Christmas

First, a couple random pictures from before Christmas.  The boys have been enjoying doing some sledding, so here they are all suited up for the snow.

Jim and I on our 11th anniversary.

Before Christmas we had a lot of freezing fog days.  The trees looked pretty cool, chain link fences (no picture) were like solid walls.

Christmas eve we went skiing and got no pictures.  Other than getting a late start and parking pretty far away, it was a fabulous day. The sun was out most of the day and there weren't many people on the beginner hill where we spent the day.  Emmett graduated to not wearing a tip clip (keeps the ski tips from going too far apart) and not needing the harness straps.  He still wears a harness that has a handle on it so we can help him if he needs it.  Ezra went from skiing right between our legs to being out in front with harness straps.  He made it down a couple times with no falls.  We made it back into town in time to get showers, have some pizza and go to our church's Christmas eve service.

Christmas day was a relaxing and wonderful day.  The boys woke up fairly late and we started stockings around 8:30.  There was lots of great stuff to play with in the stockings, so they played while we made breakfast.  We had stuffed French toast and sausage.  Then we started in on the gifts.  When the boys opened a toy they wanted to play with, we would take the time to open things up and play for a while.  We had to stop for lunch and Ezra's nap.  Then we opened the final presents before dinner.  We had a yummy roast, brussel sprouts and bacon with a creamy Dijon sauce, creamy potatoes and rolls.  I had made a pavlova for dessert, a yummy recipe that I got from our friends from Australia and just stumbled upon super fine sugar that it calls for.  We had it with fresh whipped cream and kiwis to be really Australia-ish. 

 

 

Our next door neighbors brought us a gingerbread kit.  We have pictures of Emmett doing a gingerbread train and so he was hoping to do another gingerbread creation this year.  I was going to wait until things went on clearance, but he lucked out and got to do it before and on Christmas.  Ezra helped quite a bit too, I guess this needs to be a family tradition.  This kit was surprisingly good tasting too.

And a few pictures of our ski trip on New Years Eve.  This day was quite crowded for Grand Targhee, but we got an early start and a great parking spot. We did the chairlift all day and both kids did great.  Ezra still gets lots of looks for being so little.  They both need a little help scooting to the chair in time, but Emmett is tall enough that we as least don't need to lift him on.  And all it takes is a little push to get off and he is good to ski out of the way on his own.  Ezra is a little more complicated on the lift, but he did great too.  Ezra mostly bombs straight down the hill, held back by the harness straps when needed, and is learning to snowplow.  Emmett snowplows well and is doing well turning except when he gets lazy.  I kept getting cold (it was snowing and breezy most the day), and Ezra got a little cold, but Emmett stayed quite warm.

Eating in the lodge

Ezra helped me warm up the car while Jim and Emmett got a couple more runs in.

We practically had to threaten them to try to fall asleep, but once they fell asleep they were OUT.

Cuddling with Zula...this kitty sure has been good with the boys.