Goodbye, Twenty- Twelve

Christmas came a bit earlier this year than most years.  We celebrated the holy festivities on the 20th &21st.  Our plans were to fly out of town the evening of the 24th, so we choose to do our presents & traditions a few days prior.  That's the ONLY reason, I swear......

I mean, unless you count that I was proactive this year and completed the Christmas shopping 2 weeks before Christmas (which never happens), & my patience was worn VERY thin for that glorious Christmas Eve evening to come so the kiddos could open JUST one present.......whew.  Could you read through that run-on sentence?


Regardless of the reason, I loved having that little time with our little family to focus on what's really important during the Christmas season.  As we talked and read about Christ's birth, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for the lives we have & the examples we need to be leaving behind.

We enjoyed our much needed break with family.  The long nights of endless game playing, ongoing conversations, reunions with friends & family, & feasting upon copious amounts of food (which was made from our mommies' kitchens...yum) was the best way to end 2012.

2012, you were very good to us...


Christmas Eve dinner consisted of finger foods:  a few appetizers & crab legs!

After dinner, we collaborated & produced our rendition of Christ's Birth.  We recorded that piece of entertainment- it was mayhem, and will be remembered.

The girls opened their new Christmas pjs and just adored them.  Ser would walk around the living room looking down at her shirt singing, "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah..." (Ariel's song).  

The next morning Sailor was up about an hour before she usually gets up- awake & wide-eyed.  She surprisingly waited so patiently for everyone else to wake.  She sat there mesmerized by the presents and stockings and didn't dare touch.  You could tell she was so excited but just knew she needed to wait for everyone to be in the room.  That morning was incredibly fun. Period.  

I dreaded the evening when it was nearing "bedtime." After a beautiful Christmas day and knowing the magical day wouldn't be for another 365 days, I got holiday-sick (if that makes sense to anyone)  Couldn't we start Christmas to be quarterly rather than annually???

This picture below is showing the girls hugging after Seryn opened up her gift (the itty-bitty baby in her hand) she received from Sailor .

 

 

  

Like I said previously, we flew out the evening of the 24th and luckily I have a wonderful cousin who offered to invite us over for a quick Christmas Eve dinner, drive us to the airport, & let us park our car at their place over the 2 weeks.  Thanks again, Jessica.  You rock! 

On our way to her place we decided to stop by the Mesa Temple to check out the lights.  The beautiful nativity was just what I needed on the eve of Christmas. 

Shortly after,  Idaho bound we were.

 The Little People-Princess Castle has been the best, most useful gift thus far.  The girls (especially Seryn) will sit there listening to the same princess songs over and over and over.....

Thanks you Grandma & Grandpa!

"Hi, I'm Josie."-Sailor

This little snowman was all me!  The temperature was nothing we were used to but I was determined to build a snowman with my girls.  Unfortunately the girls lasted a mere 4 minutes out there until they cried over cold toes & fingers.  I proceeded to build while the girls watched from inside the house. Ket & I grabbed the kids for a quick picture but that didn't even go well.  Sailor was here complaining about the cold and wasn't happy about having to get a picture taken.

 

After a few days in ID we headed over to WA to visit my side of the family.  I kick myself for taking very few pictures.  I do love this picture below of my grandparents- them, in a room with their posterity, during the Christmas holiday... just perfect. :) 

Here we had a party with my dad's side and our annual gift exchange.  Chase lucked out with a cookie sheet kit, which the girls and I will benefit from.  Poor Seryn was so confused who the stranger sitting next to her was (and probably trying to figure out what was growing on his face)- that's my crazy, great Uncle Ron.

And yes, he is holding a 5 gallon bucket of cheese balls. He got lucky scoring the gag gift of the night.

 It is NEVER a dull moment at my parent's house.  Last time they were killing & selling organic, home-grown chickens, and this time was all about beef.  My parents grew, killed, skinned, cut, hung, cut, & packaged a full grown cow.  My mom & dad amaze me.  

 

 After a few quick days in WA we headed back to ID for a few more days of fun with Chase's family.  New Year's Eve consisted of endless game playing & mini pizzas.  'Apples to Apples' & 'Ticket to Ride' were the favorites this trip.

Chase's youngest brother got engaged earlier in the month so we were able to meet his fiance.  I was able to take several pictures for them, which turned out being lots of fun.  Thus far I hadn't been able to take any winter/snow shots, so this was a great change & fun setting.

 Once we got back home my grandparent's, who we weren't able to visit while we were in WA, actually made a road trip down south for a week.  They came to visit other relatives in the area before they start their second mission with the LDS church the end of this month.  We met up with them and visited for a couple hours.  I am so glad I was able to get a few sweet shots of my children with two very special people in my life.  I have fond memories of sitting on my grandfather's lap as he'd sing the song "A bushel & a peck" in my ear.  I witnessed this same act but my little girls in my place.  Sai & Ser loved on both my grandparents and that just made my heart so full. 

 I want to shed a tear looking at this photo.

Goodbye, Twenty- Twelve

Hello, 2013!

Chase at it again

Several months ago I posted a link to a video Chase made called DREAMS.

Well, now I post a new link to a second video.

This was filmed out at my parent's house, mostly located in our paintball course.  The cast is made up of my siblings & BIL.

Each year for Christmas Eve, my family has a family talent show so Chase decided to wrap this up for the holiday season to display my side of the family's many talents. ;)

Chase is quite the movie maker. He picked up his editing skillz all on his own.

Needless to say he learned a lot while creating this little gem, and the rest of us had fun laughing at ourselves & our lack of acting skills.

FYI: don't miss out on my run/trip 1:12...it's a good laugh if you watch it enough times.

*Watch this lightly, it's not suppose to be way serious. :)

Gingerbread Houses

Our great friends, the Jackmans, invited us over so we (uh humm...I mean the kids) could decorate their very own HOMEMADE (the Jackmans out-did themselves) gingerbread houses.  Needless to say, it was a lot of fun.  Nothing like sitting around chatting and bugging the kids over stuffing their faces with candy instead of frosting it to their houses.  By the end of the evening, there was more candy on the kiddos faces then there was on the all the houses combined.  :)  Eventually the kids got a sugar high and ran it all off by chasing each other around the house, which was about the time the parents took over and attempted to be artistic.
 

Sailor put these two candy canes together and exclaimed, "I made a heart!"  Clever girl.

\

Speaking of gingerbread house making, a week after that, a friend- Nicole-invited 9 girls over for a gingerbread competition. She provided everyone of the gingerbread houses- what a woman! We all had such a blast decorating, chatting, and snacking.  After we decorated, Nicole had a prize for everyone there...she DEFINITELY out-did herself.  Good times!


 

Being Grateful for Spontaneity

We had a memorable Thanksgiving season this year. Chase had a 2-week break which we decided we'd spend together at our home with a possible road trip to a fun destination.  Our break started a week late because of a nasty stomach flu we all took turns contracting. It was not our idea of starting off our break.  Yet, we did spend a good 48 hours on the couch together, watching movies, & taking turns napping....family time at it's best.  Of course, we all got over it and back to feeling pretty normal, and by that time we were all ready to get out of the house (after a good sanitation with BLEACH and a couple days of airing out the apartment :) ).  The Monday before Thanksgiving, we decided to pick up a copy of "The Polar Express" because that night we bought tickets for Wednesday ride on "The Polar Express."   Then, the next day while we looked at the map we decided, heck lets spend the day at the Grand Canyon first then head over for the train ride.  This is usually how we plan things around our house...all spontaneous and at last minute.

Because we fly by the edge of our seats, there are usually a few things that slightly interfere with our plans.... like I volunteered to feed 2 families Wednesday night!

Nothing I can't handle, right?  Oh yeah, did I mention that I thought I might be taking pictures for someone on Tuesday evening as well? Serves me right for being a procrastinating planner.

 Luckily (for me) the photo shoot didn't work out for various reasons, so I didn't have to worry about that.  As for the meals for the next evening I decided to make some chicken pot pies and take them over to the families Tuesday night so they could cook them whenever the following day.  Sailor was able to make her very own mini- pies with the little bit of leftovers.  The pies were incredibly cute!  She rolled out the dough, spooned the filling in, and pinched the edges to be nice and wavy.  This was easily one of the cutest things I've watched Sailor do in a while- her little fingers working so intricately..hahaha. love.  Sailor made two little pies: one for herself and Ser.

We left early Wednesday and drove up north towards Flagstaff and then further on to the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The views were incredible.

I was very close to the edge.  I panic a little thinking about how close I was.

"The Polar Express"

Sailor got her ticket!

Poor Ser.  She was feeling a little under the weather.  She cuddled with either Chase or I the whole evening.  I can't help but love those times. 

Hot chocolate---minus the tap dancing chefs.

Santa came aboard and handed out jingle bells to every passenger.  The whole experience was memorable, not so much because of the train ride or Santa, but because we spent a wonderful day out together as a family. I am forever grateful for days like these!

Thursday rolled around which meant we were headed to Mesa to my cousin's house for a fun evening.  She lives there with her husband and 3 daughters- ALL the girls get a long so well.  After Thanksgiving dinner, we wrote Santa our Christmas lists, stamped the letter, & attached it to a helium balloon.  The kids took them outside and released them into the air, hoping it would find it's way to the North Pole. 

  ...some letters made it there...

 ...and others took their time.

 We are so grateful for the friends and family that we have in our lives.  The love and support we receive is so overwhelming at times. I love this time of year when reflection becomes a pattern and gratitude increases as we get to spend our precious time with loved ones.