NEW YEARS EVE!!!

We are crazy at New Years... wild ones I tell ya...

Time with Grandpa

While the gals headed to Walmart and Target (an exciting place for a Canadian) Grandpa stayed home with the kids. They wrote 10 page long stories together, went on walks together and just hung out. My dad is just one of those Grandpa's every kids wants. When they ask for candy he gives it, when they want a story he will tell it, and when they want to do things they aren't ordinarily allowed to do, he looks the other way. My mom jokes that as a dad, this could probably cause problems...but in a Grandpa, well it is simply wonderful.

Computer Down!

Unfortunatly my computer has been down for the last week and I will not be able to blog until I get it up and running again. So keep checking in... I WILL BE BACK! Hopefully soon!!

And the Reigning Champion is....

NO GUESSING CHAMPION: SHAUNA LEVEL 10

Shelley gave our family for Christmas a game called "No Guessing". You strap this apparatus to your head (wait...that isn't the fun part) It then plays some grooving music and asks you "yes" or "no" questions. If the answer is yes you nod your head, if it is no, you shake it. This thing makes you look and feel dumb. It is defintily harder than it sounds. I couldn't get past level one.

Shauna on the other hand got all the way to level 10! She rocks!

(disclaimer: we all may look a little loony in these pictures, we really are normal...sortof)

Love for Snow

Jessica would live outside if she could. She LOVES being outside. Wind rain, snow, excessive heat or cold does not hold her back. In fact, sometimes it becomes an issue and an outrage when I tell her it is too nasty outside and to come inside.

Daddy and the kids built a huge ice fort. (the picture was taken after it had melted a bit) I am so glad Matt likes doing those sort of things. I am more of a "run through the sprinklers in the warm summer" kindof mom than a snowman/fort building one...

Half Monkey Children

I have always said my children are half monkey. Since they all came out of the womb they have climbed up everything with ease. Just like those Polynesian guys that scale a tree in a few minute to get a coconut...that is my kids right there. This doorway wall climb is so second nature to me and homelife here that I didn't even think to grab my camera until mom and dad couldn't believe what they were doing. My mom said, "You have to blog THAT!"

Sleigh Ride

We took off to Leavenworth when the gang were here and went to for an old fashioned sleigh ride through the forest. What very cool experience! I felt like Anne of Green Gables as we quietly rode through the woods. Thanks everyone for an awesome day!

Loving Hands

On boxing day my Mom, Dad and Shauna headed over to our house for a couple of days. My mom was eager to get baking with the kids so that they could take the cookies to a homeless shelter. She mentioned to me how she was never much of a baker while we were growing up, but as she rolled out the dough she talked about how she wasn't going to miss that opportunity to bake with her grandchildren. I think I was more moved that she wanted to learn from how she was as a mom to what kind of Grandma she will be, more so than her bringing cookies to those in need. She has taught me so much, as she goes through life. By her actions more so than her words. I love my mom.

Christmas Day Activities

1. We headed up the mountain after lunch and skiied a few runs together.

2. Came home and played the Wii...mommy tried...(I am still confused as to why I need a remote in each hand?)

3. Played our new games together. (even turtle joined our game)

4. Logan and I took a quick 4 hours to build his marble toy.

5. Hunter was in Lego mode for hours and hours.

It was a perfectly wonderful Christmas day...

Christmas Morning

Christmas came bright and early, some were more chipper than others.

Here are our Christmas morning highlights...

1. Watching the kids eyes light up as they looked down the stairs and saw Santa had come.

2. Logan's face when he would open a present and see that it was in a box of crackers or something and each time thinking he got crackers...ha ha.

3. Jenn getting a pencil sharpener from Matt...seeing that she has used a knife up to now.

4. Watching Jessica's baby alive pee, that thing could go clear across the room.

5. Watching the kids when the found out they got a Wii. (seeing I said "heck no" up until then)

6. Watching Logan trying to reach the stuff in the big box and deciding to just climb right in.

7. Watching Jess and Hunter scream with excitment and Logan cry because they were too loud.

8. Secretly scrimping and saving to surprise Matt with new ski's. (for being a die hard skiier I thought 12 years was long enough)

9. Watching how excited the kids were about giving their gifts that they had picked out for each other.

10. Seeing Jessica love her picture from Santa of Rudolph more than all of her presents.