Getting Out of Town

We went to Virginia this weekend to take a break from the city. Saturday morning we packed up and got on our way. We drove in to Buena Vista around 1:00pm and dropped our stuff off at our good friends, the Gibbons. We then went up to our other friends the Jaques and let the kids play with Sydney, McKenna, and Natalie. Jared and Anna had so much fun playing with their old friends. Later that evening we went to watch a men's basketball game at SVU and then we went back to the Gibbons for dinner with the Drydens. Jared and Anna again had a great time playing with friends and the Gibbons' English bull dog Hobbes. Sunday we went to church and visited with some more friends. Monday Kevin found some old science professors and Jared, Anna, and I went to see the new institute building the church built next to campus. It was beautiful! I can't believe how much SVU has changed since 1998. We use to meet in the one room modular building, Landrum, for institute for years and we met in the Ballroom or Chandler Hall for church. Now they have their own building with several classrooms for institute and a chapel that will house all 5 student wards. As it turns out a picture of the institute building and the new dorm in the background is the only picture I took all weekend (oops)

The Kids did not want to leave, but life must go on and we started to drive back to Baltimore that afternoon. On the drive back Kevin and I decided that our second vehicle will need a DVD player or we will have to start sedating our kids on long drives. They did just fine, but tended to get on each others nerves and a little loud at times.

Another trip to Port Discovery

We took some friends to Port Discovery last weekend and had a lot of fun. This was our first time on the Metro without Kevin and we did pretty well. My friend and I got split up for a few moments when I got off the train a little early, but we all ended up in the right place in the end. Kevin of course shook his head at me and sighed, but was able to laugh with/at me since we all made it back home safely. Anyway here are some pictures of the kids looking at mummies, playing games, and playing in their favorite the water room.

Christmas Break

We have been enjoying a nice two weeks free of school and studying and full of playing. We spent Christmas Eve with some friends from church eating yummy food and caroling to some of their neighbors. They had a nativity scene with all the kids that were there. Jared was a wise man and Anna was the donkey. Christmas morning we opened presents and had some friends over for the afternoon to play and (grumble grumble) watch Basketball games. The kids were excited for all their presents. Here are some pictures of the morning:
Santa's handy work

Waiting at the top of the stairs for the OK from dad

Jared really wanted a nutcracker for Christmas from Santa. I think he must have been exposed to the ballet in some form at school. On the bottom of these nutcrackers it says "limited edition" Jared asked what that meant and I told him it meant that there are only so many of these nutcrackers made in the world. He thought that was pretty special that Santa would give him a "limited edition" nutcracker.

Anna decided to ask Santa for a Hippo. I have no idea why or where she got that idea from, but in the end Santa delivered. Kevin heard an old Shirley Temple song called "All I want for Christmas is a Hippopotamus" and it soon became our seasonal theme song. Jared and Anna both know all the words to the song and sang it over the phone to both sets of grandparents.

This was my favorite part about Christmas this year. The kids are old enough to get involved in the gift giving. It was so much fun watching Anna put together pillows out of scrap material for Jared and watch Jared bring home special art projects made just for Anna. This picture was taken just after Anna opened a gift from Jared. They can be so sweet sometimes.

Ok so I'm putting this picture in just to give Kevin a hard time. Anna got a princess dress up game from Grandpa and Grandma Alaska and it was a hit. You move your princess around the game board and done the jewelry/crown that you land on. A winner is proclaimed when that player has gotten all their jewelry and the crown. Anna made us all play (Kevin and Jared included). I snapped a picture of Anna with the boys and their jewelry, but Kevin made me promise not put up the picture on the blog. So just look at the box and visualize us all gathered around this game with various plastic necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings on. Then call Kevin and request that he email you the real picture (ha ha ha)

Later the next week we traveled into downtown Baltimore and bought a family season pass to Port Discovery children's museum. Grandma and Grandpa California had taken the kids over Thanksgiving and we thought it would be a fun thing to do. We catch the Metro and ride it all the way into downtown and the museum is just next door to the exit of the Metro. The kids had fun.



Anyway a fun vacation. Monday school starts up again and we are back in the routine till June. Hope you all had a great Holiday break!

Christmas Cookies and Lights

We finally got around to frosting Christmas cookies this evening. Always an adventure letting kids loose with frosting, sprinkles, and cookies.



We had our own very unique version of Christmas lights this evening. Anna thought it would be a good idea to put her metal chained necklace in a wall outlet and poof instant light (or fire) Kevin and I were in the kitchen when we heard a pop and a flash of flame.

The flame instantly went out, but Anna was pretty shook up. She received a small blister on a finger, but mostly she was scared. With tear streaming down her cheeks she says, "I will never never ever do that again!"

Hopefully a lesson was learned and we wont have a repeat. Jared was so worried about Anna and her melted necklace. After we got Anna settled down he started telling her made up princess stories to make her feel better. It was so sweet.

Well, anyway it has been an eventful evening. We are looking forward to tomorrow having everyone home from school and spending the day playing together and getting ready for Christmas Eve and morning. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Your Guess is as Good as Mine

I was cooking dinner and Kevin was upstairs. The T.V. was off and Christmas music was playing in the background. When I looked up from dinner preparations I found this.

I have no idea what they were playing, but what ever it was kept them entertained for a good 30-45 minutes. Kept them busy in a good way. The kind of play that doesn't involve whining, crying, fighting, and parent refereeing. I just have to say that I love this kind of play! It doesn't happen all the time in our home. Anna has a knack of finding Jared's buttons and a desire to push them (maybe that is a female thing) and Jared is easily provoked and first to take offence (hmmm...a male thing?). So I'll take these moments when ever I can even if it means couch cushions, blankets, and toys all over the house!

Temple Christmas Lights

We love living so close to the temple. It only takes us 45 minutes to get there! We can drive to the temple, complete a session, and drive back in less time than it use to take us to drive one way from Buena Vista. Friday we loaded up the kids after school and went to the temple to look at the Christmas lights and listen to a hand bell choir preforming at the visitor center. The kids really enjoyed the lights and music.




We can't wait to do this every year.

We had our Ward Christmas party last night and the kids had fun eating yummy food, seeing Santa, and being Mary and Joseph in the Christmas play. Kevin was the donkey!

Old Friends

10 Years ago from now Kevin and I were students at Southern Virginia College. I had finished up my soccer season and was now helping Coach Dryden and Coach Harmon with the Women's Basketball team and Kevin was in the middle of his first Basketball season at SVC. We had a lot of really great friends, but for me there were two that had a really great impact on my experience at school. One was Kerianne Wall.

She was the first person I ever met at SVC. I remember coming down the steps of Main and being greeted by a bubbly blond wearing a yellow shirt tucked into her jeans with a brown belt. (crazy the things we remember) She would soon join the Women's soccer team and become something of a legend. Katie Terry was another one of the first people I met at SVU.

Mostly I remember meeting her because she got to move into the room with its own bathroom. She would also be another soccer teammate if mine and later my roommate. The three of us and a few others soon became inseparable and had a lot of fun over the next few years.
Katie lives in Utah now and had planned to make a trip out East to visit with some friends and the college so I met up with her and Kerianne (who lives in BV at the moment) It is funny how with some friendships time and space make no difference. I haven't seen Katie in about 8 years and yet nothing has changed between the two of us. Kerianne is the same as ever as well. Katie flew into Baltimore and Kerianne was suppose to pick her up, but got stuck in traffic, so I zipped down to pick up Katie and we got to visit for a few hours while we waited for Kerianne. The next day we met up at the D.C. temple and visited as well.

It was so fun to see my friends again. If we could have predicted where we would have been in 10 years when we first met I'm sure we never would have imagined the lives we were living now. Life has handed us each many twist and turns some great and some we have had to make great, but it is nice to know that no matter where we are or how great or disappointed we might feel there are those few old friends that love us no matter what!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Early this afternoon while we were putting together Christmas packages we looked out the window and noticed SNOW! The kids wanted to go outside right away, but I assured them that there would be more to play with if they let it pile up first. After a few hours they went outside and played. It is a good thing we have this little balcony because I could observe their playing from within my warm home sipping hot chocolate. I am not a cold person at all! Kevin and Jared are both Alaska boys through and through (note Jared's shorts and crocs and Kevin's bare feet) Anna might as well be an Alaska girl; playing outside in the snow wearing a dress (Brrrr!) Jared built a snow man, well two actually, the first one "accidentally" got pushed over the ledge. He needed Kevin to help him arrange the mouth so bare feet and all Kevin stepped out to help them.

Christmas Getting to Know You

My sister in law Lacey emailed this to me and so I thought I'd play along and answer the questionnaire.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Paper. I love to come up with different ways to add accents with bows, flowers, and ribbons.
2. Real tree or Artificial?
I grew up with a real tree and Kevin grew up with artificial. We had a real tree when we were first married, but couldn't pass up the after Christmas sales and buy an artificial tree. It has payed itself back two or three times now. Some day when we have a big house I would like to have two trees. One artificial and one real. I really love the smell of a real tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?
As soon as Thanksgiving is over. Kevin and the kids get it all set up (it is one of Kevin's favorite traditions) and I put on the lights.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Sometime in the first week of January
5. Do you like eggnog?
Ew! There is just something really wrong with that drink!
6.Favorite gift received as a child?
Our dog Smokey. That was the year I began to believe in Santa again.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Kevin and Jared as he gets older.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes. One nice one and the two cloth ones the kids get to play with.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I mail them each year or hand deliver them.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
All Christmas gifts are given out of love and that makes each and every one special no matter what they look like or how much they cost.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Holiday Inn, White Christmas, and Polar Express
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
October-November.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
All Christmas sweets!

16. Lights on the tree?
We've gone back and forth through the years between color and white. This year color.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
All of them. I have Christmas music playing from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. If I had to narrow down to one it would be "A Long Time Ago." It was a song my mom heard on a tape one day and my sister, mom, and I sat down and wrote it out on paper and since have performed it over the years.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I would much rather be home for Christmas Eve and Day, but then travel after. This year we will be home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Of course, Dasher, Dancer,Prancer,Vixen, Comet, Cupid Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
A star.


21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Always one present Christmas Eve... new PJ's.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Fighting all the crazies at the store.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love traditional green garland with red accents. I also love my tree which is covered with handmade ornaments made by my grandmother for every year since Jared, Anna, and myself have been born as well as one for Kevin for every year since we have been married.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Kevin's family tradition of finger foods for Christmas Eve and Ham for Christmas Day.
26. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Our house sold two weeks ago so we are set!

Thanksgiving Weekend