New Years Eve

We were all exhausted the next day and couldn't think about venturing out on another skiing run.  We decided to play around at the cabin on the snowmobiles and sleds.

Noboday tell Papa Von what we were doing with the canoe

The kids enjoyed sled rides provided by Jane

Jane got to enjoy some sledding herself

We all gathered onto the lake to watch Uncle Rod use the auger and break through the ice

Then we all joined in with Uncle Blake's activity and became snow angels

Lucy girl was loving her freedom to roam out on the lake

Allie just loved hanging out upside down on her head...goofy girl

Warren in true boy fashion.  He went and got a shovel and just loved walking around the lake shoveling the snow

After all of our snow adventure fun, we headed back to Boise to celebrate New Year's Eve over a Papa Von's

Fun was had by all as we danced away to Papa Von's music on the accordian

Allie showing off her crazy dance moves

These crazy clowns put on a musical production for us

The little kids joined in and I had quite the time watching them all perform.  Aunt Katie took over the reigns for a little while and led the musical production.  I am so glad we got it on video because it was hilarious watching everyone attempt Aunt Katie's dance moves

Happy New Year!!!

Cabin Adventures

Blake's brother's family came up from Utah to join us the week after Christmas.  We headed up to the cabin the first night that they arrived in town.  Our first nigth was quite an adventure...we had no power.  As we turned onto the road that led to the cabin we saw 2 Idaho Power trucks. The workers were trying to repair a power line that was knocked down because a tree had fallen. It was undocumentable via pictures because my flash kept going off, but we had organized chaos that night.  We first started out with one flashlight, which led to us locating a headlamp, which lead to Uncle Rod finding a kerosine lamp.   Oh what fun!  

We tried to get the kids to play by the gas fire so they had some light 

With no power there was not much to do, so kids got put to bed early.  Allie and Cam wanted to sleep together and finally ended up falling asleep after about 30 minutes of chatting.  It was too cute because Allie had fallen asleep and Cam still wanted to talk.  We heard Cam say to sleeping Allie, "Say okay.  Allie, tell me okay."  He never did get a response and finally went to sleep himself

The next day we went on a long cross country ski adventure.  Blake's brother and his wife got us hooked on Cross Country skiing.  We love how family friendly and cheap it is compared to downhill.  It is a good fit for our family right now

Allie and Cam ready for the treck.  Allie loves her sled...she falls asleep anytime she gets strapped in here

This picture is very deceiving.   We are actually climbing a very steep hill.  It was the toughest one of the day.  At the top we stopped and had lunch

The crew making it to the top

My little niece Jane and I.  This little girl is quite the skiier.  I am quite impressed by her skills and have to work hard to keep up with her

We stopped to eat on this great little over look at the top of the hill.  We had a great view of the Seven Devels mountain range

Adorable Lucy in her cozy snow suit

Smiling faces as we near the end of our 4 hour excursion

When we got back that night, we were all exhausted except for the kids.  We all just vegged around that night watching DVD's from Office Season Three

The kids were balls of energy.  Allie and Cameron both slept the entire time we went on our ski treck. even through lunch.

The kids entertained themselves and had a blast going down the stairs in their sleeping bags

Merry Christmas

It was so much fun to watch Allie this year on Christmas morning.   She was so excited to see that Santa had come and brought the two things she actually asked for 1) A bed for her baby 2) A book called Silly Sally.  Allie loved the fact that Santa ate her cookies and the milk was gone out of her pink cup.  Blake had asked Allie what cup she wanted to leave out for Santa.  Allie told Blake her pink cup.  She must have really wanted to impress Santa, because the pink cup is her absolute favorite.  I can't wait for the years to come.

Allie loved unwrapping the gifts.  We really could have stopped with the first gift. Allie just kept wanting to play with everything and we kept making her go back to unwrap more

There is a story behind this cradle. It was a joint effort between Santa, dad, and mom to get this cradle made.  The cradle was actually mine when I was little.  My grandpa made it years and years ago when I was little but it was in shambles.  It needed wood glued back together, sanded, and repainted.  The white that is seen is actually the primer.  We ran out of primer at 2 am on Christmas morning...I know procrastinators.  Well, what you see is what you get, a cradle with primer.

Allie also kept asking for a new baby.  Honestly how many babies can one little girl have.  We weren't going to get her one, so I thought she might be a little disappointed.  Well GG came to the rescue.  She sent a baby to Allie for Christmas, so it couldn't have gotten much better

We got Allie a vacuum too.  She went right to work cleaning.  Can you tell she has seen me vacuum a few to many times.  Scary!  She got right down on her hands and knees and started on the baseboards

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve

We woke up Christmas Eve morning under the Christmas tree

We continued another tradition of having Chinese dinner on Christmas Eve.  Since I had to work this year, Blake and Allie came to visit me and brought Yen Cheng for all of us to share together

Allie's great pic of mom and dad

Allie loved seeing the fish at mom's work

Allie and Dad leaving Aunt Katie's house.  Santa and the sleigh bells were just heard outside, so Allie is getting ready to head home and hop in bed

Go Broncos!

For Christmas Eve-Eve we rooted on the Bronco's as they were defeated in the Ponsettia Bowl.  We also made sugar cookies and decorated them for Santa.  We rapped up the night by carrying on our tradition of sleeping under the Xmas Tree

Once again having fun with Lilia and Natalia

Allie was more concerned with trying out the frosting and sprinkles than decorating her cookies

When she found the pink frosting she could finally get to work and decorate a few pink cookies for Santa

Flashback

We have gotten dumped on and it has been so much fun.  My good friend from High School was in town and she invited us over for some fun behind the scooter.  I love the flashbacks that flooded my memory as I watched Allie get pulled behind the scooter on the snow.  I remember the days not to many years ago when it was me being pulled behind the scooter.  I have countless, wonderful memories from my times over at the Howards.  Thanks for all of the great memories!

The scoot puttn' along in the snow

Allie was shockingly hesitant about this sled ride.  She finally decided to go if she could ride with Mitchell.  I don't know if she had a little crush or what.  She had never met Mitchell before, but that was the only person she would go with

Fun Aunt Karee decided to take the kids for extra rides through the streets as they waited for their scooter ride

I was watching our neighbor Macy on this morning.  I finally convinced Allie to take a ride with her

Live Nativity

We ventured out on this freezing cold night with the Histand's to check out a live nativity in Eagle.  It was a free event and was pretty neat.  We started the night by getting a hay ride on the tractor up to beginning of the nativity. Through our walk we got to see a live camel, a donkey, the town of Bethlehem, and baby Jesus.  It was such a fun night topped off with warm hot cocoa at the end. 

Owen and Allie checking out the camel

Allie loved holding her hand out and having the camel lick her.  The camel was so friendly, almost in a scary way.  I am surprised nobody got their hand chomped on

I love this picture because it literally looks like Owen's hand is in the Camel's mouth.  It really wasn't, but I really wouldn't be surprised if it was because this camel was so friendly

The hay ride back to the car after the tour.  Everyone was so freezing cold

The attempt to get a picture of Owen and Allie together on the hay ride

Party's, Party's, Party's

It's that time of year, where there are party's to be had by all.  We started out the week by having our music group "Christmas Party."  After music group we helped the kids make christmas tree's and snowmen.  Everyone had a great time during the "making" phase of the craft, but especially loved the "eating" phase after everything was done.  How delicious it was to eat the fluffy snowmen and  frosted graham cracker trees.  

I guess we were segregated at this craft table-boys on one side and girls on another

These cute trees were just graham crackers cut diagonally, frosted on the edges, and lind with M&M's.   F.Y.I.- I prepped all of the graham crackers and it is tougher than you think to cut a graham cracker on the diagonal. 

Cute Samson loved eating every piece of both his creations

I think most of the boys ended up eating their plate fulls and not many of the girls touched theirs.  Allie wanted to bring her's home to show dad

Randall Santa Party

The next party that I was absent for was over at Blake's cousins.  Santa attended this dinner and I guess Allie was just thrilled once again about seeing Santa.  I have lost count of the number of Santa's that Allie has met this year.  I am just glad she hasn't put all the pieces together and asked why all the Santa's look so different.

I guess Allie just stood here for quite awhile and also stood in front of the kid's at one point just to get a better look at the jolly man

Allie is into giving Santa hugs.  When we went to the mall earlier this day and saw a different Santa,  Allie gave the mall Santa a hug.   Also at this party she gave a little snuggle

White Elephant Party

Well to top of the week, we had our annual White Elephant Party at Papa and Grandma's to attend.  We look forward to this event every year.  There is always good food and a lot of laughing.

Allie was not a participant in the game this year, but got an adorable Minnie and cozy "Wilbur" blanket as she calls it.  The pig is like Wilbur from Charlotte's Webb she told me, so it's her "Wilbur" blanket

Grandma Deb and Allie

Allie also got this adorable story book.  It's a book all about herself

Grandma Deb brought out a box of knit items that she was giving away.  Allie had such a fun time playing dress up with all of the scarves and hats.  I guess I better get on the hunt for some fun items for the dress up box

Papa decided to join in on the dress up fun too