Christmas Break



2 weeks off from school...absolutely dreamy.  Took the kids to Lake Coeur d'Alene eagle cruise and saw 250+ bald eagles.  One tree had 9, one spot had 35!  I can't believe I live here.

 We had to wave down the boat as it was leaving the marina!  I came back for us...can't believe we made it.

Brave kayakers in the freezing cold on Lake CDA.  So beautiful.

 Sarah got life changing contacts!  I had to snap this pic at the doctor's office with her bangs tied up.  She loves loves loves her new contacts.

 Took many trips to see our favorite tree.

 Welcomed 2012

 At night I read to the girls while they brush my hair, rub my feet, or style my hair like this.  They love it!  And I get to relax while I'm reading to them.

Because Christmas was on Sunday, we had Christmas on Christmas Eve this year so we could play our new video game stuff.

 It might have been Ava's worst Christmas ever.  I thought I was the best mom ever and got her a bunch of books, workbooks, coloring books, board games, projects.  She couldn't believe she didn't get any toys.  She was SO sad the whole time we opened presents!  She did get the 2 things she asked for...a pillow pet and pink slippers.  But not good enough.  Her last present was a Polly Pocket dunk tank so I think she cheered up.  But it made me sad to see her sad.  I work SO hard to put on a nice Christmas...hours and hours, days and days, weeks and weeks, of prep.  I've learned my lesson to buy her toys!

Mom, Dad, and Ben came over for Christmas dinner, we had our usual cheesy musical program, and we played Apples to Apples...a game that made us laugh and laugh and laugh and MOM even LOVED it!  Finally a game she likes.  And we learned all sorts of new things like how much Mom hates rappers.  It was all really funny.

We miss her.

Kissing Santa

Doesn't a girl always fall for a guy in uniform? It seemed so scandalous yet so legal at the same time.

The next day a guy said, "You freaked some of the kids out when they saw you kissing Santa."  Oops!  I hope he was kidding.  That certainly was not my intention.  But I couldn't help it and thought no one was looking. 

Russ was super jolly and in character for the 130 kids that sat on his lap.  The crying/screaming toddlers made for hilarious pictures.  Ava and Alyssa have never believed in Santa anyway (not my fault!) so they thought it was way too fun that Dad was Santa and their friends couldn't figure it out.

Moving on...

Russ went to bed for the night tonight and it's 5 o'clock!  And he's not even sick.  Poor guy has been working long hours and sleeping few.  But he fixed my toilet yesterday and I am a happy girl.  He's not really into home repair so when he had toilet parts and tubes laying all over yesterday, I was incredibly impressed he stepped out of his comfort zone and saved a toilet.  Speaking of home repair, I'm determined to learn how to tile and have started the demo process.  I am totally biting off more than I can chew with this one!

My poor kids.  My poor blog deprived kids.  They have been heart broken on a weekly basis that they can't read new posts about their adventures.  They are my eternal blog-beggars.  Wishing I took more time to record their earthly journey.  Well kids...this is for you!!!!

The 4 month recap for family history sake...

Sarah is now taller than me!  These lake photos are all from our bi-annual girls' day out while the guys go to priesthood session.

We love it when the guys go to priesthood session because we get to PAR-TAY.

Drove 34 hours by myself to an AMAZING wedding and it was SO worth it!  FAMILY=HEAVEN.

 Alyssa opened her bday presents on the wedding day.

 Me, Mom, and Dad at the Folsom, CA, temple.

 Awww!!!

 Cousins!

 Cousins!

Dad and Sarah dancing.

 The dancing was SO fun and they even picked some songs on the playlist because we came (like "Hey Juliette!")  So sweet.

I shed a couple of tears during this dance with Dad. It was a very sweet moment as we reminisced about my wedding and how we just love each other forever.

Angel sister, Kim, and Scott...mother/father of the bride!  What a massive undertaking.  It was all perfect. Kim fed 300 people!  It was gorgeous and she was delightful under massive amounts of stress.  Always happy!  So many great moments like when Scott melted down and cried, sobbed, happy tears as he watched the bride and groom dance.  And I got the PRIVILEGE of assisting the bride/groom for their photo shoot because Kim was too busy cooking/shopping.  That was so fun at the temple with the lovebirds!

If I could spend every second of every day of every year with my sisters I would!!!!!  My bffs forever.  I didn't get too many pictures of Kim because she was SO busy hosting!

  I was deathly ill the whole 17 hour drive home and it was a miracle I made it without dying or sleeping.  I was in bed for 2 weeks straight which made me the worst mother ever and poor Alyssa missed her birthday party.  Still have to make that one up!

First day of school happened...

7th grade

2nd grade

Kindergarten!  I was thinking I would be having a big party for myself every day but instead I'm usually cleaning the house or taking a nap for those 2 hours. 

I remember hobbling out to the porch to take these pictures, couldn't talk or think I was so sick!  I was so sick I didn't get Alyssa cutified and she wore some faded maybe dirty clothes first day of school. 

My very sweet in-laws came up to visit for Alyssa's baptism.  One of the most embarrassing moments of my life being so ill in front of them.  I couldn't even fake smile for several days.  But I hope they forgive me for being the worst host ever.  They made up for all the love I couldn't give because I was in bed.

Alyssa loves duck tape!

One time I coughed for half an hour straight throwing up several times, writhing on the floor in a puddle of tears and other stuff and Russ sat there beside me the whole time lovingly with his hand on my back.  That is TRUE love!

After our pup Lacey died (one of the worst experiences of our life..we still cry), we were overwhelmed with love from friends.  Lots of treats and hugs were given.  And it was like a gift from Heaven...Sarah's favorite dancers came to a town nearby so she could look forward to this in the midst of her pain.  We had such a great time and were on cloud 9 with the So You Think You Can Dance dancers.  Absolutely inspiring and hilarious.

Now this half of the recap book is over for now!

I'm a Once a Month Blogger...

So this post will be random stuff over the last month of summer bliss.  Oh summer, I love it more than all the seasons by like a google times.

 Tubing on Lake Pend Oreille

Mom and Dad tubing fully dressed!  I'm driving and brother-in-law Paul kept telling me to drive faster, but I'm a nice daughter and kept them dry.  It was nice to see Mom on the lake and out of the kitchen.

 The Captain

 Sarah FIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYY got to redo her room after 3 years of begging. Her dream is to be an interior designer so she loved picking everything from paint color to accessories and was surprised it wasn't as easy as the 30 minute HGTV design shows make it look! She now has the coolest room in the house. While at Lowe's getting her paint, on a whim I picked up some wallpaper and wallpapered my front piano room. CRAZY! It's cool, but wow...what a job. Took me 2 weeks.

Pam and Vivian both came to visit.  Words can't describe my love and admiration I have for them!  Ava couldn't understand why they couldn't live with us.  She thought they could just quit their jobs and move in.  And she cried and cried when they left.

Chad went to scout camp and we visited for family night.  He was SOOO sweet to spend his last dollars on ice cream for the girls.  His idea.  I was so impressedSarah went to ballet camp.

Lacey the pup continues to bless our life with joy and laughter.  I can't even believe how she has changed our life.  It is better than I ever thought it would be and the love is bigger than I could have imagined.  Her first 2 weeks with us I was sad and scared about what I got myself into, but now it is easy and nobody can get enough of her.  Russ talks to her like a smitten daddy in a high voice and the kids have to take turns because everyone wants her all the time.

Ava has become quite the snorkeler and I taught Sarah how to do backdives off the diving board!  Sarah can't stop doing them now.

The girls like to take bubble baths with their swimsuits on during playdates.  It's a mess but in general if I have to choose between keeping things neat or having fun...I choose the messy fun!