How to beat the midwinter blues

Usually after the holidays end I get a little depressed... no more family, no more gift and goodie making, no more parties... you get the picture and you probably know what I am talking about. But this year I have figured out how to beat those blues! You make yourself so busy that you have no time to think about... so busy that you can't even blog. At least that's my excuse for the paucity of posts this month. Though I have been busy and still am, I am just kicking back for a few minutes to say "HI" and see what my blog buds have been up to. If you are wondering what has kept me so busy - here is the list:

- My cousin's wedding (with lots of preparation) finally happened and she moved far away : (
- I finished her wedding video and a digital recipe book as a wedding gift.
- My sister moved in : )
- I worked a lot while Fisher was on break
- Fisher started his new and final internship : )
- We started up preschool and I got to teach the first two weeks
- Curly and decided to make matching nightgowns for she and Lou
- I started an institute class with my sister - yay!
- My parents came to visit : )
- My Provo dwelling sisters came for a weekend
- We celebrated Fisher's mom's birthday.
- We had a Primary teacher training breakfast one Saturday and a Primary activity day the next
- And there's always the daily duties that somehow get done...eventually
Whew!

Curly and Lou have also been busy growing up the past few weeks. I think Curly is finally starting the downhill descent from the terrible two's (now that she is 3 1/2) and has been very sweet and untempestous the past week (though she still has her moments). She started Sunbeams and loves going to Primary. The other day I corrected her for saying "kill" in a negative way. She replied, "But it's okay to say kill when you read Book of Mormon." She has a point...

Lou has learned to say Curly's name and call everyone she likes by that name. It's very cute. Unfortunately she has also discovered tantrums and the joys of dumping food. . . especially when it is well projected into her sister's curly locks.

GO UTES!!!

That is all I have to say!

Merry Christmas to All!

Let it snow! and snow... and snow... was the theme for Christmas this year. We spent a week in Idaho with my family (the Lovell's) and I am not sure that it ever stopped snowing. I think we cleared the sidewalks at least three times a day. We took advantage of the snow and spent a freezing afternoon on the ski hill.

My parents planned a fun evening at the Mountain River Ranch. We braved the terrible weather to enjoy a sleigh ride, delicious dinner and some entertainment. Before the show ended, the roads were closed, so we had an exciting drive home. It's lovely weather for a sleigh ride!The whole gang waiting for dinner
Curly and Lettie weren't fazed by the scarey roads

You know what they say about frightful weather... it makes the fire delightful. Snuggled in the cozy house, we enjoyed Christmas feasting and gift giving. My brother gave Curly a new helmet to go with the "pink princess bike that has a basket" that Santa procured (qoute from Curly). The card on the gift read, "Every princess with flaming hair should have a hat to match." Lou loved the helmet... we think it's cool too.

For the sibling gift exchange we decided to require home-made gifts. This is the magnet board we made for my sister.

And the gift that keeps on giving... My rubber sister performing "the basket." She's done this since she was four... and now twenty years later...It's painful to watch.

On Christmas day we braved the blizzard to make a snow fort and take a sledding expedition to the park. What a Winter Wonderland!

Another Christmas comes to a close and it always makes me sad. I am so grateful for the family and friends who give us wonderful memories to enjoy all year. Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season...

...for tickle wars with Grandma,


adorning and adoring Gingerbread houses,


sitting on Santa's knee,
feasting on frozen delicacies,

making snow lanterns,

and white winter weddings (in the bitter cold).

Tis the season to enjoy family and friends and the wonderful Christmas spirit!

Holidaze

Why is it that the holidays are the busiest time of the year? I've had good intentions to post for two weeks now, but time has not allowed for it. I spent the week of Thanksgiving in Idaho, the first few days at my parents and the rest of the week with Fisher's family. Fisher's family goes to Grandpa Lake's house EVERY year for Thanksgiving and this year was no different, except that Grandma Lake wasn't with us this year. We missed her and were often commenting on what she would be doing if she were there. It was interesting to watch Grandpa without her. They had been married for more than 70 years and he misses her greatly but this year was the first that Grandpa got to cook the stuffing in the Turkey - the way he wanted it. Grandpa also told a few stories that I never would have heard when Grandma was alive...they were pretty entertaining. Curly and Lou loved playing with their cousins. Curly and her peer cousins set up a "hair shop" and insisted on fixing everyone's hair. Curly kept saying "You look stylish!" Why, thank you. Fisher enjoyed Christmas tree hunting with his dad and siblings and I enjoyed seeing family and a change from the normal routine.

A few pictures:

Curly and her cousins at their last day of ballet

Lou wouldn't have anything to do with her dinner after seeing my sis's boyfriend deliver tapioca cups covered in whip cream (she had her wisdom teeth removed). Grandma finally gave into her pleas. yummy

Lou with her great grandpa Lake

Looking Stylish

Making gingerbread cookies

AND Fisher is officially almost done with his last semester of classwork. He defended his thesis yesterday and passed with flying colors! The end is in sight.

This weekend we have my niece Letty staying with us and my mom watching her while her parents are on a trip. Curly and Letty have had lots of fun today making gingerbread houses with Grandma C and basically leaving a path of destruction wherever they go.

And the Grand Finale

Apparently not a fan of green pie