NEW YEAR'S EVE 2010

The week in between Christmas and New Year's was crazy cold down here in the desert!

There was even a smidge of snow down in our major city...so our high country got dumped on!

We decided to head up to our high country (about 3 hours away) on New Year's Eve to play in the snow ~and let Biruk see "frozen" for the first time. :)

he kept seeing snow on the side of the road and kept repeating "I see frozen!"

we hit the same place last year ~it's an off ramp -must be a logging road or something when the weather is warmer. the road is shut off due to the massive amounts of snow so you can climb up the hills and sled down.

problem -roughly 3ft of powder meant kids (and adults) sinking in the snow and climbing became almost impossible!

I think Biruk likes "frozen"!

daddy attempted to forge a path up the hill ~but it was still so tough for the kids!

Elizabeth only lasted about 45 minutes ~the snow gear we had for her didn't fit perfectly and her feet got cold and wet ~so she opted to spend time in the heated Yuk*on.

Biruk followed closely behind....being cold was novel for the first hour ~but then he was ready to warm up!

Becca lasted the longest -her snow gear fit perfectly so she stayed warm and dry the whole time!
here she is eating the snow.

Biruk on one of his last runs down the little hill

by now everyone was in the car but John, Becca and I. :)

more snow eating ~you just gotta know Becca ~she's quirky. :)

look how blue that sky is behind me?! it was a gorgeous day ~but the high was 16 ~BRRRRR

just a cool pic of my handsome hubs

we headed into town for a warm lunch ~and noticed a ton of people across the street sledding on a hill on the local college campus.

before heading back home, we thought we'd at least give it a go and try the sledding here ~the snow was packed down so it was MUCH easier to get around.

we ended up sledding here for over an hour!

daddy and Andrew killed time with a snowball fight.

warm and snuggly and ready to head home!

and since it was New Year's Eve, after dinner we headed out into our cul-de-sac to be festive!

9 YEARS AGO TODAY

9 years ago we were married.

after 9 weeks of dating and 6 months of engagement ~we got hitched.

it really only took us 3 dates to know this was it.

crazy huh?!

we've been through alot in 9 years ~can't imagine any of it with anyone else.

I love you honey!

CHRISTMAS DAY 2010

first thing you do is tear into your stockings!

then we got to the presents under the tree. :)
Elizabeth got a baby doll set ~Becca owns most of the babies around here and although she shares, Miss E wanted another doll to call her own. :)

the girls received cross necklaces from John's mom

Biruk is really into Iron*man stuff, although to our knowledge, he's never seen the movie. :)
I was elated when I found him an Iron*man N*erf gun!!!!

a horse set ~she LOVES horses...and playing with them has seemed to be very therapeutic for her.

my boy and his St*ar W*ars addiction :)

Elizabeth picked out a cup/plate set for Becca at the dollar store.

Becca's big gift was a little mommy type baby set up ~bouncy seat, playpen, carrier...whatever a mommy needs, she now has for her babies!

Lucy dog!

do you see what's in between her paws?!
it's the only toy she has really ever played with.

wanna know what it is?
a doll head!

yep -several years ago John popped the head off one of Becca's dolls...somehow Lucy actually started playing with it...she gnaws on it, let's us throw it and play "ball" with it...it's a bit odd ~but hey, she enjoys her doll head. :)

After we finish opening presents at our house and having a bit of breakfast, we head over to my parents' where my sister's family is waiting for us.

then the real mayhem and craziness begins!!!

all the kids gathered 'round waiting for us adults to get cameras ready!

this is SO Joanna!

how adorable is this?!

this might possibly be one of my most favorite pics.

my nephew Joshua looks alot like Andrew and Becca when they were infants ~I think this is such a sweet pic of the 3 of them.

Elizabeth got a scooter from my parents!

Becca got a remote controlled puppy.

Biruk had really wanted a remote control car!

here are the kids opening up their "big" gift.
my parents and John and I are going in together to get the kids a trampoline!
YAY for 1 more way to help the kids get their wiggles out!!!!

after present opening it's outside for the Christmas Day football game!

John trying to intimidate Andrew. :)

once John and Javier (my bro-in-law) were tuckered out ~my dad took over the QB spot

and now as is tradition ~after lunch my sister's kids put on a play.

they practice for weeks. :)

I thought this pic was funny ~all 4 of us parents are manning cameras!

of course for Christmas, they re-enacted the Christmas story

if you can see in the above pic -baby Joshua in his Santa suit is playing baby Jesus....everyone is "worshipping" him. :)

the cousins enlisted our 4 kids as the sheep for the play

here shepherd Janae is trying to herd the sheep. :)

Becca trying to make her long hair into a beard like her cousins' did for the play

take a bow!