Dec and Jan

The kids, eating the first of the Christmas cookies we decorated and made.
 December was VERY warm, for the most part! The boys and I enjoyed many walks, snacks, adventures outside after school! (eating peanuts on the grass)

 Charlie was SO thoughtful!! He wanted to have a picnic, so made a delicious (plastic) lunch, and even made a FIRE!! (picture on the right) His is one creative boy!!

 CHARLIE TURNS 6!!!!
Charlie had 2 friends over for pizza and a trip to chucke-cheese!
Lego's seemed to be the theme, as well as starwars!
Charlie is a kind boy, who thinks of others needs and ways he could
                                                 help them. He has a tenter, inventive, very curios and silly personality
                                                 What a joy to celebrate with him, and SO happy he belongs to us!!!
                                                 He loves anything related to space, lego's and  star wars at the moment
                                                  He has always been a fast runner, and is really looking forward
                                                 to participating in his first race in the spring!!! 

Just being silly, and getting ready for a party we had in our basement....

Lunch date with m'boys!! They are the light of my life, and I am going to be DEVASTATED when they are in 1st grade and kindergarten. So silly and fun, and great shoppers!!

Lucy just doing what she loves best, READING! This is some homework she was working on, but she usually has her nose in some chapter book.
Hank and I at his pajama party @ preschool

On about December 19th, lucy started getting sick, and just wasn't herself. She actually stayed sick all through Christmas, and the worst of it being when we traveled to Utah. She was sleeping over 20 hours, and not eating or drinking....she finally made a turn around, just as we were heading home, but boy were we scared.
This left a lot of time for Hank do play on the ipad...luck dog!  A treat in our house for sure! It also left the boys much time to construct amazing forts, as I was quite buys taking care of lucy bug, getting ready for Christmas and our Utah trip.

Christmas morning!! Looking for reindeer poop, which I've heard you can eat!!! and opening presents! Big gifts this year was a new bike for Lucy and her new brown boots shes wanted for MONTHS. Charlie, legos and a massive dinosaur "stuffie" (stuffed animal) Hank, a snorkel set, and more board games.

We didn't quite relax on Christmas morn, as we packed, and by 10am were out the door for UTAH.
We had to beat a storm, and made it there that night.

Honorable mentions in Utah were Hank getting SOSOOS sick, over 104.0 temp, Lucy staying sick, I sprained my ankle in an indoor soccer game (still taking it easy on that) and Charlie, getting to watch many many movies, as thats all Lucy and Hank could do.
My poor MIL was taking care of quite the crew, and lets be honest, I'm sure after 6 days was THRILLED to have us go. Oh, we were a train wreck!!

 

 While visiting, we had some quality time with G&G Sloan, doing puzzles and sleepovers, AND a few adventures with Abe and Linds to see the lights. 

Lucy, you cant tell in the pict, but she was white as a ghost, and we actually pushed her in a stroller the whole night.
This was our worst Christmas ever, but sure left some memories to talk about.

 

One thing, the last day before Jeff and I left on a snowmobiling trip, was pictures with the Sanders fam! Lucy was feeling her best yet, (after 7 days of such a scare) and hank was about 75% normal, so lucky for us, I think we got some great family shots!!!!!

Jeff and I spent new years up in West Yellowstone, Montana with the Sanders adults.
Karma and Mel were SO kind in giving us a 4 day trip, as was my family for splitting up the kids.
Its always great to get together with family, but when you live out of state, your an outsider, and sometimes getting together, you still feel like one, but over all, I think a good time was had!!

First day renting our snow gear and the mobiles for the next 2 days.

First day out, and  boy, was I under dressed. At our ride into old faithful, I seriously wondered if I'd be able to get back on!! I couldn't feel my hands, fingers or toes, and my eyeballs and nose were numb. Having said that, it was so spectacular and magical seeing Yellowstone so deserted, and in its winter slumber. We saw some picturesque scenery, animals, and enjoyed the stillness  at this time of year.

Heres all the gang! Jeffs brother Gabe and wife Holly. Karma with me down front. Back Jeff
youngest brother Zack with wife Karlyn, Jeff, Mel, Jamie in front with wife Kim, Jeffs sister.

The second day, right off the bat, as we were our own guides, got lost. How is that possible? 10 adults...but we did it. We eventually found our way back on the trail, and rode free, on side trails, till 5 pm! It was a wild ride, and so different from going in the park.
Both days were different and unique by themselves.

Packed up and ready to go home, at our rest stop in grand junction, 5 hours in, our tarp and ripped, car emergency signs were flashing for our engine, but, we pushed on, and made it home.

Charlies first lost tooth!! Got a dollar from the tooth fairy!

The boys and I at the children's museum, making bead creations with Christmas gifts we got, and transporting one another in now unused Christmas boxes.
Charlie made these bead creations, and sold them each for 75cents. What a guy!!!

Lucy standing IN the golden river. We went up over Martin Luther King Day to swim at the rec center,  and saw some unusual footage. The river had been frozen, and had created this hodgepodge of a mess.
Never seen anything like it....

I'm looking to follow Lucy's great example. Always has a book in her hand.

Lego and Puzzle mania at our house lately for these two little boys.

And, the nightly ritual with dada. Hes an amazing father, and I am so thrilled my children have him to look up to as a supporter, father and spouse!!!! What a guy!