Christmas 2012

I don't know about the rest of the world, but this Christmas snuck up on me at lightning speed. I hate to admit that I was not ready, though I feel I had a few really good excuses - one being a sweet chubby faced, melt your heart little boy.   In spite of the craziness and the stress, I got my act together and our family enjoyed a very nice Christmas.  We LOVED having the Lovells here to celebrate with!  (Have we mentioned how glad we are that they moved here).  Our traditional celebrations prior to Christmas included caroling, lots of baking, being secret Santas, a traditional Finnish meal, more baking, preparing gifts, delivering gifts, and reading lots of Christmas stories.  Curly participated in a Children's Christmas Choir and we enjoyed watching her perform at several events.

Each year the kids draw names and get each other a gift.  This year Curly decided to make a gift for Spud.  With a little help from me, she sewed a soft felt "toy" box for him to hide his toys in.  We enjoyed working on this simple project together.

On Christmas Eve, we shared the traditional German dinner with Lovells.  We ate Rouladin, spaetzle, rotkohl, bunter salat, rye bread, and german cheesecake.  Oh yum!  It was fun (and really nice) to have someone to split the menu with and more importantly share the food.

Christmas Eve Dinner

We had enough people to have a reading and performance of the Nativity.  Maybe not the most reverent nativity ever performed, but certainly memorable.

The Nativity Cast - Baby Spud did not play his role well

Grandma Lovell sent matching PJs for the grandkids

I always hope that Christmas morning is as anticipated and memorable for my children  as it was for me.  The rule at our house is that you can't leave your room until mom or dad comes (which makes it easier for parents to get a little more sleep).  I think we made it until 6:30 before the excited voices could be heard throughout the house. 

Another tradition is the family treasure hunt to find the "family gift."  Growing up, these treasure hunts were always written in rhyme and usually integrated one or more family chores (shoveling snow, taking care of the dog, etc.)  We have continued the tradition, though not always in rhyme.  The girls were not very happy about having the empty the dishwasher, and they weren't very excited about the new computer that was the family gift, but they were thrilled about the soccer ball!  Funny kids.  

On Christmas afternoon we went to the Lovell's for a delicious classic Christmas dinner.  The kids played and we exchanged gifts before heading home.  It was a nice, low-key day.  Perfect preparation for the business for the rest of our holiday break.

Lou ecstatic about her doll with matching PJs

Curly with the gift she made for Spud

Dress Up Diva Berry could not have been more

 thrilled about this fancy dress-up from Oma

The new firepit - Always time for s'mores

   

Merry Christmas!

Silliness and fun

A few snapshots from life in the crazy month of December.

Sweet Spud with his contagious smile

Berry sharing her dolly bunkbed

Stick em up!  Lou being creative with her clothes

That is some tasty cocoa...maybe?

  

Decorating Christmas cookies - fun and MESSY!

November - A birthday girl and a bit of fun

November passed in a blur.. much like the months before and since.  Thank goodness for cameras that help us capture and remember moments!

Spud was not a huge fan of the pumpkin-mobile

Our sweet Berry turned 2!  I love the terrific twos!  Berry is my little shadow and gives her interpretation on whatever we are doing.  With all her commentary, her vocabulary and phrase length increases hourly.  With her blonde curls, droll little mouth and full cheeks, she looks like a cherub. She is easy to love and loved by all - her sisters, the neighborhood, the ward, and the cute elderly couples at Costco.  

Birthday display

She loves ducks - and quacks!

 Berry currently loves dresses and skirts.  She is a fairweather fashionista and changes her clothes at least four times a day.  She hates to be dirty and is equally odious of dirty clothes and so sometimes she strips down for something new simply because her sleeve is wet. She was thrilled with this new ensemble for her collection from Aunt Sharla (whom she also loves).

Opening gifts

Happy Birthday Berry!

Soccer season ended and somehow I only have a picture of Curly's team.  Lou also played this season.  Both had a great time and great coaches.  Lou lived for the end of game snack and the end of season trophy - it is a start I suppose.

Curly's team with Coach Nally

During Thanksgiving, we enjoyed a short reprieve from Fisher's intense work schedule and were able to be with family and each other for a couple days.  We had dinner with the East Valley Lovell's - which is always enjoyable.

Aunt Kim and Spud

The day after Thanksgiving, we hit the Phoenix Zoo.  The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed a slow pace as we watched the interesting animals and people at the zoo.

With the Rhinos

  

The girls enjoyed a campout with dad in the backyard

Berry - the busy body sportin' a sequined leotard

Curly and Lou - I think they are being Ninjas

Hotel Lake is open!

Near the end of October, the Hotel Lake officially opened for the season.  Our first visitors were the Waters clan - they stopped through for a few days on their way home from Disneyland.  They were able to join us for our Mormon helping hands service day and our ward Trunk or Treat.  We had a great time!

Smoothie snack

Ready for some candy!

Berry the Butterfly

Spud the Punk Rocker

Our next guest was Ambie!  She has been serving a mission for 18 months and so we were all very excited to see her!  She came and celebrated Halloween with us.  

Pumpkin carving party

So glad to have the Lovells close by

Lou and Ambie - funny faces!

Spooky dinner - mouths and worms

Cute Dressed Up Girls - fancy lady, ballerina, Cinderella,
 Dorothy, Hermione,  and a  butterfly

Fisher's brother and his family came to visit with cute Wren.  We had  a nice relaxing visit - enjoying the beautiful weather at the playground, soccer games, and hiking.  Berry thought it was fun to have a little cousin to play with and particularly liked her baby doll!  This was their first time visiting us in Arizona and we hope they come back soon.

Wren and Berry at the playground

Hiking at Thunderbird - it was chilly!

 

Our final guests were Lainey's parents.  They came for a pre-Thanksgiving visit.  It was so fun to be able to spend time with them and T-man and Shar's family.  We enjoyed cooking and eating a Thanksgiving dinner together.

Very entertaining magic show!

Grandpa Duck and his helpers in T-man's garden

Beautiful sunset hike

The Hotel Lake is still open if anyone would like to schedule a visit!