New Years

Just like Christmas the new year snuck up on me. We kept it quiet and small this year. Kevin, Conor and I went skiing during the day and then we did pizza and games with the Willards in the evening.  We even called it early, we were so boring this year. New years day we headed out to our friends the Carr's to feed the baby calf they have. It was crazy how fast that "little" calf could guzzle down almost a gallon of milk.  The kids had fun checking out all the animals they have, and we even brought home some fresh eggs. Josie loved the horses and Lincoln preferred the chickens, Conor loves the huge tortoise. Such a bummer that we have to head back to school and the regular life of 2013.  Makes me think of one of my favorite quotes.  If all the year were playing holidays,. To sport would be as tedious as to work -Shakespeare.

The much improved boys over last year...amazing what a year will do.  I take a forced year off for the knee fiasco and these two leave me in the dust!!! 

It was a very cold day...but we were still having a lot of fun. 

Josie discovered Lincoln will play dress up with her...he was even happy about it, and tried on several dresses. 

Divvying out the "fireworks"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Give or take a few minutes

Josie with her 30 seconds

Conor with his 30 seconds

Lincoln with his 30 seconds

Josie with the horses.  She didn't want to leave.

The remaining days of 2012

The day after Christmas we headed out to cash in on the Build A Bear certificates Grandma Nielsen gave the kids. What a fun, fun, fun adventure. The bears then were treated to several launches off the giant bean bag.   We got to spend one more day with Grandma and Grandpa then we had to send them on their way.  They had to go back to Utah to shovel snow.  After their departure we headed to Genesee to spend sometime with Grandma and Grandpa Kellogg.  We got to do some sledding, go see the bookstore and then we went to this train park in Lewiston that has an amazing light set up.  They had these penguins set up on the grass and Charlie Brown music playing.  Lincoln started copying the penguin dance moves and dancing with each penguin.  So So FUNNY.  I have  a video that I will need to post.  I haven't figured out how to edit it yet though.  

Josie fluffing her bear

Preparing the hearts to be tucked inside.  They got a kick out of this.

The finished bears

Sledding by Grandma's house

Love Josie's face here.  She was picking up a bit of speed even making me nervous watching

Posing for me

These trees are completely covered in lights.  It is fun to wander through them.  We got to spend the whole day with Nicole!

The Charlie Brown Dancing penguins.  The kids are all blurry because they were constantly in motion.  Running between penguins and dancing jigs.  We stood here a good 10 minutes.  

The Gingerbread family

Conor taking a bite.

Christmas Day 2012

Christmas Morning at our house...the moment of quiet before the chaos erupts. Santa has come and gone and the kids are ready to come thundering downstairs. The kids are threatened with disappearing presents if they venture downstairs with out the parents, and before 7:30. All rules were followed. We had a wonderful wonderful day! As always, in the midst of the paper flying and happy faces I am struck with how blessed we are. So, so, so, much "stuff." Santa brought everything on the kids list and then some.  Once all the gifts were opened we spent the afternoon skyping with all the family and playing with the goods. 

When you ask Josie what her favorite gift was she says her American doll...yet she really doesn't play with her much. Conor smiles and says his 3DS and then starts rattling off some other gifts. I think he was genuinely surprised at the haul he made-since he is perpetually on the naughty list. He said several times that he got more then he expected and was very happy. Lincoln, you guessed it CARS!!!! And, he got a lot of them. Our floor is constantly littered with cars.
 

Calm before the storm

Traditional "top of the stairs" picture

Checking out all the gifts from Santa...I look a bit anxious about those scary looking BB guns.  Hmm...

Lincoln was in heaven with this car garage from Santa

The American Girl doll and of course the princess poster!!!

Conor with his 3DS.  I was mean and saved it for very very last.  He was surprised because I think he expected it from Santa.  I wanted to make him sweat a little. 

This montrosity is a GIANT bean bag.  Really comfy, great entertainment for the kids, but definitely not stylish.  Despite all that, it is always the favorite seat in the house.  Good thing the whole family can sit on it.  My stomach actually started to hurt when it expanded to the final size. 

Check out these bad boys!  I discovered I am a rotten shot-good think I don't need to hunt for dinner.  I will leave that to Conor.

Let's EAT!!!  7 layer jello, ham, cheesy potatoes, rolls, sweet potatoes and peppermint dessert!

Christmas is Coming

3 more days, 2 more days 1 more day.  The kids kept telling me how many days until Christmas and I kept hoping they were incorrect, I was sure I had a few more days to prepare. Here are a few pictures of the things we did to get ready for the big day. I made these cute gifts for neighbors and friends and I just had to show them off. We went to see the gingerbread house display at the Davenport (so lame this year,) we went to see the gigantic tree at the downtown mall, we got to go eat at Costa Vida and very best...Grandma and Grandpa Nielsen came to spend the big day with us. Before I knew it, it was Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve brought with it magic and fun. Lots of delicious smells were coming from the kitchen, the chili was simmering and the kids were bursting with excitement. The kids kept checking the norad santa tracker on the computer and he was getting closer and closer. Josie was bursting with smiles as she talked to one of Santa's official trackers on the phone. She called early evening and then they called just before they went to bed and the tracker they talked to last told them to "HURRY" to bed Santa was on his way. Josie never went to bed so quickly. I still laugh when I think about it. We opened and read our new Christmas Eve book. This year we got The Light of Christmas. The kids opened their Christmas jammies and we acted out the Christmas nativity with our laminated set. We got the plate of goodies all ready to give to Santa and Lincoln insisted on helping himself to the treats. Finally the bouncing kids were in bed. Santa was cleared to make an appearance.

The hot chocolate on a stick package we gave to a few people-These turned out a lot cuter then I thought they would and they actually tasted good (bonus.)

Conor and Josie in front of the winning gingerbread creation

The huge tree in the downtown mall.

My helping hands-chopping almonds for the best toffee...candied almonds and toffee are something I look forward to every year-2 batches turned out awesome this year.

Josie talking on the phone to the Norad tracker..Where is Santa????

Getting ready to open their only present on Christmas eve.  3-2-1 GO!

Christmas eve jammies!!!

Reading the Christmas Eve story book

Lincoln helping himself to Santa's cookies.