Blogging drought

The west coast is experiencing a significant drought right now, so bad, that my sister said the church asked the members to pray for some relief.  Maybe I should start praying that I get caught up and start blogging more regularly too.

January... it doesn't feel like we've done much.  It's too cold most days to go outside with the kids.  The 'inversion' is so bad that I feel guilty driving anywhere that isn't absolutely necessary.  Mostly just to school, the gym, and the store.  Justin spent a week in New Jersey for work right after I spent a weekend in Arizona with my friend Kathy.  

Phoenix and Yuma was awesome, by the way.  The high was 80 degrees for the weekend, and the low was still 20 degree's higher than our high at home.  Plus, there's the clear, blue sky to enjoy.  We went to movies (4 of them) hung with with a bunch of Kathy's friends, some I had met before, other's I hadn't.  Went to a couple of basketball games (she's the athletic trainer for Kofa High School in Yuma), and mostly just had no where to be at any specific time, which was amazing.  Sometimes we'd be driving and I would have no idea where we were headed, and I loved it.  No making lunch, getting home for naps, or fighting kids about bed time.  

I did a horrible job at taking pictures, but we did actually do a tourist-y thing for the first time.  We went and (quickly) walked around some old-timey jail and I took a photo of the guard tower, the view of the Colorado River, and this cool out-door place we ate brunch one morning. 

 

Hyrum had his first day of ski school.  We have a couple more times up at Alta, but we haven't found the time to do them.  He liked it, although never missed the chance to sit down in the snow and start eating it whenever possible.  

Kate... has had a good couple of weeks.  I'm not superstitious, but when I mentioned that fact that she gave me the BEST Christmas present I could ever get for a week leading up to Christmas, it turned out to be just that, a Christmas miracle.  Soon afterwards, we were back to status quo.  However, we're going on two straight weeks here.  So... I'm not talking about it, and we're trying to not make a big deal about it, just in case it backfires on us again.  But, if you want a sure-fire way to potty train your child in 11 excruciating long months, I'm your gal!

Milo has also learned a new skill.  He couldn't be happier with himself too.  Every time he's walking he looks around to make sure that everyone is just as excited as he is.  He still crawls more often than not, since it's so much quicker, but I don't think that will even last that much longer.  

Milo walks from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas!

It was hard to wait until after Thanksgiving this year to decorate for some reason, probably because it was so late in the month, but I did.

And, it took me a few extra days to actually get my tree up, since my pre-lit tree wasn't so pre-lit this year.  I had three light sections that were out and had to take them off and restring new lights.  I sure hope a different set doesn't decide to go off next year, because it was a pain!  But, once it was up, I loved it.  Just like every year.  That's one thing I will surely miss about this house when we finally move.  An awesome spot for a 10 foot tall tree.

I've also wanted a new wreath for a year or two and kind of wanted a burlap one.  As luck would have it, my ward had their first ever Super Saturday Craft Day in a decade... and they made wreaths!  I added a bit more burlap than they showed us, and I ended up breaking up my old wreath (red berries) to add to it, but I really liked how it turned out.

We started the Christmas season with a new activity, seeing the lights turn on at Temple Square.  It was pretty crowded, but ended up being a fun night.

I finally put up a kids tree this year.  I only got out a few old ornaments that were mostly non breakables and let the kids help decorate the tree.  They loved it.

We also went to Gardner Village for the 2nd year in a row this year to pick out ornaments and ride a few 'Christmas' ponies.

Dad bought a Gingerbread house this year too that came already put together, just needed to be decorated.  The big kids loved it.

My Aunt Judy gave the kids a chocolate advent calendar to all the kids.  Kate didn't understand the concept.  She ate hers AND Milo's when I was in the shower one morning

Christmas Day

The kids woke up at the regular time and we all went downstairs to see what was left for us.  

The kids loved their gifts and got to play for quite a while that morning. 

I gave Justin some new ear buds, a bunch of snacks to keep in his office, a little pan for making eggs, and a kitchen torch so I can make him Creme Brulee (someday).  He have me a wireless speaker for my iPhone and a weekend in Phoenix in a couple of weeks to spend with Kathy (no kids).  

We headed to Justin's mom and Dave's clubhouse for brunch with the Goughs.  Mimi and Papa gave all the kids a lego drawer's that Dave made along with lego's to play with.  They loved it.  

After Mimi and Papa's we drove up to my parents for dinner with the Hardcastles.  I did a horrible job at taking pictures that evening, managed one of Kate.  We had Salisbury Steak and bunch of sides and desserts.  Milo didn't have much of a nap for the day, so he went to bed right after dinner and missed the present opening.  We came back up the next day though, so he didn't have to wait too long.  

The kids were spoiled once again -toys, clothes, books, games all the stuff you'd expect.  Justin got a cool helicopter from my brother Matt that he loves playing with too.  

It was a LONG and fun day, we didn't get home until close to 10 that night and NONE of the kids fell asleep on the way back.  Go figure!  

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started at Grandma Colleen's house.  (Well, technically it started in the morning with me making a bunch of food that I didn't think would take as long as it did, which was right up until we left for Colleen's).

Kate LOVED watching everyone else open gifts and Hyrum got a "Anything I want" gift card, which was pretty exciting.  We had a yummy dinner and fun time with the Lafeen's.  Oh, and Justin wore his ugly sweater to dinner, so that's why he's wearing a women's turtleneck in the pictures.

Grandma and Grandpa Lafeen (and April) came over to our house afterwards to give the kids more presents.  A LOT more presents.

Superhero's, tinkerbell, Ariel, pj's, batmans, walkie talkies, lots of art supplies, AND two new tablets for the big kids.

By then it was getting pretty late, so Milo went to bed and Hyrum and Kate decorated cookies for Santa.

After Kate went to bed Hyrum helped me write a note to Santa too.  He would have written the whole thing, but his finger was in a splint, so I wrote and he signed.

Everybody went to bed and waited for Santa.