Brrrr!

We've had a bit of a cold snap this month.  It started at Christmas time with our first real snowfall.  And we're now nearing the end of January, and the snow is still here!  That has to be a record for our neck of the woods- at least in the 5 years we've lived here!

We even had some below zero temps.  Living in Star Valley, Wyoming, below zero temps were common during the winter.  But since moving to Grand View, Idaho, I've become a wimp and accustomed to warmer weather.  I think the kids went for 3 weeks straight without going outside for recess at school.  (And it showed!  The kids at school were all getting very restless!)

I took a few neat pictures of our frosted trees...

Merry Christmas 2012!

I haven't been very good at updating my blog lately.  December was a very busy month!
Randall had surgery on his finger again on December 3rd.  We weren't sure exactly what was going to happen when we went in... the doctor (a very good hand surgeon- Dr. Kloss) told us he would decide which of 3 options was best when he got into the surgery and could better assess the situation.  One of those options was removing the finger... we're thankful that option was not chosen!  The procedure that was chosen, the z-plasty, was probably the most desirable option as far as healing time, and invasiveness.  Plus, he didn't have to go back in for a 2nd surgery 2 weeks later!  Yea!

Snuggled up with dad and reading a book!  The kids enjoyed lots of snuggle time with Dad while he recovered from surgery.

 

Randall had a cast on again for almost 2 weeks, and he was in a fair amount of pain during that time.  He had to take it easy and hang out at home for a while.  The kids and I enjoyed having him around a bit more.

We took the kids down to Salt Lake City and saw our friends Paul and Joni and their beautiful kids.  We made a stop at Temple Square to see all the beautiful Christmas lights.  Wow!  We haven't been since Cooper was a baby, and it sure was neat!  Ashlin especially love all the "pink" lights.  She would say, "Look mom, yellow... look mom, blue... ooohhh, look mom, PINK!"  She is such a yacker, and acts much more grown up than she actually is.  I wish I could make her, and all my kids for that matter, stay little a bit longer!

Cute kids all dressed up for church!

We made a gingerbread house!

We enjoyed a nice Christmas at home, complete with our traditional Strawberry and Cream Crepes for Christmas breakfast.  Santa Claus made his deliveries and the kids played all day with their new spoils.  Cooper and Carson had requested new ropes, wallets, spurs, and a few other things.  Dad was a good shopper and gave Cooper a fancy pair of spurs and Carson some new chaps.  Lainee wanted a Sleeping Beauty doll and Ashlin wanted a Cinderella doll.  I love it when they're easy to please!  We really do love our quiet and simple Christmas Day's at home with the kids.  It snowed Christmas night, much to the kids' delight.  They had a blast playing in it the next two days before we headed out to visit grandparents.

We headed over to Southeastern Idaho for New Years weekend- we first made a stop at the Raymonds for a party with Randall's family.  We delayed it a bit, because Scott and Maureah had been in Texas for Christmas, and their return flight was cancelled.  With a lot of hard work we were able to find them another flight and they were only 1/2 a day late instead of 2 days late like the airline originally told them.  It was nice to all be together.  We even made it to the Clark Christmas party this year!

We also attended the Schneiter Christmas party where we made some quilts to take to Primary Children's hospital, put together laundry kits for the Rexburg Family Crisis Center, and gathered several large boxes of food items to donate to the Rigby Food Bank.  We are all so blessed, and it's nice to have an opportunity to give back.  The kids received some money for Christmas from grandparents, and they all decided on their own to use a portion of their money to help Randall and I purchase items for the food bank.  I was so proud of my little munchkins!  It's moments like that, that make me feel like just maybe I am doing something right as a mother.

Ashlin taking a bath in the sink at the cabin.  All the kids have bathed in this sink when they were little!

Ashlin all dressed up to go outside in the snow.  Isn't she cute!  I wasn't very good taking pictures this year.  I guess you'll just have to take my word for it that we all had lots of fun!

The winter wonderland scene as we left Island Park.  It really is beautiful up there!

To finish off our grand trip, we headed up to Island Park to spend some time with my family at the cabin.  Everyone made it up there for at least a little while.  New Years is pretty much the only time of year we're all together, and it's become a tradition we all look forward to.  Like last year, we were lacking a bit of snow, so there was no snowmachining.  But there was enough to pull the kids around on sleds with the 4-wheelers.

All-in-all we had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!  Here's to a wonderful 2013!

Monster Concert

Cooper had the opportunity to participate in a Monster Concert last weekend.  He played a duet, along with 9 other duet partners on stage at the same time, 10 pianos in all.  It was really neat!  Cooper worked really hard on his song, and I think he did really well.  The concert had a western theme, and Cooper's song was titled, "On The Trail."

I'm so proud of my little piano player!
Carson wasn't able to participate this year, because you have to have taken lessons for at least a year prior to the concert.  He is looking forward to next year, though!

Carson's Lost Tooth

Carson lost his first "official" tooth.  I say official, because he had to have 2 of his bottom molars pulled a few months ago.  He didn't even realize it was loose until middle of the afternoon one day.  By night time Carson told me the tooth was bothering him and he couldn't sleep.  I took a look, reached in and took one little tug on the tooth and out it came!  If only they were all that easy!