New Years Eve

We headed to Blake's Dad's house for New Years Eve and they had decided we were ringing in the new year with a Mexican Party.  We got some Mexican dinner, had a pinata, and created our own Mariachi band with a house full of wild, excited kids:)

The pinata with the Sombrero that you had to wear when you took a swing at the horse

Sophie loves hats and tried the Sombrero on for a bit; the hat was so big you could only see Sophie's little legs sticking out underneath

Sophie checking out the donkey

Let the fun begin...we went youngest to oldest taking turns with the ensemble; the hat, blindfold, and stick in hopes that someone would bust open a hole to get to the candy  

Peyton got the hang of things really quickly and in true boy fashion, loved waking the horse with a stick

We first lost the head of the donkey and it became Blake's new hat

Someone finally busted a hole and the kids went crazy, gathering all the candy they could

Thanks Papa and Grandma,  we had a fun night ringing in the New Year.

Christmas

 I was ready for the Holidays early this year, which was so nice to breathe during the month of December. Allie is getting older and Christmas with Santa and our Elf (which we finally got a girl whom Allie named Snowflake)  is getting more fun every year.

Grandma Julia buys the grandkids all Christmas PJ's every year.  Natalia and Lilia's happened to match my girls this year

Blake was King Herod, and a wise man this year; playing dual parts for our family:)

Sophie was my angel for about 2 seconds



I love singing Christmas carols and love that my husband can play the piano for us.

Looks like Santa made it to our hosue...Allie's request for her Alexander Doll was fulfilled

Sophie also received a doll, but she absolutely LOVES stuffed animals.  I guess that is why she loves her stuffed pig so much.  She loved these stuffed animals her and Allie got and wouldn't put them down.  We are grateful for another Christmas season we have had to reflect on our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Yurt 2011-Whispering Pines

It had been a few years since we had taken our annual yurt trip on December 22nd.  I was excited we were back on this year.  It's such a fun tradition and memory for the kids:)



All bundled up ready to ride in the Wee-ride

I can't believe that the kids are getting old enough to get themselves into the yurt; or it could also be the fact that the families are growing in number and kids are getting the boot out of the sleighs.  Cam skiied/hung onto the wee ride/rode in the wee ride, but he made it.  The conditions for skiing were not in our favor this year.  It had hardly snowed and the trails were not groomed.  It was difficult for all of us to make it in the 2.5 miles; we actually ended up carrying our skis and hiking in our boots for a good mile, but we made it



The Whispering Pines Yurt




The view from our yurt.  I love being out in the middle of no where, soaking in all the birds that chirp, the wind that blows through, all by ourselves



Allie was my little greeter

Allie and Sophie hanging out on the bunk beds...the kid's favorite part about the yurt

Sophie was so cute!  She was exhausted from the day already; this kid only loves to sleep in her bed.  When we got inside the yurt and I set her on the bed,  she immediately put her head down and said, "NiNi," meaning, "I'm ready for bed mom!"

Allie immediately got her bed all made up for the night

As you can see from the marker....we didn't have much snow.  The snow level was just hitting 18" which is crazy for this time of year

The rest of the gang finally made it in and the kids were all in heaven

It gets dark early, so the kids were quickly turning on flashlights to color

Sophie was quickly loosing her sanity and didn't know what to do with herself.  She finally laid down on the ground for awhile trying to fall asleep

These kids were also going crazy on us.  I guess late nights in the middle of no where will do it to ya.  You can be as silly, loud, and as crazy as you want and no one will hear you

This was a wonderful site for me....she finally gave in and fell asleep.  Way to go Sophie!!!



The next morning we had breakfast, packed up, cleaned up, and headed outside to play for a little bit before heading back to the cars

Allie and Cam getting ready for some sledding

Sophie cracked a smile for me in the wee ride; I guess she was thrilled to be in there or thrilled to know we were leaving and heading home

The way out is much quicker than going in.  Even though the conditions weren't great, we were mostly heading down, so by gravity you just go.  Cam hitched a ride on the back of the wee-ride for a bit

Allie decided to ride in our sled being pulled behind the wee-ride and Cam quickly jumped in on that opportunity.  What a fun way to get out!  Allie wasn't to happy when the sled would get going fast, it would freak her out and she would bail out

Everyone survived and made it out alive though



Just had to post a picture of my gear that I took in.  Blake was shuttling the kids in, and I had to carry in our clothing/sleeping bags.  There were a few awkward things about carrying this bag.  The first being it was a men's bag and it was way to tall for me.  I couldn't keep my head up because it was forcing me to just look down.  Secondly it is awkward to ski with a backpack; I kept wanting to tip over and on the way out I did many of times. But, it was all worth it and we'll be back next year!!!

Polar Express Ride to the North Pole

We boarded the Polar Express for the first time; last year tickets sold out quick and we missed the ride. The train departs out of Horseshoe Bend and travels 1 hour up the railway to reach the "North Pole."



Waiting to board the train....Allie was so excited to ride the train. It was her first time on a train and a first for all of us up to the North Pole

We got there a little bit early and luckily they had heat lamps outside to keep us warm.  Sophie is hanging onto the pole of one of the lamps....staying nice and toasty

Once we boarded we found our boxcar and then found our assigned table.  Each table had the families name on it; it was pretty cute

Allie and Cam ready to get up to the North Pole

I printed out some Santa letters the kids could work on while we rode the train.  I heard the kids could get a little bored, so I packed some activities to keep the kids busy



Allies letter to Santa; love how she signed it from her and Sophie.  Looks like she had some help on her "wear" and "read" categories.  I learned a few things about what Allie wants....2 front teeth.  When I asked her about this, she said she wants to loose them for Christmas.  Ever since the dentist said that her teeth are wiggly, she has been dying to loose the teeth.

Sophie coloring with Papa Jim; she is just starting to show in interest in scribbling:)




Sophie enjoyed climbing up on the table and standing; yes I have another climber in my household

The first person we met on the train was none other than......The Saber Tooth Tiger.  WHAT???  Really not sure what he was doing heading to the North Pole but it was fun to have him join us




We ended up going with the whole Hansen clan and also brought my Dad and Deborah with us.  Katie and Rod had a table right next to ours.

Grandma Deb and Papa enjoying the scenery on the way up

The kids all coloring

LOVE this picture!!! Sophie is such a busy body; you never know what this kid is going to do...here she decided to grab Blake's eye

Finally made it to the North Pole

Love this classic photo of Sophie meeting Santa; she was not thrilled about it

Family shot at the North Pole outside of the Polar Express Train

It ended up being a long morning and Sophie was so tired on the way back; Grandma Deb was entertaining her with the bells

On the way back Santa and Mrs. Claus came to visit us in our boxcar for a personal visit.  Allie was very excited to be meeting Mrs. Claus; it was a first for her

The kids played a dice game on the way back.  First to dot out all their numbers won; by the looks of it everyone's Gingerbread men got covered in Chicken Pox

Allie spotted Santa one last time toward the end of our trip and wanted one more picture with her and Santa. Thanks for the magical ride. We had a blast!!!