We've got a lot of snow

And what do you do when you have a lot of snow?

Of course you go and play in it!

 That's just what Reed and our girls did this last Saturday.

You can tell by their faces how much fun they had.

The reason they look so wet was because it was snowing while they were out there. They were gone maybe 10-15 minutes, but that was all the wetness and cold the girls could handle. Their little cheeks were flushed and their hands, in spite of them wearing mittens even,were icy cold. They had so much fun, even in a parking lot, playing in the snow with their Daddy.

And it has persisted in being cold ever since and all the snow we had then is still on the ground! This is the most snow we've had that has lasted since we moved here. Reed's thrilled we're finally experiencing New England snow. :) Truly.

Random Pictures of Our Christmas

Yes, Bronwyn IS crying. She's a little emotional in the morning generally because she's hungry. And if her morning routine is abnormal.

See! She's happy now because she has candy in one hand and a backpack on her back that's just like Aftyn's.

Thanks Kamber for this unknown gift you gave when you gave us matching sheets for the girls. The sheets came in these nifty little drawstring bags, and well, I added some straps and their initial in fabric and wa-la! Backpacks! Just like Daddy's!! :)

It snowed lightly Christmas morning. And then promptly melted by afternoon.

We had to forego opening presents until we got some food in those little bellies. There was much crankiness by the child in the middle who is now beaming at the camera. Reed was very obliging and whipped up a hearty breakfast of pancakes and eggs and turkey bacon!

Their big gifts, the shopping cart and the activity chair. Both given to us! :) The kids don't care that they've been previously loved, they love them just the same.

Daddy had to show the girls how to properly fly their airplane with sounds. :)

Thanks Uncle Kevin and Aunt Kim! Aftyn LOVES her dress ups! Bronwyn really likes the crown and scepter. Mommy really likes the trunk to keep it all in. :)

So EXCITED!

The first thing she wanted to do was curtsy. This girl loves to curtsy. :)

These pictures do not properly represent all the amazing gifts we were given this year. We felt so spoiled and loved this year and are grateful for all who helped us to feel that way.

My favorite part of our Christmas morning was when we took our break for breakfast, we watched the Christmas story that is put out by the LDS church. Aftyn has been watching it incessantly for weeks now and loved watching it that morning as well. I love how seriously she takes the story of Jesus into her heart. She loves to re-enact the stable with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus over and over and over every day lately. She wraps her baby in "swaddling clothes" and puts him/her in "the manger". What a sweetheart.

Christmas Eve in Pictures

Aftyn's hair was done, I promise. She plays hard and quickly demolishes any kind of dainty hairstyle I endeavor.

Can you see her bump on her forehead on the right? Poor kid gave herself a little goose egg.

Being comforted by Daddy

And by Mommy

Closest man to the camera is our bishop. This was hosted at his house.

Our relief society president, here, LOVES Bronwyn.

Reed read the nativity story. Say that 5 times fast. :)

Friends from our ward

This is one of Aftyn's favorite men in our ward, Brother Towne. He earned an early spot in Aftyn's heart by being in charge of the nursery at a relief society activity and it was just my girls and him. Bronwyn is still learning to like men, but Aftyn is THRILLED anytime we see Brother Towne. He thinks she's pretty sweet too. :) We really like him AND he's from Pocatello. Small world, hmm? 

From Our Herd To Yours

                                                                     Merry Christmas!!

Blabbity blah blah blah

Christmas is coming.

I'm excited for it, because I am always

happy for moments in life when you get to celebrate.

I'm not excited to be so far away from family.

I'm excited for my two little girls who will be excited anyway,

 hopefully, since to them Christmas is exciting in and of itself.

I'm not excited because for me Christmas means memories with family.

I realized that tonight, and so Reed and I sat down

and planned out a fun filled family night.

Somehow we haven't had a Christmas themed family fun night yet this season.

I'm sure it will help. I hope it will help. I want it to help.

I wish that Christmas could just be put off

until we had enough money to fly home

and THEN we could celebrate Christmas.

Who's with me?!?  Nobody?  Aw shucks.

Well then, we'll make do and figure out how to finagle

this whole "Christmas on our own" thing.

Wish us luck.

We Just Love These Girls

I've been hugging them a little closer 

and kissing them a little more often this weekend.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the

 Newtown, Connecticut community. 

Especially to the

families of those who lost loved ones on Friday.

No Longer Bitter

I thought I should document that I'm no longer bitter.

Amazingly, in spite of wanting to dig in my heels and just stay home for a pity party,

 I went with 6 ladies from my ward to visit the big NYC.

It did incredible things for my bitterness (that was quickly vanquished

and smothered by the fun and excitement as we drove ourselves there).

And I feel like I've just gained 6 new sisters. (That's 12 for me now. Yikes!)

I'm grateful for those ladies and grateful for my ward and grateful for a Heavenly Father

who knows what I need even when I want a pity party. 

This was the side of the Macy's on 34th street. You know, from the movie "Miracle on 34th Street".