Mount Charleston Snow Play

A couple of days after Christmas we headed up to the mountains for a little snow play. It was really busy and there were a lot of people who must have had the same idea as us. We were able to find a nice secluded spot with a smallish hill to sled down. I somehow did not take a picture of Braden but I did get a video of him.

Christmas 2016

Christmas came so fast this year. We had all my family in town for Thanksgiving, then we were off on our trip, and BAM! Christmas was here!

We tired to incorporate the "Light the World" initiative into our
celebration. This particular night we hung Christmas lights on my
mom's neighbor (who's husband was in the hospital) house.

Out to see the lights at Ethel M's Cactus Garden

Kids sleeping under the tree.

We went to Gilcrease Orchard for the first time as a family (the boys both have come here for field trips) for a Christmas wagon ride and to see Santa.

On Christmas Eve we had a special dinner and acted out the nativity followed by our tradition of giving gifts to Jesus. 

Christmas Day! The kids were so excited. They each got what they were asking for and they stayed busy playing with each other all day. I loved that Christmas was on a Sunday this year. We had a wonderful sacrament meeting and program with words form our bishopric and music from talented members of our ward both in solos, duets and in the choir; Kam sang in the choir.

Riley asked Santa for a Dolly.

Braden asked for a long board.

Carter asked for a beanbag chair.
He also go a kindle fire.

Riley got some craft supplies and was in heaven! She also
kept changing outfits when she opened something new.

A few days before Christmas I finally got around to taking pictures of the kids for our Christmas card (they are late this year.) We went out to dry lake in Boulder City to take them and it was so fun. The kids were not happy about having their picture taken but they didn't complain at all and instead were happy to cooperate so they could run around.

St. Croix

Kam and I went to St. Croix to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary and so he could attend a work conference. When we first arrived I wasn't sure if I was even excited to be there because I was so tired from the long flight and 4 hour time difference. Thankfully we adjusted and got some sleep and had a really great time together.

My mom watched the kids for us and it was fun to send pictures to them of their silly elf, Charlie, who snuck into our luggage.

View from our private balcony.

The first day we slept a lot. Kam had meetings in the morning and after we rested we explored the property of the hotel. We kayaked from one of the hotels beaches out over the reef.

We stayed at the Buccaneer (an old sugar plantation.)

This guy walked right in front of us while walking from the beach up to our room.

Day 2 we took a shuttle into Christiansted. It was a small little town with not much to do, but it was really neat to see the old buildings. We toured the Christiansvaern Fort and learned some history about Alexander Hamilton who lived in St. Croix.

Looking our from the boardwalk we saw this boat and had to take a picture
(Norma H, is Kam's grandmother's name. She passed in December 2009.)

For lunch we stopped and ate shrimp corndogs. Yummy!

Day 3 we took a sailboat tour out to Buck Island to do some snorkeling. We stopped at Turtle beach and then went to the other side of the island to snorkel at the reef. It was so beautiful with lots of colorful fishes. After snorkeling we sailed back to St. Croix to a small beach where we had a BBQ with our hosts.

Turtle Beach

Day 4 we hung out on the beach and built sandcastles. We also did lots of swimming and playing in the water. Later in the evening, we drove out to Salt River Bay to do a night kayak to a Biluminecent Bay. The conditions were not the best but it was still really cool to experience. We even got to hold a Comb Jellyfish.

This guys head was as big as a cantolope.

Our last day in St. Croix we drove around the island to Fredericksted. It was pretty much the same as Christiansted but less occupied. I'm guessing it's a more happening place when cruise ships come in though. We also drove around looking at the rainforest and other beaches before heading to the airport.

We had a great time, but I was ready to go home and see my kids. Silly how I can be so excited to get a break from being a mom and yet want to get back home to those crazy kids of mine after a short time. Still, time with my Kam is my favorite! 

PS. I've decided that traveling in December is a bad idea.

Festivus

My dad turned 60 this year and to celebrate we threw him a "Festivus" themed birthday celebration. The adults had dinner together at the Olive Garden where we "aired our grievances" by sharing stories of special moments from our past and how he has influenced us. In addition to this, we also awarded him with medals for different qualities that he possesses that we felt were great strengths of his. (The medals have personal reference to his pickle ball days).

After dinner we went back to my house for dessert with the kids and to perform the feats of strength. We also watched a few episodes of Seinfeld together.

Happy Birthday Dad! Love your guts!

Soccer Fall 2016

Originally Carter did not want to play soccer this season, but after he heard that several of his friends from our church were forming a team he wanted to play again. Carter played really well and was one of the better players on his team. Sadly, they didn't win any games nor did they score a goal the whole season, but it didn't matter to these kids because they all had a great time being together.

Braden, on the other hand, was very excited to get back to playing soccer. He started playing with a new team this year and his experience was amazing. He has improved as a player by leaps and bounds, playing center as well as defense. His team did very well winning all but 2 games during the season and they took 2nd place in the Henderson Cup for his age division. Braden has decided to stick with soccer and will now be playing year round with most of the boys from his team this year.