We did so many other fun things too...shopped, made Christmas crafts and tags, hiked with Ryan, made homemade french fries, saw a really fun light show, watched Christmas movies, drank yummy homemade hot chocolate, and ate lots of yummy food. It really was a wonderful two weeks, and we're so happy that we were able to share a little bit of Christmas with them.

{the first snow}

There is something so magical about the first snow. I love living in the country for many reasons, but the way all the trees look when the sun is shining through the snow and ice is breathtaking. The world was quiet, as if to remind us how incredible it really is.

We woke up one morning last week to a perfectly white wonderland, and the kids could not wait to get outside.  The girls didn't have kindergarten due to a 2 hour delay, and they were thrilled to stay home and enjoy the snow.  Ryan was just grateful he got to sleep in.  :) We bundled them all up, and my dad took them out to build the first snowman of the season.

It wasn't the greatest packing or rolling snow, so they improvised.  They took a plastic storage container, packed it full of snow, and then turned it upside down.

It made the cutest square snowman you've ever seen.

We always make homemade ice cream on the first day of snow, but since the week was so busy, we had to postpone it just a little bit. This weekend will be the perfect time to enjoy one of our other favorite things!

{o christmas tree}

I look forward to this day all year long--it is one of my absolute favorite Christmas traditions.  I can't imagine Christmas without a fresh-cut tree (our favorite is Concolor), filling the house with the most tantalizing smell.

It was even more fun this year because my parents and sister's family were here with us, and it made for quite the outing as we headed to our favorite tree farm.  We piled out of the car, fully enjoying the 60 degree weather. It was SO warm, and the sun was shining brightly in the sky. I had bundled the kids up pretty well, but it wasn't too long before they were handing me hats, gloves, and even coats.  It was a beautiful day, and as we rode on the hayride out to the tree area, I just closed my eyes and tried to soak it all in.

There was a lot of help choosing the perfect tree, and every few seconds I would hear another shout..."come look at this one!" All the kids were in on the selection, and it was fun to see which trees they liked the best.

 Jack and Henry were also in their element--running through the trees, playing with sticks, and enjoying the freedom of the open air.

We finally decided on a tree, and I think we got the best one.  ☺

 

Everyone was starving after our Christmas tree adventure, so we headed to our favorite pizza place for pizza and ice cream.  We ate to our heart's content, and went home very happy.  

I love Christmas!