WHITE CHRISTMAS 2009

While it was freezing outside......
It was warm & cozy inside.

This Christmas we were especially thankful for friends who have awesome cabins who let us stay in them.

It was deluxe!

This was the very first Christmas in the snow for all of us!
We sledded & skiied without incident.
Which is always a good thing.



Each day we'd wake up to this view.

Intense Risk games.

Zane doing the Turtle.

Brian took the kids skiing while I stayed at the cabin reading a book by the fireplace and eating cookies.

I think it was the best day of my life.

Christmas dreams come true for Jake.

X-Box and Halo.

This was all Brian's fault. He totally caved.

Santa loves snowball cookies.

This is the face Zane always gives me when I tell him I want to take pictures of him.

Santa brought Max the Mindflex game.

I still can't figure out how that thing works!

Christmas dreams come true for Brian.......December ski days!

It was a......

very

merry
Christmas!

Aaaahhhh!

And we're off......

......to Utah.

For our very first white Christmas.

And holy cow I've about killed myself getting ready for it!

But the Christmas cards are out, neighbor treats delivered, presents bought & wrapped & packed, ski gear packed, Tulle car roof rack bought so we can fit everything in, family Christmas parties over, office party over, preschool Christmas program over, Christmas orchestra concert over, Christmas band concert over (which we walked in to hear the last note of the last song) , and I'm so ready

to cozy up

in a cabin

in the snow

with my little family

and let a little Christmas Spirit Magic flow over me.

Christmas Card Photoshoot

I already posted Brian's awesome pics previously, so here's the rest of our Christmas card photoshoot.
We can clean up real nice when we want to.

I barely got our card printed up & sent out before we left out of town for Christmas......and I'm sure I forgot a bunch of people......I was seriously stressing out!

And saving the best for last...........

Rawrrrrrrr!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!

We're having a girl!!!!!!!!

And I'm just a little excited about it!

I keep waking up in the morning afraid it was all a dream. It's just too good to be true!

And look how cute she already looks on her ultrasound picture.

The ultrasound tech had a hard time getting a good look at her because she was keeping her legs together so much. She's so modest!

But we finally got some good shots & it's definitely a girl.

I drift off to sleep each night now dreaming of tiny tutu's and little sundresses and every shade of pink.......

Thank you honey, for the X chromosome.

It's the best Christmas present ever!

Happy Helpers

The leaves on our trees turn & fall not in October, but in December.
So this adds some extra fun to our kids' favorite month of the year.
Since they love doing their yard work chores on Saturdays.

Just look at how much fun Jake is having sweeping up those leaves!

What happy little helpers they are!

Then there's the orange-pickers.

Look at the cooperation!

And.......the happiest helper of them all.............Marlee!!!

Gooooo Mars!

I love this picture!

Guess who this is.........