Sunday, March 22, 2015

February - Fun & Fast

We started February out with a visit from the Waters.  They were our first official over night guests in our new house.  We celebrated with some serious active play at Fisher's physical therapy gym and then home made personal pizzas.  It didn't take much to entertain the Waters.  The kids were thrilled to play non-stop and the parents so the parents could just visit. 

Spud is keeping me busy and I am constantly trying to find new activities that he enjoys.  One of his current favorites is the wheat bin.  It keeps him busy for quite a while and it also makes a big mess (which is probably why he enjoys it).

Berry is easier to entertain and enjoys quiet play, coloring, and learning time.  She is becoming quite adept at writing her name.
Paisley brought this cute lederhosen back from Germany and it fits Spud just perfectly.  He was quite the ham while we tried to get a good pictures of him.
The saddest day in February was the day that Paisley moved to Utah.  We have loved living in the same city as her.  We will miss her dropping by for lunch or to just say Hi.  We will miss going on outings with her.  She started her first job as the English content editor for "FamilyShare" at Deseret Digital Media.
We also celebrated my birthday!  Fisher took me skiing.  I can't remember the last time just the two of us went skiing... definitely pre-Arizona.  We were amazed at how many runs we could do in an hour and equally amazed at how tired our legs were.  I guess I am getting older.  We celebrated with the kids too.  The girls planned some fun surprises and insisted on making me breakfast and dinner and they did a pretty good job.  It was a lovely birthday.
 The combined fourth grade classes at Curly's school put on a musical about the Lewis and Clark expedition.  It was well done and very entertaining.  Curly is on the front row next to the girl in green.  Her role was an aid to the president.

And that was February.

January

January flew by so quickly (and my memory is so terrible) that it seemed like maybe nothing noteworthy happened.  It is a good thing we have pictures to record the things we don't want to forget.

 One Sunday the girls dressed up every - single - stuffed animal we own and then put on fashion show complete with commentary and awards.  I am still finding hair bows and other accessories clipped on teddy bear ears and doggy necks.

Our neighbor created a cool ice sculpture in his yard.  It is lit up at night and we can see it from our kitchen window.  Berry calls it Elsa's castle.

 Berry took a tumble and ended up needing to have her chin repaired.  This happened the day after Fisher and I were discussing how fortunate we were to never have had any of our children break a bone or need stitches. 


We knew Paisley would probably be moving when she found a job, so we took advantage of the time she had here to go on outings.   We spent one afternoon at the skating rink.  Berry received a book about an ice skater for Christmas and was disappointed to discover she couldn't spin and twirl like the girl in her book.  She settled for being pushed around on the ice skating trainer.
 
Beautiful frosted snow globe world
Berry decided to give her hair a trim.  It's a good thing she is so cute.

After a fun day of skiing, we stopped to see the snow sculptures in Driggs.

We finally finished hanging some family photos.  
We made sure to leave a spot for the new addition joining our family in July.

 Near the end of January, Fisher had a conference in Park City, Utah.  We left the older girls with Grandma and took Berry and Russ to Utah to visit Oma.  We had fun staying with the Willeitners on our way. 
Russ loves a mess!
  Fisher and I enjoyed a few days in Park City.  He attended classes while I read books, exercised and spent some time with nearby family.   We enjoyed lunch with Paul and Michele and I got to visit K-Rae at the school where she works before she and I enjoyed an afternoon of shopping.
With Paul and Michele at The Canyons
K-Rae in her Speech Therapy office
 On our way home, we were able to attend the blessing or our newest nephew, Dallin.  We all think he is just perfect.

A White and Wonderful Christmas

Our first Christmas living in Idaho did not disappoint.  We woke up to a winter wonderland on Christmas morning that provided the perfect backdrop for a wonderful day with family.  The most memorable events of this Christmas season were (in no particular order):

- Having all of my parents, siblings and their families here to celebrate.
- Great Grandpa Lake joining us for Christmas morning breakfast and gifts.
- The family re-enactment of the Nativity.
- Teaching the kids to ski.
- Playing games with the family.
- Taking family pictures.
- Eating lots of really good food because everyone in my family is a really good cook.
- A happening New Years Eve party planned by Kristi and Diego.
Christmas Morning Wonderland
Family  Nativity Play
Spud, the Wise man, holding baby Jesus

Grandma's matching Christmas PJs

Christmas Morning with Great Grandpa Lake


Fun on Grandpa's new toy
Teaching "Grump" to the next generation

One of the many delicious dinners
New Year's Eve obstacle Course
New Year's Eve countdown to "midnight"
Reading stories with Uncle Nathan