Another Great Book

Hello again to my sweet family, home cooked meals and laundry. I missed you all! The book is finished and I am BACK. I love this book and highly recommend it to anyone! I love 1)it's true, right now I'm all about the true story especially when it's inspiring as this surely was 2)It's incredibly faith promoting 3) it has such a happy ending

Off to bed because I have YOGA with Darin in the am. I need to prove I can stay up late, be irresponsible, and still take care of myself, ugggggh!

Martin Luther King Day

This year to Celebrate MLK day, we spent the day in Boulder. That is me and 6 kids minus the husband who was on call. We missed him all the day, but we made the very best of it!  I missed him because he loves this place as much as I do.  I'm pretty sure we didn't see another kid the whole day. 

Every kid had the assignment of finding their favorite ART in the city.  This was Paris'.  I do love this store!
These captions are on the side of an old building.  I think they are inspiring.


Speaking of Inspiring.... This is our family favorite breakfast spot.  It's worth every second of the drive!  We got there too late and missed the pancake special which happened to be blueberry pancakes with raspberry sour cream sauce.  Somehow we managed.   Let me tell you Fine Food Indeed!  One thing that's awesome about my kids is that they love and appreciate good food.  

  

A Day in Boulder

This is the only snow we saw all day.  It was 65 degrees.  I love the sun.  

Paris and Ciera

I love all the street side music.  We sat and watched these two...

Turned out to be a good thing they brought these.  Turns out 7 Year Old Boys don't love shopping.  I want to point out that there were severe restrictions on the usage...

Paris took her friend Ciera...

Easton sure does miss this guy...

Madeline brought her dog, because we gave hers away...  We are generous that's why!

More Artwork the kids chose!  Did I mention I love this place!

New Years Eve

Thank, you , thank you Chris and Gale for starting us out on the Best Tradition. We have passed in onto many others. We look forward to it like Christmas! Fondue!

Paris, Julie and Savvy getting Dishing Up!

I have given up on the traditional Swiss Fondue. My kids refuse to let alcohol in the house, of any kind or any reason. After trying all substitutes I gave up and go for a Mexican Cheese Fondue. Please don't call it Queso, even though it really is. No velveeta in this one! I'm going to include my menu in a post, so I don't forget it!

Everyone simultaneously popping the Crackers.

Thank you Mack Family for helping us ring in 2009. What a fun night!

Surprise Road Trip

So when the dust was barely starting to settle at home, I realized I was missing my family. I thought Darin would think I was crazy, but I suggested we make the trek to Utah for a couple of short days. Love that Man, he was game! We called my family told them we would be in the car in a couple of hours and 10 or 12 or 15 hours later we would be there! Darin drove me to Grand Junction, took a flight home (someone has to work). Then I trekked the rest of the way home! It was worth every second. I really don't mind driving anyway as long as we have some good movies and book tapes. The kids were Rock Stars the whole way, especially once Darin made is Exit. I am pretty sure they felt sorry for me. Good enough for me! Here were some of the highlights.
I'm not sure why I look like man here. I'm sad Jarica is not in the picture. I didn't get to see Kristi long enough, but I'm still glad for the precious, but few moments!
Savvy would spend every last hard earned dollar to get a glimpse of this cousin. She loves her!
Aunt Kristi painted everyone's nails. I guess we do this when we get together.
I actually miss Easton when we get together with the cousins. I only catch little blurs of him racing by me. Here these boys are building Bionicles. I hate these things, they make me question my own intelligence. Brilliant Boys!

Funny these guys ended up with matching Pajamas from two different states. It's funny how often this happens.
Loving on this sweet baby could have been worth the 20 Hour drive and running out of gas on the freeway with no cell phone service, love that kid...

The Best Gift

The best gift was not for Christmas at all! The day after Christmas we got home late. We always get home late, because we stay at the cabin until the last possible moment everytime. We got home about midnight. I woke up early to try to get a little reading it of this book that I was loving. Paris and Savvy got the awesome. I do repeat awesome idea, to let me read in bed. They made all the kids breakfast. They made me breakfast in bed. The unloaded and cleaned out the car. Seriously, you should have seen the car full of Christmas (even though it really was quite small) there are still 7 of us along with all the mountain "filth and muck." Paris loves a good book and likes to cave until it's done. I think this was my best Gift. I uncurled and pulled myself out of bed and my finished Life Changing Book at 1:00 PM. That is a First! Thank you.... Thank you!

How We Spent the Last Month of 2008

Paris was an Oompah Loompah in Charlie in the Chocolate Factory. She was met with these lovely "flowers" specially picked out by Madeline, because these will never Die.
Paris' sweet friends who came to support her! She really is lucky to have such great friends.
We gathered together for our annual Tree Hunt! This has become a great anticipated tradition.
Sverre holds his baby like a sack o potatoes, even though she's not one...
Sack O Potato baby seeing better moments here with her family, i.e. Christmas Tree Hunt Organizers.

Big Kids...

We ate, hiked and relaxed before the big hunt.

We roasted marshmallows

I learned to make smores that aren't near as messy and taste just about as good..
We found the tree that would become ours. Let me tell you they always look prettier in the forest... The man looks just as good at home:)

Easton got tired during the hunt and laid down to rest...

The Hunters sans Erin... Let the Christmas Season officially begin.

We went to Beaver Creek and played for the day. Highlight: the outdoor hot pool Low light: Me getting sick, and too short of a trip. Trip: courtesy of Orgill Family. Thank you, thank you...
We tried on all our skis, boards, and clothing to see what fits and what we need before we spend a kabillion dollars on our equipment...
Madeline made this cute shirt at school. She now refuses to wash it for fear the googly eyes and nose will wash off. They did a cute little play for the parents, equal attention being given to; Ramadan, Kwanza and Hannukah. I hope everyone's was happy...
Darin talked me into having Christmas in the mountains. I wanted to come home on Christmas Eve night, but I relented. I'm glad I did. It was magical. Our Christmas was definitely white. Upon arrival we knew we had to get the cabin whipped into Christmas Shape. We split up into teams of two. We each got 5dollars to spend on supplies for homemade decor. Here's what we came up with. Easton and I made sparkly and some non-sparkly snowflakes.
Paris and Darin made a Gingerbread House with Graham Crackers. It once had a peaked roof.
They had a bit of a collapsing roof problem.
Savvy and Mema made an Origami Christmas Banner...

They overachieved...

The final product of the Gingerbread House, before total Consumption.

The tree which usually resides in the loft got the makeover of it's life. Pepa and Madeline made the Garland out of wrapping paper. Pretty creative, huh? We also used the wrapping paper as a table cloth for our Christmas Dinner.

The final resting spot for the Christmas Origami...
Let Christmas in the Mountains Begin...

I forgot the Stocking hung by our Chimney with care at Home. We improvised by using our Snowboard Boots. Somehow Santa knew. Santa Rocks!

Paris put a tired baby to sleep. Why is she tired? She practically laughs in my face when I put her in her Pack n Play and then climbs out about 20 times before I give up and let her play with us all.
Ahhhh the yearly snow cave digging and sleeping (if you can call it that). These lucky kids got to dig and dig all day with their Dad. Easton and Darin that is, spent the better half of a day prepping the Snow Cave. Not sure what's more fun the prep work or the actual event. It took them hours. They watched a movie in the cave, equipped with warmers, sleeping bags, gators, gloves and snow clothes. After the movie they settled down to sleep only to discover the ceiling was in fact getting lower. The mom was radioed, Pepa came and dug them out. Mission Accomplished! Did I say they were the luckiest kids.
Paris and Savvy at the Outdoor Ice Skating Rink. Savvy was nursing an injury so Paris stayed out with her. Great Sisterly Love.
Ava in full gear for Ice Skating. I think it was about 20 degrees. We were actually warm.

What a way to Travel. She loved it.

Madeline gets the hang of it...

It's easier for me to navigate without skates! Even though I think I'm the girl on Ice Castle when I put them on. Remember that show?
I was struck by the realization that this will be the last year we have a legitimate "baby jesus", from now on it's way oversized pretend babies. I can't wait for grandbabies!
We were luck to have Meems and Peeps for most of our trip! We are so happy they are home.

A prized gift. I love this thing!

They had to try out the bubble bath that Santa always brings in the stocking. I should have taken a picture of the floor, it was pretty memorable!

Wii Fit Yoga... Don't try this unless you want to be utterly insulted. We got this for Darin, he really likes it.

Easton getting caught playing with Guys. He tells me he is way to old for this stuff, but sometimes he goes into hiding to get some good playing in. I love this boy more than words. I hope we still have a long time of playing with the "guys."
Madeline and Ava have spent hours playing with her Dolls. My dolls playing with Dolls. I love watching them nurture.