Christmas 2013

Christmas Morning came (very early) and went. Every year it sure seems to take me a little bit by surprise. The kids went to bed around 11 pm last night but managed to stay awake well past 1 am. They decided to sleep in Evelyn's room and we could hear them whispering and giggling for hours. It made for a late night for us. Then again just before 5 am we could hear them rousing. They claim they went downstairs to watch a movie and DID NOT set foot in the blue room to see if the Jolly Old Elf had stopped by. By 6 am they could not wait a second longer. Despite us telling them the night before that they had to wait to wake us until 7 am. So at 6:05 am we were awakened by blaring lights, giggling, jumping on the bed, and a chorus of "It's Christmas Morning! Wake Up! It is time to get UP!" 

I have discovered the fastest way to get them all to cooperate for a family photo! Keep Christmas Morning presents hostage!! I made them sit on the stairs just outside the Blue room for a picture. Fastest picture ever. I didn't have to threaten or bribe for great smiles or to sit by each other or anything! I joked to Nate that our family pictures are going to be scheduled for Christmas Morning from now on!!!

From Santa Evelyn received a doll that is for hairstyling and she LOVES it! 

Santa gave Ryland a Halo mega bloks set. Ryland swears up and down he is not ready to get rid of his thousands of Legos, since he so desperately wanted this mega bloks set. I tease him that he is cheating on his Star Wars Legos by playing with these. haha He swears they still hold the biggest spot in his heart. 

A while back I got myself a new blanket for our bed. It is the softest thing EVER! Well, Ally and Ryland have coveted that blanket since the second they touched it. So, like a good Mom, or at least a Mom who wanted them to keep their grubby little paws off of her blanket, I got them both one. I LOVED capturing this moment when Ryland opened up his blanket. SCORE!

Santa gave Ethan a newer, nicer camera to upgrade the one he received a few years ago. 

Ally received from Santa a large HOT PINK makeup kit! She was super excited! She also got a large lighted vanity mirror from us. Once the morning excitement was over she spent quite a bit of time getting acquainted with it all. Her world will never be the same again. 

Evelyn asked for a 'Merican doll just a few days before Christmas. Since I had already gotten this AND wrapped it AND I knew she didn't really know what an American Doll even was I stuck with this. She was thrilled with her 'Merican doll. I am seriously wondering how long this will last. At some point she will get wise when someone else shows her their ACTUAL American Doll. In my defense, I NEVER actually said it WAS an American Doll, I just never corrected her either. (Why do they have to be so blasted expensive?)

After her Mexican Celebration of Learning we found out they were selling some of the skirts. We quickly snatched up this cute purple one for Evelyn. She is in twirly skirt heaven!!! Plus I am going to make her wear it for Halloween next year! Double Score!! 

Since the snow has started to fall this winter we have discovered how trashed our current sleds were. Pathetic and mostly unsafe, gotta say. So we sprung for some new sleds for Christmas. Now all we need is some fresh new snow to test sled these puppies on. Kids are super excited!

Once the kids were all done opening up their gifts, it was our turn.

We received some wonderful art work from the kids and some yummy treats. Ally also knitted me a beautiful pink/white scarf, which is perfect with my shorter hair, my neck gets cold easy. 

I gave Nate his Dad's old Chess table and set. LaVere bought it in Italy about 25 years ago. The chess pieces are from England. The table is inlaid wood and is BEAUTIFUL. The set is quite heavy and ornate. Nate was super excited. He has always wanted it if they were to ever get rid of it. They asked me last month if I was interested, I seriously had no idea if he would want it and I told them I would think it over. Not ten minutes later Nate walked into the room, headed straight for it and said, "If you ever get rid of this, I am the first to know!" I thought, SOLD!! He was VERY surprised! Thankfully he has Ryland to play with. Ryland loves to play chess and is even in the Chess Club at school. I wonder where he gets it from?

Let's just say we were all done before the first hint of light appeared outside. Ethan declared that that should be our family tradition. I told him thanks to them it already was. I honestly can't remember a year that they waited til the sun came up to wake us up. Even the year the power was out and we HAD to open our presents by FLASHLIGHT!!

We had a wonderful visit from Grandma and Grandpa Hale that morning as well. We couldn't remember how to use the self timer on the camera so Nate graciously took one for us. 

We spent the day playing with new things, eating, sleeping, watching Studio C, and enjoying one another's company. In the evening Grandma and Grandpa Burke arrived for Christmas Dinner. We apparently had too much fun eating, playing games and watching a wonderful Christmas movie that they brought that we forgot to take ANY pictures with them! Two nights in a row. tsk tsk 

Grandpa's Hiking Adventures: Wind Cave

This hike was definitely one for the books, in a few ways. The kids and I got a late start from our house up to Logan, why do things always have to take so long?  So, by the time we actually started the hike it was late in the morning. That translates into HOT! This hike was a total of 3.6 miles roundtrip, the first 1.8 miles being fairly steep.

It took us a little longer than it would have usually because we brought this little cutie pie along. She required more frequent rests in the shade. She was a little trooper though and ultimately made it all the way. This hike was definitely an exercise in "I can do hard things" for the majority of us. When Ryland asked me why we were hiking again I told him it was because Grandpa and I were going to show him that hiking is funner than video games. He didn't seem convinced.

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Here Grandpa Hale is showing the kids the "Great Wall of China" of Logan Canyon.

You can see it in this picture of the vista here. It was absolutely gorgeous up there.

Grandpa showing the kids how to look for fossils. We didn't find any this trip but that probably had a lot to do with the fact that we were so tired and hot and didn't have a lot of patience to search for them in the hot afternoon sun.

The older kids weren't spared of the "I can do hard things" lesson of the day. While we sat in the shade waiting for Grandpa and Evelyn to catch up they recieved a lesson from Mom about having a positive attitude. It started out with a little something about murmuring like Laman and Lemeul, and ended up with Mom threatening to assign a chore for each murmur I heard. Jury is still out on whether or not that was a parenting FAIL or not! haha

While I didn't hear anymore whining from them it still took a while for the attitude adjustment to sink in.

Arriving at the Wind Cave did wonders to boost our spirits. It was super cool up in the cave both physically and visually. We loved it!

It was such a neat site. Ally showed us that she is like her father, a bit afraid of heights, worrying about everyone slipping and sliding out of the cave.

My favorite part was feeling the tremendous wind come rushing through the cave. It felt AMAZING!

View from the top.

Grandpa bringing up the rear across the way. Seriously amazing views up there. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part was that we didn't see ONE snake. Not one. Perfect.

After three hours of hiking we were finally done. Phew! We were all hot and sticky and ready for some A/C. Thanks again to Grandpa for another successful and awesome hike! You know it was an awesome hike when Ryland tells says to you, "Alright Mom, I admit it, hiking IS funner than video game. Well, like 2% funner!" I will take it Buddy! haha



Grandpa's Hiking Adventures: Temple Fork

Grandpa Hale is a hiker, and he knows some awesome hikes! Tonight we started a series of hikes with him. The Temple Fork hike. It was so much fun! We did this hike a few years ago with him and I loved it just as much this time. It is such a beautiful hike up Logan Canyon. The smells, the sights, the sounds of the river and the birds, so beautiful! It was also the perfect weather. You could not have asked for better weather.   

Our good friend Vonda joined us, super fun having her along.

Once we reached the top, where the old Temple lumber mill was located, Grandpa told us all stories about the mill, the location and some history of Logan and Cache Valley. We loved hearing them, so interesting.

It was a perfect hike, cannot wait to go again.



Nola Juanita Hoskins Sargent

Today was my sweet Grandma's funeral. She was always a great Grandma. I have a lot of great memories of her, since I was a little girl. I remember sleeping at her and Grandpa's house when my parents were gone on trips. We would work on her sewing and tying quilts together. However, I cherish the last year or so with her especially. I could feel our relationship reaching a new and different level as I spent time with her. I could feel us developing a bond beyond Grandma and Granddaughter. We were becoming friends and seeing eye to eye more and more often as only women can. I already miss her.

(Bob and Joe)

(Travis and Sarah)

(My Dad, Gordon and my Mom, Tana)

These are the beautiful flowers to my Grandma from her Grandchildren. She loved red and white flowers. Just weeks before she passed I helped her pick out her flowers for her front beds. These are very similar to what she picked out.

Caught my Dad in the middle of telling my Uncle Dale and my Grandpa Sargent how he will feel if he gets up to Heaven and finds out there isn't a Chuck-A-Rama. Oh boy! ha ha

(The Little Mills Kingdom with Grandpa Sargent, and Grandma and Grandpa Hale)

(My Mom, Tana, Grandpa Norman Sargent, and myself)

(My Mom and Bob)

(Myself, Heidi, Joe, My Mom, Jen, and Travis)

(Ryan and Nate)

(Ryland)

(My Uncle Steve and my Dad, Gordon)

(Shaylen, Sawyer and Ally)

It was a beautiful day to gather together as family and celebrate my sweet Grandmother. I cannot wait to see her again. 

(Ronda and Nate)