It's been a while!

It's been pretty busy around here, but with four kids and active lifestyles, what else is new. I will be posting pictures sometime soon, but wanted to get on here so everyone knows we are doing well.

We had a fantastic Christmas! We stayed home like usual, and had a very peaceful and relaxing Christmas. Our tradition is to have our big ham dinner and do Christ centered activities on Christmas Eve. This year we invited the missionaries over for dinner and gave them gifts to open while here. We wrapped up ramen, cereal, and chips as presents. Every missionary needs food!

Then on Christmas Day we woke up to open presents and had a wonderful morning. I remember last Christmas when we woke up before the sun and the power was out because of an ice storm! This year was much easier. Christmas day was spent in our pajamas, eating leftovers, playing with new toys and gadgets, and putting together our traditional family puzzle. I did go running because Nathan gave me a new Garmin running watch and I had to try it out, when I returned I had to sit in the hot tub, then I did shower and change, but I only upgraded to sweats. LOL! THen I 'lifeguarded" Ben as he went in the hottub. It was a great day!

The day after Christmas we went sledding with some friends up at the Santiam Snow Park again. We love it up there! It was windy this time, so a bit colder, but we still stayed all afternoon. No emergencies to help with this time, thank goodness!

The rest of winter break was spent hanging out and doing family stuff, having playdates, and Nick and I went on a Webelos hike the Monday after Christmas. That was the last thing he had to do to earn his Arrow of Light badge! We are VERY proud of him! More on that in another post.

On New Year's Eve we had our annual party. We watch the ball drop at 9:00PM live online. Then all the kids get the excitement of the ball drop, the noise makers, and ringing in the new year without having to stay up so late. Then we put the two little boys to bed and the rest of us stayed up and played games. Tatiana had a friend stay until 10:30 and Nick had a friend sleep over. It was a fun new year!

Now the kids are all back to school and life is getting into a groove again. We made it through winter break without any illnesses, but now Andrew has a bad cold. Poor baby.

Nathan brought home some new pets from work. One of his staff gave him two stick bugs or walking sticks. So now we have some cool looking bugs for pets. I am less than excited to about them, but at least they are low maintenance and I don't have to touch them! I did take their big cage habitat into the school for both Nick and Tatiana's show and tell this week. Fun.

I think that covers it. Now I will try to get pictures up and try to be more consistent...hmmmm....we'll see.