Christmas 2016

I'm sorry for all those that were travelling the the last few days.  For us it was a beautiful, perfect white Christmas.  We finally got our tree decorated on the 23rd.  We cleaned up and got everything ready.

Christmas Eve:  We had a fantastic day of games, hot chocolate, and reading.

In the evening we did our traditional appetizers, acting out the nativity, Chrsitmas pajamas, and then watching 'A Christmas Story'.

Cora did not want to be lifted, but we insisted because it is tradition.

Christmas Day: I really thought the kids would sleep in and not have time to open presents till after church.  And I do think Cora and Leah would have, but Blake was up and ready to go.  We had a wonderful Christmas.  The kids loved everything they got.  Blake loved them so much that he kept putting off getting in the shower.  We were 5 mins late for church.  That was embarrassing. After church we had left over appetizers and worked on puzzles andplayed more games.  That evening for dinner we had salmon and hassleback potatoes.

Cora showing off her socks and her new guitar.

Cora making a snow angel.

Leah was please with her fuzzy blanket.  She said she was a 'fuzzy Caucasian burrito'.

Blake got the Nerf gun he wanted so bad.  That thing really shoots.

Boxing Day:  We went into the church in the morning to play some basketball.  Blake brought his gun and shot at the girls as they practiced lay-ups.  It was awesome.  Kept them motivated to not stop.  When we got home Dave asked Jared if he would mind us going hooding.

They had planned to go anyways, so after lunch they went over and had a blast.

The snow was so thick.

I even took a ride.

After we warmed up with hot chocolate and a movie.  The rest of the evening was spent playing the guitar,

Cora arting,

more games, and relaxing.  Dave and the kids got all their ski stuff packed for today.  I got our lunch already, then it started to blow.  This morning we looked at the forecast and saw that yesterday they had closed a few runs because of wind and today was supposed to be worse.  So no skiing after all, We will try a different day.  We will clean back up, play some more basketball and games.  So far it has been the relaxing, wonderful, perfect break we have all needed.

Twas the week (or so) before Christmas...

Leah has had a few more games.  Some with Cora reffing again.

Last week we had our ward Christmas party.  We did not dress up as we came straight from a game.  The youth were asked to do the nativity for the program.  Literally 10 minutes before we were to perform we found this big tote full of costumes.  We were finding anything and showing it to others.  My girls grab some wonderful items and put them on.  Leah found a sheep costume head that she took on with her and named Shawn.  I don't think we were the most reverent nativity ever.  But we sure had fun.

In Cora's few spare moments she and Dave have been working on the puzzle.  Dave and Blake one night got lots done, but then stopped so Cora could finish helping.  It was her's after all.

Last Monday Cora had an away game.  We did not get home until 11:45 pm  We were so tired.  Then up again at 5:30 so Leah could curl Cora's hair.  We read scriptures outside of the bathroom.  Cora had grad photos.  She was told to take 3 outfits.  But it only ended up being just cap and gown.  She has also had 2 math tests this week and has stayed up very late preparing for those.  Wednesday was the High School Christmas Dinner.  They all dress up and are served a turkey dinner. Blessedly her basketball practice was cancelled so I could go to Leah and Blake's Christmas concert. Blake did great in his play.  He was a stern judge.

Leah emceed.  She did a good job.  That night she also won second place for her black and white poster for Remembrance Day.  Wouldn't be a school event without a great picture of these awesome girls after.

Thursday was green and red day for Leah and Blake as well as their turkey dinner.

Good thing it had warmed up some.  Today we have been getting things cleaned up and ready.  We were finally all home long enough to decorate our tree.  Not sure why we waited for all.  See how helpful Leah was??

Dave even got done work early and surprised us when he showed up at noon.  To top it all off, it is snowing.  The big soft flakes I love and we are all home and hanging out.  I dug out some of our games today.  Looking forward to hardly doing anything.  The kids had a long sleep in this morning.  It was wonderful. 

Whole lot of Nothing.

I have been meaning to update my blog for a while, but nothing really has happened.  Except life really.  I few weeks ago our church did a Food Bank Drive for the Worldwide Service Day.  We had talked about this months ago in ward council.  As people we throwing ideas out, I mentioned what my sister-in-law does in her ward every year.  It happened to be the idea everyone liked and we ran with it.  Thursday we met and divided into groups to drop all the bags at houses.  On the bag was a note stapled explaining what we were doing and when we would be back to pick it up.  Then Saturday we went back and got them.  It was wonderful to see how generous people were.  It was a very easy service, one I hope our ward will do again.

We also  had great feedback from the community. The whole thing was a huge success.  We had a lot of bags filled.

We had our YW and Excellence last Sunday.  We tried something a little different that was suggested to me by the stake leaders.  We did it during Sacrament Meeting.  Each girl was assigned to speak on the value that they had worked on for their 10 hour project.  The YW also sang 'Nearer My God to Me' A cappella.  Myrna spent a lot of time helping them learn the song and it turned out beautiful.   I had many ward members tell me how nice it was to see what the YW for working on.  I will probably do it that way again.

Also in our ward, we did a Nativity.  I was put in charge of decorating.  I wanted the nativities to be the decorations, so I didn't add much else.  I had a few poinsettias around and in one corner a little tree in my old wash basin, with an antique sleigh and lantern. (Below is it set up in my house)  And then a Christmas tree out front with simple silver and red decoration.  I had taken paint stick and cut them up, painted red, and wrote all the names of Christ on them.  I loved it and again got many compliments. I kept it all very simple and beautiful.  Leah and Blake had a few numbers to perform that night.  I missed it all as it was Cora's first game and we played away.  I didn't get pictures of decorations or them singing.

Leah has had many musical opportunities this month.  With singing and flute.  She had 5 at the nativity, sang in church and sang with her cousin as her uncle played the guitar at a local seniors night.  She is playing the flute for church on Christmas Day as well as singing in the choir.  Also she has some numbers singing and with the band at the school Christmas program coming up.  She is very talented and I love that she gets the chance to share her talents.

We are running for basketball almost every night.  Both girls have had a few games and Cora had a tournament.  She was only able to go to the Friday games, Saturday she was with the fire department.  She is loving that more and more.  Leah's team is doing ok.  They try hard and keep going.

Cora has been able to ref a few games as well.  She still hate it.  :)

I have no pictures of Cora's games.  I am helping to coach so unable to get any and do that at the same time.  Both girls have coaches that are very committed and want to be in it for years to come.  It is wonderful to see.  Maybe we can bring back basketball in this community.

We are constantly exhausted and are very much looking forward to Christmas break.  I can't wait to not do much and hardly drive anywhere.  We have 3 cars that each get filled up every 2-3 days and its crazy.  I want to sit and just be with my kids and Dave without figuring out each day who is doing what when, and who is driving what, and who need to pick up whom from where. I don't even know if that sentence made sense. But there you have it, a whole lot of just going and pressing forward. A picture into our lives.  Now I may go take a nap, or head to a game. :) 

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(Cora did an awesome job editing our cards this year.)

Going ons.....

Leah thoroughly enjoyed her woodworking class this year.  She came home with a beautiful coffee table.  She is not quite finished it since she missed 3 classes during our vacation.  Also we are going to shorten it a bit and use it for an entrance bench.  When complete I will take pictures.  But she loved it so much she has made a few things since.  It is fun to have her just go out to the garage and use the table saw and other tools.

We got together for our annual chocolate making day last weekend.  Between basketball and youth conference, we didn't help as much as usual.

It was another fun day with the in-laws.

Myrna feed us for the weekend and ended with a very delicious soup.

After we were all done and cleaned up, I stayed over so Blake could play with his cousins for a few hours.  Dave was working on his talk, Cora was gone and Leah was studying.  Later in the afternoon we got ready and headed to town for the Folk Club.  Valdy was performing.  Blake did not want to go.  He wanted to stay and play with his cousins, but just a few number into it and he was glad he had come.  Valdy is a great entertainer, with stories and music.  It was a wonderful evening.

I had brought money for treats, but not for a CD.  Blake really wanted one.  Uncle Jason kindly lent him some money and Blake got it signed.

As we were walking out, Blake passed Valdy.  He turned to him and said, 'See you later Blake'.  It made Blake's day.  On the way out Blake saw this poster and posed.  Such a tough dude.  :)

We are full swing into basketball, drama, YW, Scubs, and piano now. Blake started a club at school and piano this year also.  It is the season of packed dinners and using the bean bag cooker often. Cora has a great coach and Leah is really loving being back at it.  She finally passed her learners.  After asking me for months if she could drive, today she was legal and didn't want to.  (She doesn't like the car we had taken)  I made her anyways.

We are just plugging along.    As I am helping to coach Cora's team it was more difficult for me to run everyone around.  Dave has been a huge help.  Every morning we figure out which of the three drivers is taking which car where.  It takes juggling, but I think it is good to keep the kids involved in things.  Cora has taken on a lot.  I worry she is going to burn herself out, but she loves everything.  Dave and I often pass on the road and wave.  :) So that's us lately.  We are running around and loving it all.

What's In a Name?

I love old stories.  Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Pride and Prejudiced are some of my favorites.  I love the dresses and the customs.  It makes me laugh how they can be rude as they seem to be being so polite.  It is the only romance story I can read.  I enjoy the countryside and their balls, the parties, and 'The Season'.  And I love how they name their houses.  I have always wanted to name my house.  When we started building this house, I started thinking about names.  A year ago when we moved in, I even started getting a few suggestions from my parents and siblings.  When I was talking to my kids about it I always used the example of Rose Cottage.  While we were walking around the Pusey Estate in England, there was a sign outside of one house that said Rose Cottage.  Cora started laughing and said, 'Wow, it really is a thing!'  She then caught the vision and has helped me think.  We went through the whole using something to do with our last name, using Poverty Flats somehow, looking at significant things around us.  I went on a few sites that help with house name suggestions.  I looked at translating words into German.  I even used a thesaurus for the word house.  But everything that came up there sounded like a retirement center or a half-way house.  I knew that when I found the right one it would just hit me.  And we finally did.  Sunday we officially christened our house................ 

Windy Peaks! 

 Dave is not a big fan of house naming and pointed out that we don't live in the mountains, but there are a lot of peaks on our house and so it works.  The kids and I love it.  So come visit us sometime.  Take a drive out to Windy Peaks.