SLEDDING 101

We finally made it out sledding!  We had so much fun (even though it was FREEZING outside that day) and we only had to go as far as an elementary school by my mom's house.  We only had one tube but we took turns, and the kids, as you can see, had a blast!    

Ringing in the New Year!

We had most of the Packer side come over to our house on New Year's Eve.  Chris and Cory both brought their Wii games and we had pizza and treats (too many, but it's the last day of the year, so I kept eating and eating and eating!)  Lucie wanted so badly to bang the pots and pans when the clock struck midnight, but, as the pictures tell, she didn't make it!  The cousins had a great time all night long!

With the new year, Lucie moved up out of Sunbeams with her favorite teachers, Kandie Dayton and Sister McDonald.  The McDonald's have a farm (isn't that a song?) and they gave all the kids pony rides.  The pony was so tiny that Lucie was almost as tall when she stood next to it.  After they went inside and decorated cookies.  She was so lucky to have such great teachers to start out Primary!

Christmas Day at the Packer's

Christmas morning can't be complete without breakfast at Grandpa Blair's and Grandma Lynda's house.  Grandpa makes the world's best omelettes and Grandma makes great sticky buns!  We had such a great time over there this year, and as you can see, the kids loved their gifts.  The cutest thing was that all the girl cousins (ages 4 and up) all got American Girl dolls and they all brought them to play.  It was so darling to see how each doll looked like the owner. Marlie took a billion pictures with her camera of them all doing different poses.  Then I gave Grandma Lynda a homemade santa claus (I learned how to felt this year by a lady up in Midway, Utah) and it made her burst into tears because the sweater it was made out of was Great Grandpa Erickson's that she had given him years ago.  The homemade gifts always get the best response.  I was glad I took the time to make it for her this year!  

Christmas Morning

Grandma Margo made both Lucie and Marlie matching pajamas to their American dolls.  Lucie got her first American doll Christmas morning (Elizabeth Cole) and Marlie got a camera (good thing it's digital!) Santa Claus came after all - didn't he see that the girls were naughty this year?

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve - so fun to open up a few gifts with our girls!

Ho Ho Ho it's Santa!

Grandma Margo has a great party every year where Santa Claus comes and visits the kids with a gift and of course a group singalong to "Jingle Bells."  This year Rya (a cousin) and Marlie got to ring the bells.  Kevin and I were completely shocked that both Marlie and Lucie made the "good book!"  We were always telling them that Santa has on his magic glasses and is watching their every move...