Snow, "Puppy Lay", and the Live Nativity

Over the last week we have gotten about a foot of snow and we are loving it. Luckily we have been able to stay home and not have to travel in it which make it even that much more fun since we can either stay inside and watch it in all its beauty or play outside in it. On the day we got the most snow I went to go get Hallie and the suburbans battery was dead. I call Erin to come rescue me. Brett happened to be home as well so they all came. They helped me push the suburban out of the garage and then found out the jumper cables were to short to reach from one side of her battery to the other side where my battery was. Just while we were trying to figure it out a 2 wheel drive truck slide into the gutter up the hill from me so we ran up to help get them out. In the mean time another neighbor went to get Hallie from preschool and when she dropped her off they were able to jump the suburban. Then we proceeded to help a couple other vehicles stuck in the snow. It was a day I was reminded how blessed I am to have great friends that will help me when Im in a tight spot.

A couple days after that our babysitter flaked last minute. I was racking my brain trying to think who would be around to watch the girls on a Saturday night in December last minute. Matt thought of his old secretary from RJP who is frequently mentioning how much she misses the girls. Matt called her and she was thrilled. Come to find out both her teenage girls had both cancelled their plans for the night so they could stay home and play with the girls. I was shocked and once again reminded at how loved and blessed our little family is. The girls had a fantastic time and they learned how to doggie pile. While we were still at their house Hallie said watch mom I know how to puppy lay. We all sat there for a minute trying to figure out what she was saying before the room broke into laughter...what a silly girl.

 We heard through the grapevine about the live nativity in West Haven we have lived in Ogden for 7 years now and I was surprised we hadn't heard about it sooner but we decided it would be a great family night the week of Christmas. The girls were fascinated with all the live animals. Hallie asked a lot of great questions and I think now understands the nativity story better than she ever could have from a book.

I think this may become part of our yearly traditions. It was great to be reminded about the true meaning of Christmas all that happens around that time of year.

Sister Candy Making

So with the holidays approaching it was yet again time to make some candy only this time we got together with my sisters and the girls cousins. We were all pretty excited. We each picked a treat and brought the ingredients to make it we then split it between all of us. Kimber chose caramels and decided to try microwave caramels..they turned out just as good as stove ones. Nic choose graham cracker crack...seriously addicting. I picked peppermint brownies so we had a good mix. Here are the 3 cooks in the kitchen and my beautiful sisters. Maybe one day my mom will live close enough to join us.

 And while the 3 of us cooked this is what the 5 little monsters did....but really they were fabulous. Kinley slept most of the time and the other 4 were pretty content to play and watch a show. 

 Hallie asked to borrow my phone and took some selfies...lol

 Most of the kids did really well without naps but poor Luke was so tired and wouldn't give in 

 These 3 sillies have so much fun together and keep themselves very busy

 Once this little ham got up she enjoyed watching us and eating her snack in her new favorite place to sit.

 And here are the results of our labors and it was all delicious

So much fun to do things with my sisters to catch up and to also let the kids play. Although it probably will never be convenient to get together it is always worth it.

Skiing (Hallie & Gracie's 1st time on skis)

The girls were both so excited when we told them we were going to go skiing. So since then every time it snows Hallie has asked if it was time to go skiing. Well yesterday it was finally time to go skiing. After both the girls had good naps we layered up and headed for Wolf Mountain. On the way we stopped to rent skis and grab some dinner to eat on the way up. The girls we so ready and giggled and talked about skiing most the way up the canyon.

 Once we got there and got everyone dressed they were more than ready, Gracie was getting impatient and kept crying. We need to learn to get dressed faster but I think that will come with practice.

Here is Gracie ready to go. We  couldn't find a ski helmet little enough for her so she wore her bike helmet and a hat

 This is Hallie finally ready to hit the slopes

 We started out with Matt taking Hallie and I took Gracie. We bought some egde wedgies to help hold the girls tips together and a new thing called ski ease to help control the skis from the back.

 We were a little over ambitious and headed for the lift the 1st run....yes hindsight is 20/20 we were crazy. Both girls loved the lift but the run was to long for their little legs and to much of a work out for Matt and I's legs...we are out of shape!!!

 So after we survived that we decided to stick to the magic carpet so we did a few more runs then decided it was time for a hot cocoa break. We knew we would need to take a lot of breaks so it was more fun and hopefully everyone would enjoy it more.

 Silly faces before heading back out for more skiing.

 Our little skiing family

I think we all had a great time. We ended up only taking the 1 hot cocoa break. We spent the remainder of our night on the magic carpet until it broke about 8:30 and we decided to head for home. Gracie cried and Hallie asked if we could come back the next day...I think they liked it. Hallie did amazing and by the end of the night was skiing with only one of us in front of her. She had her snowplow down really well and even a few turns as well. Gracie loved going down the hill and would say wow all the way down. She was doing great putting her hands on her knees and leaning to turn. She skied in between our legs all night. She liked holding onto the poles to go down as well. Now that we know they like it we are going to try and find some skis to buy for both girls. It was a great night and I think one of many ski nights in the future. 

Blue Iguana & Temple Square

Its that time of year again when we make the trip to temple square to see the lights. This year it worked out that Tiff was coming into town to see the Motab Christmas Concert so we set up for all of us to have dinner before the concert. We were really excited to get together and see everyone and of coarse eat some good food. We also decided to invite Mindi and Corey to come since they might as well be family and they wanted to walk around and see the lights with us after. When we got to the restaurant we had a little bit of a wait ahead of us but the kids didn't seem to mind they played on the stairs and entertained themselves while the adults visited. We have joked since we found out we were having a girl that Hallie and Nathan were destined to get married. Well I don't know if that will  happen but for now they are great friends. Hallie was so excited when we told her we would be going to dinner and see the lights.

 Gracie was so funny and wanted her picture taken so we turned the camera around but the lighting wasn't that great so we tried getting Matt to take the picture but she wouldn't smile again so we settled for this darling picture we got with not perfect lighting.

 Then she took the picuture of Matt

It was so fun to see Tiff, Aaron, Brit, Mindi, Corey and their friends and family

 Then came some silliness...and the photo bomber above

 After dinner everyone but us and the Holmgrens headed to the choir concert and we layered up to see the lights. 

I was so glad we thought to take pictures at the beginning because by the end everyone was ready to be done and probably wouldn't have cooperated with picture taking. 

Daddy's Day Off and a Trip to the Movies

Now that we got to the end of the year I was thrilled when we figured out Matt had some extra vacation so we picked a few random days to just spend with our little family and last weeks Friday was one of them. We had made plans to go to Frozen and both the girls were so excited. They had been talking for weeks about going and were like kids on Christmas the morning we got up and ready to go. We stopped on the way at the dollar store to pick out treats and drinks and then we were ready. There were only 4 other people in the theater other than us and it was prefect. Gracie got a little restless so we just let her wander up and down the isle. 

 So glad to spend some time with this awesome hubby of mine

 After the movie we ran a few errands and we to grab lunch . As always when you ask Hallie where she wants to eat she says somewhere she can sit down and stay to eat. So we decided on Chilis. We had a great waitress that helped entertain the kids while we waited for our food. Not that Hallie needed all that much entertaining.

After lunch we hurried home in time to see Tyler on his way back to Alpine. Its always nice to see old friends and caught up on life. It was a great day start to finish. I love days we get to be together with really no where to be so we can take our time and do what we want.

Angel Tree 2013

I have always liked doing angel tree names and now Hallie is starting to understand what is means which adds even more magic to it. Matt mentioned a couple weeks ago that the Weber campus in Layton had their tree up and from that point on Hallie asked every couple days when we were going to pick her a "friend." So that weekend we headed up to Weber and we all got to pick our "friend." They don't have names(just ages, gender, and sizes) so Hallie took it upon herself to name all of them. Hers name is Kimi(after aunt kim) and the rest of them...well they change depending on the day. Here is Hallie with her "friend" next to the tree

 Gracie was less than cooperative for pictures but Ill take what I can get. 

Now Hallie just keeps asking when we are going to have time to go shopping for her "friend" and the answer to that is hopefully soon. So the day we were going shopping I asked the girls to get their coats and boots. Hallie was no cooperating so I told her if she didn't get ready she was getting left. She said that was fine she didn't want to go shopping for the little girl anymore. So I told her if she made the choice to not go shopping then this little girl wouldn't get a Christmas and that wasn't her choice to make. So if she chose to stay home I told her I would be taking every present under the tree to give to the little girl. She sat quietly for a few minutes and then said I don't think there is anything she wants that Im getting. I then asked what she thought she was getting. She listed several things that may or may not be under the tree and then I replied I think she will love all those things. And headed out the door she came running behind and said mom I think we should buy her her own presents so we can both be happy on Christmas. And that was a good answer so we went shopping and the girls had a great time. Im disappointed because I took no pictures. I had to remind Hallie a couple times that these gifts were not for her and then she did great looking frequently at her little girls list and asking me to read it again. Im grateful for opportunities like this to teach our kids to be selfless and think of someone else.

Candy Making Time

Its that time of year again...candy making time. Growing up my mom made caramels, chocolate pretzels, and even idle isle chocolates but not much outside of that so since we got married I have wanted to try a new candy each year. This year is almond joys and they could quite possibly be my favorite. Its also getting more fun since the girls can help now and want to be involved. The almond joys were perfect the could help with almost all of it. 

 I think for every 2 we dipped I think we ate 1

On the list is also caramels, nutballs, fudge, english toffee, carmel apples, turtle, and pretzel rods. We have a lot of work to do so we started with the caramel apples. Here they are all washed and ready to be dipped in homemade caramel.

Here are the apple spinners they really wanted to help so they were in charge of spinning the apples so they would be ready for the caramel

 And cooling down before getting a coat of chocolate and candy topping