School is cancelled!

We had our first snow day that I ever remember in all my years living here the day before Christmas break! The kids had their snow clothes on and were outside by 8:30!!
After shoveling I dug this tunnel for Andrew. He thought it was pretty great!

Then he asked me to bury him in snow and tickle his toes. I think he got confused between snow and sand:)

Peetneet

That's what Eldon thought this old school (with an awesome sledding hill) in Payson was called. I informed him of the correct way to say it "Peteetneet", but now he says it wrong just to bug me.
Anyway, we had a fun, busy week.

Monday was family night.

Tuesday and Wednesday nights Eldon was at the church.

Wednesday afternoon Julia and I had Activity Days which I dread because the girls are super hyper and loud, and bordering disrespectful, but this week my prayers were answered. The girls were quiet, polite, and helpful! Merry Christmas to me!

Thursday we had a nice, quiet, relaxing evening at home! We all LOVE those!

Friday night Eldon and I went on a hot date to Carrabbas for dinner. My favorite! Just thinking Pollo Rosa Maria makes my mouth water! Thanks to my cousin Audrey for the gift card! Again Merry Christmas to me! Then Eldon followed me around the mall and sat patiently while I tried on jeans. I finally got myself a pair of jeans with some cute pockets and a little bling. Maybe I'll take a picture later. First I have to wrap them and put them under the tree. Merry Christmas to me!

Saturday morning was our biggest event of the week...

Sledding at Peteetneet!

AJ never had to walk up the hill.

This is usually how he would ride up. Stiff as a board.

Don't you just love his purple snow pants! That's when you know you're at kid #4. You wear whatever fits no matter what color it is!
This is Julia and Andrew going off the little jump right before the big jump where they wiped out and Andrew face-planted in the snow.
These are his battle wounds. I love that you can see the tear running down his face!
These guys are all set to go when all of a sudden....
Emma jumps on too! She ended up falling off halfway down because they were lopsided!
Most of the time AJ waited patiently at the top of the hill because we only had one sled.
Sometimes it's hard to climb the hill when you keep slipping and then your mitten falls off and snow gets up your sleeve and your hand is frozen. Can you feel her pain?
Jules all tired out after another jaunt up the hill.


Who needs a sled anyway when you've got slippery snow pants.

So fun!

Christmas Party #3

Saturday morning was our Ward Christmas Breakfast. They had breakfast casseroles, cinnamon rolls, and pancakes and lots of it!
Then the kids sang a couple of Christmas songs and Santa and Mrs. Claus showed up and read the book "I Believe in Santa".
Then our kids got to sit on Santa's lap for the third time in the same week!
This time Santa gave out candy bars so I wonder what Emma asked for since it wasn't your typical candy cane.

Andrew looking a little nervous once again.

AJ freaking out again.

Julia is such a good big sister to take her screaming brother to sit on Santa's lap 3 times in 1 week!

Christmas Party #2

Friday we arrived home, unpacked, did a load of laundry and headed back up to Salt Lake for an extended family Christmas Party.
We arrived a little early so the kids played "duck duck goose" while we waited for the party to start.


The kids had fun decorating gingerbread men.



They also enjoyed eating the gingerbread men.


Some enjoyed them more than others!


For Andrew's 2nd Santa visit of the year he actually looked Santa's direction this time. We're making progress!


I didn't get a great shot of AJ's freak-out this time. Here they are running away!

Midway Retreat

Eldon had a few more days he needed to take off work before the end of the year and he didn't want to just sit around the house and do nothing so he ended up booking a condo for us for a couple of nights. We left Wednesday after the kids got home from school and just relaxed after we checked in. Thursday we swam in a neighboring hotel pool since ours was under construction. We went to the game room and played arcade games during AJ's nap. That night we took the kids to McDonalds playland to get some wiggles out. We checked out Friday and did a little shopping in Park City and were planning to spend the rest of the day in Salt Lake at Temple Square, but the weather did not cooperate. It was raining and snowing all morning so we just drove home.
Sign of a successful mini vacation!

I promise she is just sleeping, not dead.

Christmas Party #1

Monday night we went to the United Angels Foundation Christmas Party. Chickfila provided the food so their cow was there also dressed as Santa.

Emma giving the Santa Cow a hug.

There is not a shy bone in this girls body. She was the 1st child at the party to sit on Santa's lap. She usually asks for a candy cane since she figures that is what she'll get anyway:)

A stunned Andrew. He didn't say a word. He may have been in shock.

AJ is not a big fan of Santa this year.

Snow Day

Sunday we attended my sister's ward to listen to my nephew,Taylor, give his farewell address. He is entering the MTC next week and then will serve in Frankfurt, Germany. We ate lunch at their house after sacrament meeting and then had the rest of the day to rest and relax. Since we got more snow Sunday the kids thought it would be fun to go out and play in it. It wasn't good for much except snow angels. They tried to pack it to make a snow fort like last week, but it wasn't going to work.





It was frigid out there. I ran out to take pictures and was surprised the kids lasted as long as they did. I think it was about 10 minutes total. Gotta love getting all that snow gear on for 10 minutes of wintry fun!

Trimming the tree

Saturday we decked the halls! While Eldon and I were putting lights on the tree(that's right, some people still have to put their own lights on the tree) Julia took the camera and took pictures of the kids...

playing peek-a-boo...

posing...








playing with lights...

and looking bored.








Finally it was their turn to help.

Hanging ornaments on the tree is always a highlight! It is especially interesting with an 19 month old. AJ does not understand the 'hang them and then don't touch them again' concept:)