Sixteen Years

 Yesterday (Dec 28) John and I celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary.

We drove into the city (as in Lethbridge;) and went bowling before eating out at Moxies.  

All that was nice and fun, but it was really great coming home to this:

I love everything about this sign.

I love that Jessica misspelled Anniversary.

I love that my kids worked together to make this day special for us.

I love that this banner is hung below a picture of our kids.

I just love it all!

I've thought often on the experiences that we have had over the past sixteen years.   Four kids, one miscarriage, a BRCA1 mutation, a preventative double mastectomy, hours and days and years of worry/anxiety, a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, jobs we've hated and then jobs we've loved, financial strain and then abundance, lost loved ones, answered prayers, family vacations, blessings upon blessings, happy memories,  and a multitude of seemingly ordinary days in between.   When I consider what we have gone through together, I feel as though we have run the gamut, and yet I also sense that we have barely scratched the surface of what we are meant to accomplish together. 
 We are each individually the product of what we experience,  yet I am convinced that our marriage is a product of each experience too.

I am so very grateful for the life John and I have created, and very excited for the life that we still want to create together. 

Post Christmas Party

What a fantastic week we have had!

Rachel, Brent, Ben, Kat and their kids came down and joined us for a couple of days and we are so glad that they did.  They turned boxing day into a real party!!

As if we hadn't had enough to eat in the three days leading up to boxing day - we decided this would be the perfect time to have a Turkey dinner.   We ate, played games and visited long into the night.  My kids were delighted to have some cousins to play with!   

On the 27th, we all went to the school gym and played around for a bit, had lunch at Dairy Queen, and then played games/relaxed until everybody left for home.

 It has been a week long celebration here and nothing makes a party better than family!!!

Christmas Day Drive...

Christmas Day is typically super chill around these parts, and being the creatures of habit that we are, it always plays out in the exact same way.  

First:

 The kids wake up and excitedly gather to cuddle/visit until Grandpa's 8:00 am arrival.   

Once Grandpa is here, the kids race into the living room, breaking through the wrapping paper barricade and head straight for their stockings.   (This year I did do something a little different.   I wrote a letter to each of my kids sharing some of the things I have enjoyed about them this year and encouraging them to remember the true meaning of Christmas.  I like the effect this had on our morning and I just may write them a letter for their stocking every year now;)   

Second:

After stockings comes the presents, of course!   I struggle every year to know what to get my Father in law for Christmas.  Theoretically each of his kids combine funds to provide him with an experience of some sort, but that tradition seems to be waining a little.   I always feel the need to make sure there are presents under the tree for him, but what do you get the man who needs little but deserves so much more than I could ever give?   It's a major conundrum every year.  

This year we gave Grandpa a basket of milk chocolate treats, some work/garden gloves with extra grip,  a book of Mormon study guide that him and John have been interested in, and three tickets to see our local theatres summer productions.  

Third:

BREAKFAST PIZZA!!!!!

Not sure why I didn't take a picture of that beautiful Christmas tradition.   I must have been in a slacker mood on that morning;)   It is one of my favorite things about Christmas.

Fourth:

Our annual Christmas drive to Waterton!  Not to be confused with our monthly drive to Waterton, our Christmas drive  always happens on the afternoon of Christmas day, always includes Grandpa, and usually proves to be a great time for animal watching.   This year we drove past a a massive herd of Elk and watched three large dogs (I like to think they were wolves) play on the frozen lake.  

  

 It was a very frigid afternoon with gusting winds, but as per tradition, we just had to pose for a picture or two before heading home.   

Fifth:

The rest of the day was spent playing with gifts, reading and playing board games together. 

It's the same story every single year, but it is a story that I NEVER get bored of.   

Love this holiday time with my family.

Christmas Adam and Christmas Eve

Christmas Adam is a thing in our home.  Is it in yours?

It's a play on words you see (because "Adam came before Eve?") that justifies us beginning our Christmas celebrating one day early!!!    

We usually have our massive Seafood extravaganza on Christmas Eve, but seeing as that fell on a Sunday this year (and we'd have to buy our seafood fresh) we decided that Christmas Adam, aka December 23rd, would be our big night to party.   And boy oh boy, what a party it was!!!

John and Grandpa went into Lethbridge Saturday afternoon to get the goods and by the time they got back, we had taken care of everything else needed to ensure that Christmas Eve Adam played out exactly as it always does each year.

We had the Lobster.  (An 8lb lobster to be exact) 

We had the giant Crab.

We had the Crab Legs.

We LOVED the Savory Clams.

We balanced all that out with some steak, potato wedges and shrimp cocktail.   

It was an absolute feast!

My kids get a kick out of watching our kids each year.  They're always very diligent in naming their crustacean friends prior to eating them.    Every year we make John have the honors of shelling it all (an honor equivalent to carving a turkey, no?) which kept him pretty darn busy for a good hour or two.   By the time he was finished, we'd had all of the seafood our happy little bellies could handle and even some to spare for our new favorite seafood chowder the next day.   

If you can't tell - it is pretty much all about the seafood around these parts;)

Can't think of a better way to kick off the next few days of Christmas celebration!!

We spent the morning of Christmas Eve at church.  Well, technically not the whole morning - just an hour of it as our Church meetings were reduced to just the sacrament meeting block. 

 I love it when that happens!

It was so nice to celebrate Christmas Eve on a Sunday.  There was no shopping to do, nowhere to go, and the perfect amount of time spent at church remembering and singing about the birth of our Savior.  It really was so very pleasant!

That evening Grandpa joined us again for Max's Seafood Chowder (it's a recipe I made up but we call it that because without Grandpa's contribution of seafood- we wouldn't ever have it;) chicken wings, crackers, cheese and other fun horderves.   

After pigging out on food for the SECOND night in a row, the kids wanted to exchange the gifts they'd purchased for each other.   This provide some interesting moments.  

Nate gave Abby a jewellery case, chocolate bar and a sketch art kit.  

Jess gave Sam five dollars, one quarter, and a case of slime.  She stuffed all of that into a balloon, as if her gift wasn't already random enough!  haha;)

Sam gave Nate three fidget spinners.   Not one - but THREE!  Nate pretended to be surprised with the second two. 

Abby took Jessica's little blue Ukelele and painted/sealed a darling flower pattern onto it.   It actually looks darling and speaks to the hippie within Jess.  

Of course the kids had to receive their annual Christmas Jammies.

We had to do our annual drive around town with Grandpa to look at Christmas lights.   

And what would Christmas Eve be without our annual watching of the Polar Express.  (The home we are currently renting has a wood burning stove which made for extra cozy movie watching)

As always, Nate and Jess fell right to sleep after the movie without any delay, while Sam and Abby did their best to wait up long enough to help set the gifts under the tree.   They thought it was great fun to get to be a part of that this year!

John and I stayed up only long enough to fill the stockings and then we too went to bed, feeling hopeful that the kids would like their gifts the next morning.  

 I adore the anticipation of Christmas Eve.  

It was a fun couple of days!

Christmas Joy

Jessica announced to us a week or two ago that she no longer believes in Santa Clause.  

She's non believer now as well.

A muggle, if you will.

It breaks my heart a little bit, but I take comfort in knowing that I still have one child clinging to the magical mysteries of Christmas.    I suspect that deep down he does know that John and  I am really the one behind his presents, but he seems to sense that the presents flow so long as you believe.  It's common knowledge around here that once you stop believing - you start getting socks for gifts.   

Seeing as he is our last (sorta) believer, I am trying maximize every opportunity to help him feel the magic; therefore, the infamous Christmas Elf has returned to our home this year.   

This whole Elf on a Shelf thing is a lot of work! 

I love love LOVE Sunday afternoons in December when John sits down at the piano to play some Christmas music.   He plays right up until the moment that I need him to cut the meat for supper and his music always adds a sweet, reverent feeling in our home. 

After a month of Autumn like temperatures and absolutely NO snow at all- winter finally arrived, and just in time for Christmas too!!

John got the idea (where does he get these ideas?) to point the snow blower to one spot on our front lawn making a giant snow pile.   The next day Jess and Nate hollowed that baby out to create a snow Igloo/Quinzee.   Nate is still upset at us for not letting him sleep outside, but unfortunately with the snow came -30 degree temperatures too!!

Earlier in the month Nate performed in his first ever Christmas Choir concert!   

Of course, he did fabulously well:)   It was fun to watch him sing each song with so much heart.

  His choir teacher is a remarkable woman to put up with little holligans like this;)

 It was a great way to kick off the Christmas season!

 Jess was in the mood to make some Christmas cookies one day, so I told her all about these yummy Candy Cane ones that a friend of mine had made.   Jess immediately went to work, making the dough and rolling them into balls all by herself.   Part way through the process she sampled her creation only to discover that she had added 1/4 cup of SALT rather than 1/4 teaspoon.   Yowsers!!!

She got an A+ for effort though;)

Every year one of the wards in our Stake put together a live Nativity.   This year my nephews Oscar and Chaim were Shepherds.  It was a super chilly night, but nothing a little bit of Hot Chocolate couldn't remedy;)

 Waterton Lakes National Park has not opened any roads/trails for Cross Country skiing this winter (boo), which has forced us to find more local options.    John and Jess and I have been exploring the Golf Course and newly made trails down by Lee Creek and have been pleasantly surprised.   

These trails could make for some fun wintery weekends!

It's been a dreamy weekend here. 

  Can't wait to update on the Christmasy goodness!!

Linnet Lake kinda day

Jessica is a doll.   An absolute doll!!

(It's important to state that right off the bat.)  

A couple of weeks ago, I'd had a really rough week.   Nothing major, just a real "down on myself" sort of a time and as the week drew to an end, I found myself discouraged, depleted and about ready to have a pre- Christmas meltdown of epic proportion.  

I got home from work that Friday afternoon to a cute, dimply faced little girl who desperately wanted to go to Waterton.   

Just a few minutes later - John, Jess and I were on our way!

I've only been out to the park a couple of times since the Kenow fire but every time I go, I see a little bit more beauty and I am increasingly encouraged.   There was not a lot of snow up there, but it was cool and windy enough to require that we bundle up nice and warm.

Waterton brings out Jessica's biggest and brightest smiles;)

Though the mountains are probably packed with snow now (thanks to a week of heavy snowfall) it was pretty bare and dry during our visit.   We opted for a stroll around Linet Lake because, well, it's pretty much the only short stroll we could do within the park boundary.  

 I keep hoping that trails will be opened up this spring, which may be wishful thinking considering the amount of dead fall and precariously trees that still dot the landscape. 

  

I think there is something rather pretty about the blackened forests though. 
It's sad and all, but there is something really inspiring about watching nature grow back.  

I love noticing stubborn green blades of grass break out through the charred ground, the red wintry berries that provide a stunning and hopeful contrast, and the signs of wildlife returning to the park.   

Mother Nature really is so splendid. 

Whether through a brilliant display of destruction, or a breathtaking sign of healing and regrowth - this world of ours really is a beautiful force to be reckoned with.  

This day was exactly what the Doctor ordered!

Sisters who eat chocolate together...

Earlier in December my sisters and I got together for a super Saturday of sorts.

The task at hand?

CHOCOLATE MAKING!!!!

We arrived at Jewel's bright and early expecting to be done in just a few hours.  

(That was funny;)

It was great fun watching Jess, Abby, Mya, Ava and Brooke roll and dip. 

We even let our boys help for all of ten minutes!  (They just didn't seem to have the same careful approach, you know? ;)

For three sisters that live in the same town, we really don't get together very often, so it was nice to have a whole day together to visit and catch up.  

And there is nothing wrong with a table full of a gazillion fancy chocolates, now is there?

Nope.  Nothing wrong with it at all!

A mere 8 hours later and we were done.   

A bit tired, a little sore and more than full of yummy food and sugary treats.   

I'm more convinced than ever that "sisters who eat chocolate together - stay together!"

Autumn Walk up Red Rock

This past weekend was the first weekend in weeks (months even) that John had nothing to do.  

Volleyball wrapped up this past Thursday which meant that on Friday John came home after school and had absolutely no where to rush off to.  

It was so weird!!

This past weekend also conveniently happened to be the first weekend in weeks (months even) that some of the roads in Waterton have re opened.   The little road leading to Pass Creek is now open as is Red Rock Road.  I should clarify, these roads have been reopened to non motorized traffic only, but that was enough for me.  

I was free to walk around as much as my little heart (and feet) desired!

John was so fun to have around this day.   As soon as he heard that I was wanting to walk up Red Rock Road - he instantly agreed to join me and even returned home from fishing with Sam on time (on.TIME people!) so that we would have enough sunlight still to hike in.  

We left our van down at the gate and walked along Red Rock road, seeing the fire damage in this area for the first time.   I was sad to see areas that have been wiped out, but encouraged to see many patches of earth still intact.   The fire must have moved very sporadically.  

We've been told not to expect many open hikes this upcoming summer, but I could tell this Red Rock road will be a fabulous place to stroll with the kids this summer.   John and I decided that this summer we will just pack a lunch and spend the day with the kids hiking as far up Red Rock road as we can.  I can just picture the fields of fire weed and other wildflowers that will bring life to this area again and there was something cool about seeing these views on foot.  It all looked so different and we noticed so much more when we weren't whizzing along at 50km/hour.   

There was hardly a stitch of snow in sight and I was elated to see so much color in the park.   Along with the char and the black, there is still green, lots of orange and even some red winter berries showing their happy faces again.  

I'm glad Autumn could linger a little longer in the park.   

Speaking of Christmas!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around these here parts.  

As I type this (please note it is November 26th;) I am three presents away from being completely FINISHED with my Christmas shopping!!!   What I've purchased is all wrapped and hidden under my bed.   What I've ordered will be wrapped as it arrives.   What I need to still buy is for the three most hard to shop for men in my life:  Sam, John and my Father in Law.   

I'm positively stumped.  

Still though, I'm determined to find their gifts this week so that all I have to worry about in December is Christmas Baking!!!

Speaking of baking -

 I had this super fun activity with my beehives where we had a cookie expert come and show us how to decorate cookies with a fancy royal icing.   The girls had so much fun and the cookies turned out SO well!    They were almost too cute to eat;)

Speaking of too cute - 

Nate has been obsessively dressing up as Santa Clause every single day.  It all started when he realized that Abby's Halloween cape was made of the same fabric has his new found Santa hat.  That's all he needed to take things to the next level.   He dresses up any chance he gets.  In fact, one day I was coming home from work only to spot Nate - racing down the street across from the temple, dressed as old St.Nick, waving to all the passing vehicles.    

Note to self - I really need to remember to beat him home from school each day.   

Speaking of Remembering - 

Jess and I switched up the Christmas decor this year and tried to add something new to our tree. 
We scoured our old photos and found several dozen images of us enjoying nature as a family.  Some of these pictures are of us travelling somewhere new together, hiking in our favorite places, or exploring with extended family.  Each photo is a memory and helps us remember some of the dearest times!   I love sitting by our tree and looking at these old black and white pictures.  

Next year I'd like to take these photos and mod podge them on to thin wooden discs.  (Just looking for a branch that is large enough to do the trick;)

This is going to be our first Christmas here in the Holt's home.   

They have messaged me and let me know that they have been asked to extend their mission a little bit more, which means we may be here until July 2019.   I find myself, at times, looking forward to a day when we can call our home our own, but this place will suit us just fine for a Christmas or two;) 

Now you're on the trolley!

Over a month ago, John was "volun-told" (when someone volunteers you by telling you what to do) to assist in the "Marriage Room" at the Sadie Hawkins dance.  The theme for the dance was 1920's which meant that everyone was to channel their inner Flapper Girl and show up ready to do the Charleston!   John and I were placed in one of the classrooms decorated to look like an old dance club.  We had to teach a couple of old dance moves, have some "giggle water" with the students and then marry them off to each other - all in 4 minutes!!   Youth came in the room in groups of 8 (4 couples at a time) and can I just say - HOLY EMBARRASSING!!!   

We tried our best to play the part -  but I've never been so relieved to see a night end.  

Believe me - showing up for work the Monday after took more than a little courage.   

I'll admit though - I do think I would have enjoyed life in the 20s.  

I mean, how could I not with a dapper gent like this at my side!

My cup runneth over

Volleyball for Abby has come and gone.  (At least for this school year) 

After a couple of challenging years, watching her struggle to feel a part of a team it has been such a blessing to see her blossom and grow in this sport this year.  Her coaches have pushed her team to do things they'd never before learned and as a result, they won more games than they lost and ended up placing quite well at zones.   More importantly though, she grew closer to her team and enjoyed herself so much more than she has in years past.   It did this mama's heart so much good to see and meant more to me than any win or loss could have.  Yay Abby!!!

Abby completed her Young Women's in Excellence project the night before Young Women's in Excellence, because well that's pretty much how we roll these days;)  

Considering the fact that it took us two attempts and 12 months to complete this T-shirt quilt, I'm actually quite proud that she finished it at all.  There were many MANY times (usually in those moments when we had to unstitch every thing) that I truly wanted to light the thing on fire!

It is soft and cozy and Abby loves laying it on her bed.  I love looking at all of the highlights and activities she's enjoyed over the past couple of years.   This blanket really is a reflection of her Divine Nature as well as her kick butt personality!

Halloween was weird this year.  

Not spooky.  Not Crazy.

Weird.

First of all, I'm going to have to remember to buy pumpkins well in advance next year if I want to be able to carve Jack o lanterns.    This year I checked all over town and all I could find as options to carve were these: 

Nate was beyond disappointed - but I actually think we will try the whole watermelon jack-o-lantern again.  

Another thing that made Halloween weird to me as that Abby didn't hang around to trick or treat OR hand out candy.  She left us, and went to a party, and on a school night even.   

Abby wasn't the only one who made her own plans for Halloween. Sam (who dressed up as Alvin just to go along with a a group of girls dressing up as Chipettes) also ditched us for a Halloween party at his friends house.   I don't know what bothered me most about this - that he dressed up to impress a couple of girls or that he is suddenly too cool for trick or treating too.   WEIRD!!

I was trying to wrap my mind around having just Jess and Nate to go trick or treating with when (you'll never guess what happened) - her friends called her and whisked her away!

Minutes later, Nate's friend called and asked Nate to join him for the evening.  

Of course John was at a Volleyball game this night as well, because why would he not have his own plans as well, right? 

So there I was, Halloween night (my once favorite night of the year) all alone. 
I sat on the living room couch anxiously awaiting trick or treaters, but few came.  

Weirdest...QUIETEST...most boring night of the year!!!!

Apparently the rest of the family thinks it was great fun though;)

Speaking of Solitude, one day in October (while John was in Edmonton at a Volleyball tourney) I whipped into the city for a little shopping and couldn't help but stop at my new favorite restaurant - Fusion!   They offer a lunchtime special where you can order unlimited amounts of anything on their menu for just $16.95.  The best part is, you place your order thru an ipad so you don't even have to speak to a waitress or anything.  I guess it is sorta sad that this is the way dining is going but it was actually quite nice to just sit for an hour and read a book while snacking on copious amounts of sushi and Thai deliciousness.  

For the record - THIS is the kind of solitude I enjoy! 

(Perhaps I'll spend next Halloween at fusion;)

We were thrilled thrilled THRILLED to celebrate Nate's 8th year of life last weekend!

His whole week was a celebration with Birthday cake on Wednesday, a birthday party on Thursday and the culminating event - his baptism on Saturday!!!

We were super excited to have Grandpa, Johns sister Rachel and her family, and my siblings (Chad, Jewel, Crystal) and their families join us.  

Nate felt like a rock star and I was so very grateful and thrilled to celebrate this milestone with him.  

My Mom was only able to see her oldest child baptized and I have gotten to watch all four of mine become official members of this Church that has blessed my life so very much.  

My cup runneth over. 

(I'll come back and look at this photo often in those moments that I forget that)