It Happened

Well after a week of sledding down the big hill Miya and Cannon went in the lake. Miya said they were going so fast and at first they were floating and then they sank. She thought it was super funny and great fun, but Cannon was screaming the whole walk up the hill. He then later admitted that he didn't like the water getting in his eyes.
And we made them stop for pictures before taking off the wet clothes and tossing the kids in the bath.

Christmas

Phil and I talked a few days before Christmas about the traditions that we wanted to have with our little family and this year we tried a few things we thought would be fun with the kids. We did make your own pizzas and the kids had a pretty good time decorating and eating their own pizza. Lyla just kept licking the sauce off her dough and it never even made it to the oven, but she was happy.Miya and Cannon were super excited to get up Christmas morning and see all the things Santa had brought and left in their stockings. Miya wrote a really great letter to Santa and they were happy that most of the cookies had been eaten and all the egg nog was gone. After opening presents and webcam with Grandma and Grandpa O'Brien, Aunt Nicki and Aunt Ashlee we headed downstairs to try out the new rollerblades.

It was a great day spent eating, hanging out in our pjs and rollerskating.

Today, Miya and Cannon got to go on a daddy date to lunch and a movie. They were excited to get dressed up and head out. I am pretty sure this was the best part of all the Christmas holiday so far. Lyla screamed once she realized she was staying home with mom for nap time.We hope you all had a very merry Christmas.

Color

The snowman we built last week turned into a bit of a rainbow snow cone today. My friend, Crystal, put the idea on her blog and my kids loved it. They both love squirt bottles anyway and putting the coloring in the water and letting them go crazy made for a pretty good time.

The best thing about these pictures are my kids snow clothes. We don't have anything that really fits anyone and most of it was for someone else a few years ago. Miya took Cannon's snow pants that don't really even fit him and Cannon got stuck with some we bought for Miya when she was two. You can tell you aren't in a place meant for snow when you see kids running around looking like this in the snow. They are however very happy to have the snow stick around.

We have thrown a million snowballs.

Taken 5,000 trips down the hill on the sled (sometimes backward).

Rolled and flipped off the sled, but it has only brought smiles and laughter. We love the snow, but I am afraid that it won't be around for too much longer now that the rain has started to come.

Weekend Forcast

Snow, Snow, and lots more Snow! It is amazing how much snow we have received this last week and how cold it has been to keep all the snow around. We were scheduled to have a family Christmas party here on Saturday, but ended up cancelling due to the weather. Some of the family was already on the way over on the ferry so we had a small partial family get together. The kids enjoyed the pizza and cookie decorating with cousins.

Today church was cancelled due to the weather, but we had an excellent day as a family making cinnamon rolls for the neighbors. We walked door to door and found most people home because nobody can drive up their drive-ways to get out. We have been in our house for a year the end of the month and I can't believe how many of our neighbors we still hadn't met. The kids had a great time throwing snowballs at each other and dad along the way.

I was feeling a little put off by all the snow because I still have things to buy for Christmas, but after this evening I am reminded of the importance of peace and still during the Holidays. It was a perfect night filled with laughing children, meeting new people and feeling love and happiness. I am finally ready for Christmas, it took me long enough to get the Christmas spirit this year.

Snowman

Yesterday afternoon Cannon went out and made all the balls for the snowman by himself. He came in and said, "mom, I need your help because my back isn't strong enough to lift the snow." I went out and found three good sized snow balls and we put together his snowman. He got a little creative with the facial features and we got a little Sloth action, but the kids loved him.

Lyla was so excited about her "globes" for her hands and helping with the snowman. We also spent a little more time perfecting our sledding before the dark came at around 4:00.