Ha, ha!

Notice the sagging curtain rod?
It is being replaced today!
The girls wanted to be gymnasts for a while.
argh!

Katie's side of the room!

Ellie's side of the room!

Mission Accomplished!!!

So as the Mom, I get the last laugh...right?

After multiple sacks of garbage, and multiple sacks for DI...
This is the result.

Ah.

Work it Wednesday

The bookshelf!

Disaster Central!

*Yikes*

Wash it Wednesday is usually what happens...
But this week...

Work it. Work it girl!!!

Yesterday while I was shopping, I stumbled across an awesome shelf for my girls room. It has been a search to find a sturdy bookshelf that could double as a desk. At the tune of 130 bucks...
*YAY* it was impossible to resist!

So, needless to say...today will be spent upstairs. De cluttering, wiping, washing and rearranging.
Cleaning out the closet, the toy boxes, and under the beds. Yikes!

Riley's room could use a little love as well. So could the bathroom. Ugh.

Oh, and not to mention. Party at the Henstra's!!! Everyone is coming back tonight to celebrate the new year, ( or just to play rock band... ).

Happy New Year!
It is right around the corner.

*smiles*

Tackle it Tuesday!

Here goes nothing!

• Workout--DONE
• Clean upstairs
• Tidy the basement
• plan meals for the week
• make a list for shopping--DONE
• survive the day--DONE
• EAT HEALTHY ALL DAY LONG--DONE

Send me a hug. I could probably use it!

Some things didn't happen because I was putting Christmas stuff away.
Also got all the shopping done! *YAY*
So tomorrow will be busy!
GAH!!

Maintain it Monday...

Egads.

Christmas makes maintaining...well. A joke!

Today was very busy. But all is well, and a few things were actually maintained!
Bathrooms are clean and sparkly...
The kitchen is tidy, with clean cupboards inside and out!
The floor is clean, and shiny.
Vacuuming, Laundry, clean sheets...the works!

Feels good. Smells good. Ah!

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!

Crunch time.

Ah, yes.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!
Snuggle by the fire with a warm cup of cocoa.
Peek out the window and see bits of white swirl and float and fly to the ground.
Hold your child's hand, and run through the fresh fallen snow!

Make an angel or two. It all goes so fast...too fast.
Lace up your skates and feel your soul fly.
Soaring, gliding on sheets of glass.
Open your arms, open your heart.

Tighten your ski boots, and feel your heart leap.
Falling, flying...down, down, down.
Smell the trees, pine and sap.
Feel the cold on your cheeks and nose.

And again to the fire we come.
The light within burns bright.
Hold it tight, feel it swell...for
That night of nights so long ago,
was born a Savior.
For you, for me.

Take His hand, warm and calloused.

Let the spirit of Christmas
guide you to light and love.

Let Him lead you home.

The Pony Express Trail

The old mine...

Riley...

Desert Mountain in the distance...

The old bunkhouse...off the Pony Express Trail

Where the antelope play, literally!

Sam and the kids looking into the pet cemetery...*shudders*

Katie with a bubble popped on her nose...great fun in the car.

An original cabin in Eureka, a small mining town.

A couple of Saturdays ago...

We decided to take off, and see where the Pony Express trail came through Utah. In a very round about out of the way adventure!!! A lunch was packed, hot cocoa in a thermos and kids nestled into the car. And off we went.

Sam knows where all these really random kind of things are. So we drove through a little town called Eureka, which oddly enough, almost became the capitol of Utah...but it is a dead mining town. Seriously, it makes you sad just to drive through. You can feel the weight of broken dreams.

Then we took a right toward the Nevada border and drove FOREVER. ( um, really. ) We came to the pony express marker and took pictures. And were prompted to follow a little dirt road. *Note to self* Usually little dirt roads turn into really looooooooooong detours to the same place you were TRYING to get to...* So along the way we found a pet cemetery, really...really creepy.
Simpson Springs and the old Pony Express Bunkhouse, had a picnic and ended up way the freaking heck in the middle of no where! There were antelope and rabbits...oh and the occasional sheepherder. LOL!!!

Well, we ended up on Desert Mountain. A place Sam used to go as a kid. There is an old mine and tons of cool rocks! Ellie took off like a mountain goat and had the mountain climbed so fast it literally scared me. Sam took off chasing her, which left me and poor Katie stumbling after them. Katie has issues with heights...and I just have issues!!! Well at the top the view was phenomenal. The world is so stunning. Even in the desert. We took lots of pictures, found an old abandoned granite quarry, picked a rock for Sam's Mom's grave site...and had a lot of fun.
Sam was able to tell us all sorts of stories from when he was a kid, we all learned alot, and best of all...we were all together. On a Saturday. Doing anything but chores!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Well.

It finally showed up.
The snow, that is.

We waited with baited breath, for a white...ANYTHING!!! And lo, BAM! It came. Fast, furious and deep. We got a good 8 inches in less than a day. ITS AWESOME...cuz I'm weird that way.

Driving in it is a royal pain. But it seems to be affecting my reflexes. Perhaps this is how Edward Cullen feels??? I am able to catch things as they fly out of control, point at other cars while I talk on my cell phone, and multitask in bumper to bumper traffic in snow tracks. Sounds fun? Uh, no.

Sundance is beautiful as ever. We went skiing on Tuesday in just over 2 feet of fresh powder. Yup. Powder. Ever wonder how out of shape you can get in one year? Skiing is amazing for that!

Now I am home with a cup of hot tea, Ellie has a fever and is home in bed...while the kids are at school stuffing themselves with more candy than imaginable. Ah...the last day of school before Christmas break. Remember that? The day that doesn't really count? I love that! Party, music, friends, and treats...it just doesn't get better, then Christmas comes.

We celebrate the birth of the Saviour of the world. I guess it does get better.
Merry Christmas everyone.

Can you see the resemblance???

Gifts, just for me!
From the greatest ladies on earth...or anywhere else for that matter...

Twilight Mom gifts...
Thanks, Dana...

LOOK AT THAT!
A yogagurl ornament...
It even looks like me!!!

How all the Twilight Moms make my heart feel...

I love this picture. We were up the canyon taking family pictures...
and this just had to be captured!

The Kids Nativity. The one they can play with, look at and arrange.
I love the reflection of the tree in the window!

Well, no chimney, but the stockings are hung!
This is one of my favorite traditions.
Stockings are so, cozy!

So on to reality!

Today is Wash it Wednesday...
The walls in the kitchen and Dining room are officially scrubbed.
I am off to wash the windows, and the back doors.

Then, to wrap the trees in the front yard with lights!
Whoo hoo! *WOOT* It is the first year ever, that there were trees to wrap!!!
*YAY*

I believe in Christ

I believe in Christ...

He is my King!

With all my heart, to Him I'll sing

I believe in Christ, He is God's Son.
On Earth to dwell his soul did come.

He healed the sick, the dead he raised.
Good works were His,
His name be praised!

I believe in Christ, oh, blessed name!
As Mary's Son he came to reign
Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: "Come follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be."

I believe in Christ--My Lord, My God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I'll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ, he ransoms me.
From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
I believe in Christ, so come what may,
With him I'll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule amoung the sons of men.