Christmas 2014

Christmas Break 2014-15

We were supposed to go to Utah to see family and attend Justin and Laura McBride's wedding.  Alas, Dave came down with the flu and we ended up in the emergency room the day before we were supposed to go.  Big bummer!  Instead of spending New Year's at Deer Valley, we spent it at the Larsons with the Lakes and the Bezzants.  It was a great time...but sad we weren't in Utah.

Germs and a lesson learned

Tonight we met Steve, Sherry and Jennifer for dinner at Chipotle. During dinner, Winston pulled out Dave's old keychain, which included a Swiss Army knife. We told Winston that was not a toy, he needed to put it in his pocket, and we'd talk about it when we got home.
Well, on the way home, Winston opened the knife. We couldn't see in the dark back seat, but about half way home he told us that he'd cut his finger. Then he started crying because he could feel the blood, and I'm sure it hurt, too.
When we got home, we got him and his very minor cut all cleaned up. It was bloody enough to cause him enough alarm so that he hopefully won't repeat the same mistake, but thankfully it was relatively small.
As I put him to bed tonight, he said he didn't want to tell anyone what had happened. I suggested that if anyone asks, he could just say that he cut his finger. Again, he said he didn't want to tell anyone. Then his eyes welled up with tears and said he really didn't want to tell Sadie (Lake). I asked and asked and asked why, just trying to understand why he didn't want to tell her and why this made him so sad. Finally, he said he didn't want to tell her because then she might think he has germs and wouldn't want to be by him anymore.
Oh my sweet, dear boy!!!

Thies Farm 2014

We keep coming back, year after year.  My parents, too!  God bless them!  

Easter 2014

I mean...these kids...I can't even stand how cute they are.  

Happy Easter!!!

Let's go fly a kite

Dear Mom,

We went kite flying tonight after Dave got home from work. It was nothing short of magical for me. The kids were so delighted and cheerful. The wind was just right. The pictures  are right off my phone (no filter); it was perfect! Could not have been better.

One of those moments that my heart could have burst. You would have loved it.

I love you, mama.

Love,

Katie

Valentines day 2014

Happy Valentine's day!!!  

We started with heart-shaped pancakes,

and ended with LEGO movie and popcorn.  Such a fun day to spend with these kiddies.  

Christmas in Utah 2013

We spent Christmas in Utah this year.  What a treat.  But sadly, it's all a little hazy for me.  

We left St. Louis on Christmas Eve.  The night before we spent with Steve and Sherry opening presents.  That was really all we did.  We had planned to do more of a Christmas celebration with them, but Winston and I got the flu.  Thankfully, Winston was back to normal after a couple of days.  I, on the other hand, was miserable for about a week.  And Christmas fell during that time.  So...like I said, it's hazy.  

After our flight to Utah, I was spent.  I couldn't even breathe by the time we got to my parents' house.  So I took a long, hot shower, bathed the kids, and put them to bed.  Aside from their jammies, they didn't have much of a Christmas Eve.  Oh well.  We decorated luminaries with my siblings, which is always my favorite, then I went to bed.  

Thankfully, Christmas morning I felt somewhat normal.  Normal enough to enjoy the morning being together with my family.  It was a sunny, happy, fun morning.  The kids were delighted.  Mark, Eric and Jessica, and Colby and Liz were all there at some point.  It was an ideal Christmas morning.  And of course, we went to Grandma Lane's for Christmas stockings and family gifts.

Megan and Ben arrived in Utah a day or two later.  That meant cousin time.  Hooray!!  We took the kids skiing a couple of times.  Winston was amazing. He picked up on it again right away.  After a run or two on Little Cat, he was ready for Becker and never turned back.  He and Maria were quite the skiing duo.

 It was Lizzie's first time skiing.  After getting her dressed and equipped, we headed over to Little Cat where she repeated about a hundred times over that she didn't want to do this.  But once we were on the lift and got a little treat, she was great.  She was so brave and just went for it.  My mom was Lizzie's side kick the entire time, and Lizzie was great.  I was so proud of her.  She didn't turn down the chance to take a rest at the lodge, but she gladly went up the lift again and again.  

{Winston and Maria}

One day we went to the jump zone place.  I don't remember what it was called, but it was rather amazing.  It was a jump/trampoline center, but it was set up in such a family-friendly way.  There were couches everywhere where you could see the jumpers, which made it so easy to hold on to Henry while watching Lizzie and W jump.  They had such a ball.  The jumped in the foam pit, jumped from tramp to tramp, went up the ramps.  They were in heaven.  

Henry Grant blessing day

While we were in Utah for Christmas, we decided to take advantage of all of the family and friends around and give Henry a name and a blessing.  Henry was surrounded my many family members and friends whom we love.  It was a special way to top off our trip and Christmas holiday season.  It was a little haphazardly thrown together, but we had a fun dinner and dessert following the blessing.  Matt and Heather Smith and their kids Major and Olive were in Utah, and they were so nice to come up from Park City and be a part of this night.  

{Grandma and Grandpa Waterfall}

 

{Colby Kendell, Matt Smith, Grandpa Clarence, Dave, Trevor Gulbrandsen, Eric, Poppy Scott}

{my boys}

Thanksgiving 2013