Hot Cocoa and Sledding... a Christmas Eve tradition

When I was little, I really looked forward to our winter tradition of sledding with cousins! A few Saturdays' each winter we'd pack up hot cocoa in a thermos, oranges and a sack lunch and spend the entire day at the hill! We'd build giant jumps, go down as a long train and hope not to be the few who were bound to fly off! We'd eat handfuls of snow and have bright red toes and cheeks by the time we had to head for home. Our parents joined in on the fun here and there, they sat on the tailgate of uncle Kevin's truck or in the cars as they'd watch us, frequently having to adjust our gloves or change out the bread bags, used as linings for our boots! It is one of my favorite childhood memories and you all know that I have lots of those.... Anyway I love my memories of sledding and want my boys to love it too, how can you not?! We were invited several years ago to join some of our good friends for their tradition of Christmas Eve sledding! We loved it so much, we decided to borrow the tradition and make it our own! We didn't get quite the turn out from our extended family that we were hoping for... but it was still lots of fun and a great way to wear the kids out for the big night ahead!

Gabe all bundled up could hardly walk but he was determined to do it all by himself. He was so frustrated with the gloves because wearing them made it too hard to pull the sleigh... good thing he was distracted by all the fun!!

Jonah, Nathan and Sarah (my little cousins) joined us at Lyons Park just a few blocks from our house... the hills were great!!

Ah, lucky Gabe... livin the good life... ride down, ride up! While the rest of us huffed and puffed our way up the steep hills!! (well at least me and Glen did!) His snow apparel was so poofy, the poor kid couldn't even fold in half to sit so he'd just lay there while we lugged him around!

Don't let those red cheeks fool you... they are not from cold, they are from running, yes, that's right running through the snow, up and down the hills... he was so sweaty!

After about an hour, I took Gabe home for his nap while Glen stayed with the others. While Gabe slept I was able to finish up the final details for our Christmas Eve dinner plans that night! It ended up being a memorable, fun filled, relaxing Christmas Eve Day!!

Happy Birthday Eli!!

I can't believe Elijah is SEVEN!! We were in Salt Lake the weekend of his Birthday and he was so excited to celebrate his birthday in a special way... at a hotel with family, in a different town with different things to do!! I could just tell he felt special, like the birthday boy should!!

He woke up to streamers and balloons everywhere and although his eyes were barely open the first thing he wanted to do was open his presents! I wrapped them a few days early so we'd be ready to go and they had been tempting him far too long!!

a few of his favorite gifts were some transformers and a playmobile skate park. He "really really really" was hoping for a bakugon and was so excited when he opened that! (wondering what that is? I have no idea... some kind of magnetic game piece guy? he loves it!!)

the cake...
Because we had to check out and head back to Logan we moved right along to the birthday breakfast

He sat there for awhile, contemplating his wish then he quickly blew out the candles and whispered... "I wished for 10 more bakugon guys mom!"

Although Bakugons were the favorite for a minute, you should have seen how excited he was over the Cookie Crunch cereal! EVERY time I'd take him to Wamart for the previous two months he'd beg me to buy Cookie Crisp cereal. What kind of a mom would I be if I sent my kids off to school with a belly full of cookies and milk? It just doesn't seem right, even if they are vitamin fortified! So EVERY time Eli would ask... I would say "No!"
But it was his birthday so I just had to get them! I figured he'd be pretty surprised and pleased but that he'd prefer muffins, (more like cake) fruit, and juice...but it turns out there was no need to by all that birthday breakfast stuff all he wanted was
Cookie Crisp cereal... three cups of it!!

Because he was the birthday boy Eli got to choose to do whatever he wanted on the way back to Logan. He decided that he wanted to go to the the mall to play some arcade games and then eat lunch at "the restaurant where you order on the phone" (Training Table!!) we just shrugged our shoulders and said "OK?" This is the only picture I took at the mall... for the rest of the day actually- We had lots of fun helping Eli feel special on his day!!

Here are SEVEN things that I love about Eli...

1. He loves to be silly and crazy and goofy! Our home is filled with lots of laughs and giggles from Eli!
2. He is really into what he wears...he likes his hair a certain way and he often tells me the things I pick for him to wear "don't match" (???) ... He really likes to go shopping for new clothes and especially likes to try on shoes... but the shoes have to have a "fat toe" He notices what other people wear and points out styles that he likes...pretty particular kid!
3. He loves loves loves babies and younger kids and will drop whatever he is in the middle of to notice, help or play with little ones. He especially loves Gabe and just can't seem to get enough of him... usually it's cute and a good thing... he is a great play mate for Gabe!
4. He is a great reader and really enjoying being able to read books himself....but he still prefers curling up with me or Glen on the couch so that we can read aloud to him!
5. He is daring and brave and likes to try new things!
6. He is always willing to help around the house... I have this bad habit. Everyday when I'm cleaning I stack the things that belong upstairs, on the stairs... instead of just carrying them up right then. I like to make a big pile and then just go up one time to put it all away... so basically I'm lazy! Anyway... if the pile is on the stairs and Eli is home he loves to surprise me by putting it away for me! He loves to surprise people! He takes the garbage's out and he is the best bed maker ever... nearly as perfect as I like it!! He works hard!
7. He is friendly... everybody wants to be friends with Eli because he is so nice and fun to be with! He thinks about others! He shares and gives his favorite toys away or his last french fry even if he really wanted it... he is a sweetheart, plain and simple!

Happy Birthday Eli!!
We love you so much!!

Lemon Bars

Mmmmm.... doesn't that picture just make you want one??
Ok...I know this is a totally random post but I am pregnant so just bear with me and hopefully give me a little feed back ok? I LOVE good lemon bars and I've been wanting one for...well awhile! but the trouble is unless they are the "good ones" they taste sort of like raw eggs?? and I just need a really good lemon bar... So... anybody have a favorite lemon bar recipe or better yet know of a local shop where I can just buy one??

Temple Square

We braved Sardine canyon in one of the first and one of the worst snow storms to hit this year! We were heading to Salt Lake to help Julie and Richie by babysitting Ruby so that they could attend Richie's brother's wedding. To celebrate Eli's birthday. To visit beautiful temple square all lit up for Christmas, and to send Julie and her little family off... back to New York!! We crammed it all in and had one fun weekend! We stayed at The Kimball which is just East of the conference center and only a hop skip and a jump :) from the temple...really the perfect place to stay in downtown! a big thank you to my in-laws for letting us use your time share there... It was so great... couldn't have been more nice and convenient!
Here's a little bit about our visit to temple square to see the lights...

all bundled up...
it was SO cold but the fresh snow made it feel so magical!

I love how every branch on every tree is covered in millions of lights at temple square it is seriously breath taking! I especially love the
"pink trees" They remind me of blossoms in spring time!

Evan and Eli trying to look warm... on our way to buy some hot chocolate in the Joseph Smith memorial building

Gabe loved the lights and kept pointing his little finger and saying "wow" For some reason... I think because of all the nativities around... he is really into camels. When I talk about the horses next door he says "no mom, camels" and pictures in books of horses he now insists are camels?? anyway needless to say he loved seeing the nativity too and you guessed it,
especially the camels!
We rode the elevators to the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial building and the view from up there was incredible! There really is no other light display as beautiful as the one at temple square! Being on such sacred grounds near the temple with Christmas music playing and newly fallen snow... it was the perfect atmosphere and made for a perfect night spending time together, thinking about Christmas!!

Gingerbread Houses

My family started the tradition of making Gingerbread houses when we were all a bit older... like high school age. I remember all of us trying to be creative and having so much fun creating the perfect gingerbread cottages. We'd always looked forward to the huge array of candy and thinking of just the perfect use for each piece...

We've kept the tradition going and each year since then we have a little family get together and decorate houses...
This year since Julie was in town (and we can never have enough parties to celebrate that!) we decided instead of having a LITTLE get together that we'd make it a big party for all of our extended family too! Everyone came over and we started with dinner...
Soups, breads, crackers, cheese, relish tray.... It was delicious and then came the decorating!...

Julie came over earlier in the day and I put her and Glen to work on the building of the houses... 19 little houses to be exact... gingerbread??? are you kidding... Graham crackers are much easier to work with... and there were not even too many bad words used due to the occasional hot glue gun singe!!
That's 18 houses plus this one mansion...
This man is full of surprises... his skills are endless!!

Hard at work...

Gabe was so excited to see all the candy...

and although Ruby looks very dainty... placing ONE little piece of candy carefully on her tongue... this is not really how it went... she and Gabe shoveled in candy by the handfuls and were sticky, dirty messes before we were even half way done!!

any guesses who this house belongs to ??

That would be Eli our candy man!! I have no idea how he got all of that candy to stick and how on earth is that little house still standing under all that weight?

Evan meticulously placed each piece... everything he does is thought out and then moved around if needed...until it's just perfect to him!

It was fun to watch how each little house came together... the kids had a great time! Usually our houses sit on the counter for about a week... driving me crazy, as they get picked on by my boys. until finally they look broken and gross and I just have to throw them out. This year was great because they decided with the help of Ruby to eat them (avoiding the glue as much as possible) while we watched the broadcast of the LDS Christmas devotional which was on TV the very the next day! Creating gingerbread houses is one of my favorite family holiday traditions and it was so fun to have most of our family here to share it with!

Here She Is...

Elsa Ruth

poor lighting, bad photographer, not the newest camera.... but even with all that... it's easy to see what a doll this baby girl is!! Elsa (we all like to call her Elsie) was born on December 31st to my brother and his beautiful wife! She joins their family and is blessed with three big brothers who adore her!! We were out of town for the new year celebration when she was born and I could hardly wait to come home so that I could meet her and hold her and just love her! She is so perfect... soft warm little body, hair like feathers, wrinkly toes and fingers... absolutely beautiful!!

I had to smile when I unwrapped her and there on her wrist was the tiniest little bracelet!... after three little boys, her mama is loving having a GIRL to dress up!! She already has more shoes than a celebrity... and Look at ALL that hair!!

I had her all to myself for a bit and even got to change her into her pajamas...it's easy to forget just how little newborns are. Her diapers were mini!! They are only this little for such a short time. I love how they curl into a little ball, how they look around with wide eyes and are just so dependent... her skin was like velvet... what a precious baby girl!!

She didn't like the flash on my camera very much...

Here she is with my mom...

what a perfect little bundle! I wanted to bring her home with me!! She makes me so excited to meet my little guy....being so fresh from heaven, I'm sure if she could talk, she'd tell me all about him!!
We love you little Elsa and are so glad that your finally here!!