SNOW... finally

We finally got snow the day after Christmas (so not right) but these pics are of our January 2nd snow storm and tubing adventure. We were so excited to finally get to go tubing. We had a blast inspite of the cold winds and relentless snow, even Madden liked it.

Christmas Eve bowling

We were so bummed this year not to have snow for our traditional Christmas Eve morning sledding. After much debate we decided we'd going bowling instead. Even though it wasn't our usual activity it made a great substitute. We all had fun, even the little ones.

I love this pic of Makayla and Coleman...it looks like thy're praying for Coleman's ball to hit the pins.

Coleman rolled his ball so slow that he always would lay on the floor and wait for it to hit the pins. So cute.

I just loved this pic of my red headed cutie :)

Christmas sugar cookies

We always make sugar cookies a few days before Christmas. Another activity the kids love. We always see who can decorate the best cookie. Everyone chooses 2 of their own to "enter" the competition and then everyone votes. This year the winner was a tie between Mariah and Wyatt. We then set aside the best ones for Santa. We were blessed this year by my sister Jenny's family and also the Johnson family giving us some great new cookie cutter and decorating funness (is that even a word?). Thanks you guys for making this tradition even more special.

Gingerbread house

We have a tradition of doing gingerbread houses on the Sunday before Christmas. The kids love it, even though we've started using the boxed store bought versions (so much easier). Each year everyone says it's the best one yet and no ones's going to touch it until after Christmas and yet by night's end, the house starts loosing candy and slowly it is almost "naked" by Christmas. Amazing :)

Smells so good...not

I know this picture is hard to see, but I had to post this. We had our annual Christmas open house on the 16th of December. It was scheduled to begin at 6:00 and right before it began, Tyson thought the fire needed a little boost...he dosed it with lighter fluid. Holy heck did that stink. This pic is of Tyson trying to fan the fumes out the window. Lesson learned...if don't want your house to reak(and boy did it) before 70 of your closest friends come, don't add lighter fluid! It still ended up being a great night full of food and friends.

Christmas concert

We had the annual 2nd and 3rd grade Christmas concerts again this year, our 4th year in a row (only 7 more years to go). Wyatt and Makayla were this year's participants. They did such a good job. Wyatt got to play the xylaphone for one of the songs. I love that our school still celebrates Christmas by singing about our Saviour's birth. It was a great night.

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I absolutely love hosting the dinner and all of the family.I love the days of cooking and the anticipation of cousins arriving for the weekend. I love trying new recipes in hopes that they will become new holiday traditions. I love that feeling that permeates the house as the holiday season begins. Love it. Love it. Love it. Not all of the family was able to come this year :( but we still had a blast. Katie and her 4 kids (my awesome niece and nephews), Evan had Amber and 3 more of my beautiful nieces, my Mom and Dad, and Emily were all here (missed you Lykins, Richard's clan and Aunt Jan and Uncle Butch). It was a fun filled 4 days. We ate ourselves sick and shopped till we dropped. What more could you ask for?

The menu: turkey (first time I brined it...so yummy), ham, mashed potaotes and gravy, stuffing, corn, onion casserole, bread braids, green bean casserole, chicken and noodles, sweet potatoe casserole, jello salads ,cranberries, my favorite salad ever (Annie Gardner's super salad... wierd name), yummy fruit salad, 13 pies, 3 kinds of cookies, rice krispie treats, and hot spiced cider. So good.


Only 10 more months till we get to do it again :)