New Adventures..

Living in Boise has offered us quite a few new adventures which we have loved.  When I was really little my family skied quite a bit in Wyoming and Utah. It was such a fun family activity.  Back then it was pretty affordable too.  Not really the case anymore.  I didn't really figure it would be something we'd do much as a family since it is quite expensive.  Enter Bogus Basin, a great little ski resort just about 45 minutes from downtown Boise.  Kids under 7 ski FREE!!! Seriously.  And adults are only $20 to night ski, but you can get $10 off coupons.  $10 for an adult to ski!!!  So last week, I took Emily up with my brother and his little boy.  We had such a great time.  I loved skiing again.  And I especially loved that my little girl loved it too.  She did so well!  Now I just need to teach Jason and Lauren and we'll be just about set! 

SNOW...Finally!

We have waited all winter for snow.  In December it was cold...very cold but no snow.  Finally a couple weeks ago it happened.  It started snowing early in the morning and by lunch we had about 6 inches.  It was so peaceful and beautiful.  But, sadly, just in time for kids to be out of school, it turned to rain.  The girls still played after school but it was really just more wet than snow.  We are still hoping for some more!

Spys in Training

A few weeks ago we watched a few of my nephews for the evening.  We were trying to decide on something boy worthy to do with them (this is not really easy for us.)  Jason to the rescue!!  With a bit of tape and streamers, he set up this great little spy training course in our hallway!  The kids had to crawl, step or slide around the "lasers" to retrieve the nerf gun and bring it back.  All while being timed.  It was a big hit, even the girls loved it.  We have since had to set it up several time!  I love simple, easy games like this.

Ready, Set.....Walk!

After what seemed like months of "almost" being there..she has done it..she's a walker!  And she loves it.  She spends all day wandering around the house, moving toys from one place to another.  Jason and I were laughing the other night saying she looks like a cross between an elderly person and a zombie when she walks.  But it is super cute!

So proud of herself!

Her two favorite things: babies & necklaces.  Such a girl!

Finally enough hair for a tiny tail!  She didn't love it so much!

Chocolate chip cookies...yum.

She loves to sit on the bottom step with her babies!

A New Seattle Adventure

In the past, when we've visited Seattle, our favorite activity was always to go to the waterfront and have lunch and then ride the ferry.  Well, it seems that the city of Seattle didn't think they were making enough off of the ferries so the have DRASTICALLY increased the price to walk on the ferry.  Sad day!  So this year, we set out to find a new fun activity for the family in Seattle.  We ended up riding the light rail into the city.  We parked (for free) at the light rail station in Burien and then rode into the Westlake Mall area.  It turned out to be super fun.  The kids loved the train ride.  I really enjoyed seeing parts of  Seattle that you don't see when you drive to the city.  Despite the rainy day, we walked from Westlake down through Pike's Place to the waterfront.  We always love a visit to the Old Curiousity Shop!  The kids were major troopers and happily walked the whole way.  We then made our way back up to the mall and caught the light rail home!  It's always fun to discover something new!



Free Falling...

Ok, not really but as close as I'll ever get.  Jason's brother Jared had him for Christmas and gave him what turned out to be one of the coolest gifts.  He gave us a pass to go indoor skydiving.  I have to say that I don't really consider us to be high risk taking people, which made this the perfect adventure for us.  A way to have a bit of the feeling of skydiving with out all the scaryness and risk.  So the day after Christmas, we went down, did our 3 minute training session, got suited up in completely unflattering outfits and we were set to go.  I have to say I was a big nervous, not for fear of getting hurt but for fear of looking really stupid.  We watched a lot of people before us and some just get it and then other completely don't.  Apparently it's all about body position and some people just have a harder time with the concept.  Fortunately for Jason and I, we seemed to understand and were able to have a couple of great flights.  This was one of the most fun things I've done in a very long time!  Not to say that I now have a hankering for REAL skydiving...not so but I loved getting to experience a bit of the feeling. 

If any of you ever get the chance (to go indoor) I hightly recommend it!

Thanks Jared & Kim!

Christmas Morning

I have to say that I think Christmas gets more and more fun the older our girls get.  This year they were so excited...too excited to sleep, wanting to wake up early, sincerely looking and listening for Santa and his reindeer.  I loved it!!  I love how magical Christmas still is for them. I hope it stays that way for a long time!!

Our morning started with waiting in the hallway ...then they went downstairs to wake up uncles (who I'm sure didn't appreciate Christmas coming quite so early!).  Then they got to go out and see what Santa had brought.

Dad & Abby waiting....

They came out and went directly to their stockings.  What is funny about it and what can't be seen in the picture is that they both walked right past a huge box with a blanket over it...seriously didn't even notice it!! 

But...once the blanket was taken off, this was the reaction...

This year Santa brought what they had really really been wishing for....

guinea pigs. 

Emily's is named Caramel!

Lauren's is Coco..

They were pretty excited to say the least!

Abby opening her classis Chatty Telephone.  Have I ever said how much I love classic toys?

Love them.

After gifts, we got dressed for church and enjoyed a beautiful Christmas/Sabbath Day!  I loved having Christmas on Sunday.  We heard wonderful messages and music that really helped to help keep the real meaning of Christmas.  Loved it! 

Family, Talents & A Little Nativity

We were lucky enough to make it to Seattle this year for Christmas.  It's been two years since we've been there and it was great to be home.  Several of my siblings were home this year too and we were able to spend Christmas Eve with my family.  When I was young we always went to my grandparents home in Carnation, WA for Christmas Even. We would have a wonderful dinner, all the grandkids would do a talent and then we would have the reading of the birth of Jesus Christ.  I love that now that we are grown, with our own kids, we still do Christmas Eve the same way. 

Our girls sang Baby Jesus for their talent.

 They also scored the part of the angel in the nativity (with so many kids, we have to double up on parts!)  You can never have too many angels.

 The angels with Mary

 Abby was given the part of the sheep, but she wasnt' having any of that!

 The whole cast!



Building a House

Jason and I have this on-going joke that I seriously lack creativity skills.  And I don't mean I can't do anything creative  I like to craft a lot but I usually craft when I've gotten a good idea from somewhere, like Pinterest or when I have a pattern to follow.   I have a really hard time with coming up with my own original creative idea. I struggle coming up with stories, playing charades or things like that. This also spills over into decorating.  We've been in our house almost a year and I've yet to so much decorating because I'm still gathering ideas.  Just a note, I have picked out interior paint, so hopefully we're making progress.  So, in turn, activites like Gingerbread houses, sort of freak me out.  I can do your basic run of the mill house but I wish I could do the super creative, elaborate house.  Maybe I just need to start planning earlier in the year!  Fortunately for me, our girls are still young and they want to do all the decorating on the house.  And they have Jason, who is great at this stuff.  So despite my insecurities,we did a Gingerbread house this year.  I helped with the basic construction of the house and Jason helped in the  decorating.  And in the end, it turned out just how the girls wanted it!

Boise Botanical Gardens

When I lived in Seattle, one of my favorite Christmas activities was to go to the Zoo Lights at Point Defiance Zoo.  I loved all of the beautiful lights.  Well, it's been a long time since we've been able to do that.   In fact, I'm not sure we've gone since we've had any of the girls, so this year we decided that we'd try out the Christmas Lights at the Botanical Gardens.   We went with some old friends and their two little girls.  Despite the long line to get in, the we had a great time.  Although not as expansive as Zoo Lights, the displays were beautiful.  They have music, treats, reindeer, Santa and a super fun toy train. 

The only drawback was the cold.  It didn't start out too bad but after about an hour it got so cold.  We were bundled up very well but the wind picked up a bit and we were done.  It's been  a long time since I've been that cold. I wish I had gotten better pictures of the lights but I didn't  want to take my hands out of my pockets.

The girls waiting in line to get in.

Not really a great representation of the the lights.  Sorry :(

 Abby, all snug in the stroller.  Probably the only warm one in the bunch.

The group with "Rudolph."

'Tis the Season to Sing!

Both Emily & Lauren had Christmas Concerts at their schools this year.  It's always fun to go and see the kids perform.  Sorry the pictures aren't too great. I got great video at both but I'm still learning to balance getting both.  Both groups sang some really cute songs with actions.  It was very entertaining. 

Emily is right in the middle of this picture with her cousing Mark!  The two blondies.

Lauren & Justin all dressed up and ready to sing!

 This was the best picture I got of them because other kids were lined up in front of them, making it pretty tough to get a great picture.

Elf on Our Shelf!

Last year we received Elf as a gift, but she must have just been warming up because Elf had a hard time remembering to hide each night.  I'm pleased to say that Elf was much improved this year, she did not miss a night!!  She hid in all kinds of fun spots, brought fun treats and entertained the girls!  This year too, instead of always bringing treats, she often brought notes with fun holiday activities to do as a family.  We have a great month enjoying all kinds of fun activities!  The girls woke up each morning anxious to find our Elf!

Here's just a couple of her hiding spots.

Riding the reindeer

 Silly Elf got into the marshmellows in the pantry!

I wish I have snapped more pictures of her hiding spots but I guess there's always room for me to improve too!!