The Best Christmas Ever

In case you didn't notice, Erica is making a heart shape with her hands. It's own of her new poses for pictures.

 

We had a really wonderful Christmas together.  Following a delicious dinner of ham and cheesy potatoes, Christmas Eve entailed the traditional kids photo in front of the tree.  They then each opened a present from Grandma Terry, who had flown in for the week.  It was a pair of new pajamas for everyone.

 



Erica was just a little excited....

She kept doing this silly dance once the presents were opened and the Santa hats were brought out.

 



Elise got into the action too.  I had a hard time getting a shot of the kids in their jammies because she was moving so much!  Here she is actually moving her legs open and shut over and over again.  She definitely caught on with the idea that something fun was coming!

 

On Christmas morning, Eric and I were awoken to little feet running up and down the stairs, then Erica bursting into our room and saying in a really loud whisper, "Mommy! Santa really came! Santa really came!"

 

We had a wonderful morning opening presents and enjoying our fun new toys.  After lunch and a much needed nap, we headed to Mukilteo beach to burn off some steam.

 

It was such a beautiful day!  The sun was shining and it was relatively warm, so the kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the Sound, climbing on washed up logs, and playing on the equipment at the beach's playground.

 



 

The day after Christmas, we took the entire family to see the new Disney movie, "Frozen."  It is very rare that we take everyone to a movie, so it was a special treat.  I know that I really enjoyed the movie, and I think everyone else did as well.  Now Erica keeps insisting that she wants to have "white" hair, like the Frozen girl.

 

On Saturday, Terry and I went with a few of my friends to see the Broadway musical "Oliver" at the 5th Avenue Theater, in downtown Seattle.  We had such a fun time together, and I was so glad to get to share that experience with her!

 

I will remember this Christmas break as a time spent with those that I hold most dear.  It was a simpler year, with simple gifts shared and received.  I was a little anxious about what the kids would think about receiving fewer gifts this year, but I shouldn't have worried.  A few days after Christmas, Ethan came up to me and said, "This has been the best Christmas ever!" 

 

I couldn't agree more, Ethan.

Thanks for Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week.  Since family was so far away, we decided to invite some friends to share the meal with.  I invited a coworker friend with her son, as well as the sister missionaries who are currently serving in our Ward.  We had a great time together laughing and talking, and had a big laugh over Elise and her antics.  She gets pretty excited with an audience, and even more excited with new friends to show off to.

Sharing time together as a family, plenty of food to eat, a warm comfortable home to live in....we are truly blessed.

I am so grateful this holiday season for all that the Lord has blessed us with.  We have enjoyed good health this year, successful and stable employment, satisfaction and fulfillment in service opportunities at church and in the community, and happy and active children.

Most of all I am so grateful for the way my family has been blessed by being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We receive peace in knowing that, through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to improve ourselves each day, drawing us closer to our Father in Heaven, and closer to our family here on the earth.

******

On a fun side-note, I wrote a Thanksgiving-themed short story for my writing group's website. I hope that you will read it and enjoy it, and remember all the things that we have to be grateful for....especially FAMILY!

"A Thanksgiving Week," by Heather White

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve in front of the tree!

 

 

 

We spent a wonderful Christmas at home this year. Here are a few pictures from the holiday.

 

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

 

 

Looks like a few kids are getting excited for Santa to come!

 

 

 

After opening presents on Christmas morning, we headed out to our annual trip to Mukilteo Beach.  It had been raining all day, and we lucked out in finding a brief pause in the rain.  It was very cold, though, with a biting wind!

 

 

We saw this scuba diver braving the cold on Christmas Day.  He teased us that he was probably warmer in the water than we were in the wind!

 

 

 

Erica didn't seem to mind the cold.  In fact, we had to drag her away from the water, numb hands, bare legs and all!  That girl is crazy!

 

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that this New Year brings you much peace, hope, and love! 

Happy Mother's Day!

I was pretty spoiled this year for Mother's Day....

Heidi made these blocks for me in YW....it happened to be the activity I was preparing for all day on my birthday. I sanded and painted 84 blocks of wood that day! They turned out really great, though!

Ethan proudly informed me it took him three days at school to make this masterpiece....one day per letter.

Sweet creation from Elise....It is glazed and fired to last forever!

Erica had to join in on the artwork. She worked on this card for quite a while last night and couldn't wait to give it to me this morning!

Four beautiful creations made by four beautiful children....

I am the luckiest mother in the world!!



Christmas

The kids with Uncle Richard.

For the first time since we moved to Washington eight years ago, we had the opportunity to go home to Idaho for Christmas! We had so much fun spending time with family, and remembering what it was like to be home for the holidays! 

Christmas Eve, with the lights glowing!

There were plenty of presents under that tree!

Despite their fears, Santa was able to find the kids and they made off with a haul! Heidi got several new outfits, Ethan got a microscope and some parachute chord to practice his knot-tying skills. Elise got a talking puppy, which is programmed to say her name and sing various songs, while Erica got all things "Princess," her recent obsession.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to spend time with family. It was the most precious gift of all this Christmas!

Summertime

We are all running in different directions which can mean only one thing.....it must be SUMMERTIME!!!

Eric took Elise and Ethan with him down to visit his family in Menan, Idaho this weekend.  They had a wonderful time visiting with everyone, soaking up the sun, and enjoying Menan's famous Fourth of July celebrations.  Grandma and Grandpa sure enjoyed seeing Elise walking back and forth across the room, expecting huge hugs and cheering each time.

Heidi, Erica and I layed low at home, since Heidi would need to be at an Especially For Youth Conference (EFY) before Eric and the others would be back home.  We had fun shopping, eating out, and watching movies together.  I always enjoy spending more one-on-one time with Heidi.  She is growing into such an amazing young lady, and I am truly blessed to be her Mom.

Early on the Fourth of July, I dropped Heidi off at her friend's house, who was going to transport her down to Tacoma to go to her conference.  When I left her there and drove off with just Erica, I started crying, knowing that she would have such an amazing experience there but also realizing how much I will miss her all week.

So on Monday and Tuesday it was just me and Erica.  Let me tell you, she is as entertaining as they come, but I certainly missed some adult conversation in that time, ha ha!!!

On Monday we went to Mukilteo Beach, where Erica had a lot of fun throwing rocks in the water.  I think she was trying to single-handedly return all the rocks and pebbles from the beach back into the Sound!  It was a very windy day, so the water was pretty rough.  It kept crashing onto the beach, making her nervous, so she would hide behind a big log, throwing the rocks.  Everytime a rock would make it to the water she would squeal with delight, "I DID it!!!"  After that we walked to the little beach shop that sells ice cream cones and indulged in a Fourth of July treat.  Erica was pretty much on a sugar-high after that, so we wrapped things up pretty quickly after that.

Today we went to a park and played for quite a while.  I enjoyed watching my social little girl play with other kids that were there, pretending they were serving food at a fast-food drive-up window, then climbing all over the jungle gym.  She kept calling for me to see her "friends."  Then when we left, she said, "See you later, guys."  It was adorable!

Eric and the others got home tonight, after a very long drive across two states.  Erica wouldn't let him out of her site, and insisted on going with him to drop off the rental car.  She really missed her Daddy.

So did I.  I'm sure glad they're back.

Easter is......

Easter egg hunts....

 Wearing new Easter outfits to church.....

Letting our artistic flair shine by decorating eggs.....

Don't you LOVE this time of year?????

Happy New Year!

We spent New Year's Eve with our friends, the Sisco family. We had a lot of fun eating tons of great food and playing games. Heidi went to a Youth Dance later that night. Before the midnight hour approached, the little ones were in bed and we enjoyed watching the fireworks display from the Space Needle downtown, from the warmth and comfort of our own family room, I might add! Today has been a lazy day, spent cuddling with kids and watching movies. We went to Red Robin for a late lunch and made our traditional holiday visit to Mukilteo Beach.

After the beach trip, Eric and I picked up our own copy of the Wii game "Just Dance," which we had such a blast with at the Sisco's. We just spent the remainder of the evening laughing at ourselves trying to "bust a move." Let me tell you, this Momma can't dance!!

I like to joke that I haven't cooked a meal, done the dishes, or cleaned the house since LAST YEAR! (It's a standing joke from my friend Audrey....she comes up with the best ones, of course!) Maybe it's time for me to start being a bit more productive, but it was sure fun to have a completely unproductive weekend!!!

Happy New Year!!!!

Christmas at Mt Baker

We spent Christmas with my parents and my sister and her husband at the base of Mt Baker. Despite all the extra snow gear, boots, gloves, hats, pants, and even sleds, there was.....

NO SNOW!!!

It was wet and rainy instead, but we had a lot of fun anyway!!!

We spent a considerable amount of time making the ornaments for the tree. All the decorations were made of paper: origami cranes, geometric boxes and stars, frilly snowflakes, and a paper chain garland. It turned out beautiful!

Ethan made this beautiful and elaborate star which adorned the top of the tree.





On Christmas Eve night, Grandma and Grandpa read the Christmas story. Erica fell asleep in Grandma's lap by the end.



Christmas morning was all about the presents!!! To Erica, it was all about the candy. She ate so much she got sick! Her favorite present was this Dora doll that Santa brought her.







We had such a wonderful time, creating memories I will always cherish!!

*Playing Christmas carols together on the musical instruments we brought.

*Heidi and Ethan's first ski/snowboard adventure at Mt Baker.

*Cooking with my mom in the kitchen, and enjoying her amazing cinnamon rolls.

*Playing games together.

*Watching movies together.

*Listening to the CD that Diana and Jordan made, with Christmas songs they recorded themselves.

*Experimenting and getting photo tips from my dad. (All the best photos here are his.)

*Relaxing in the hot tub, in the rain.

*Being completely surprised with an amazing diamond necklace from my sweet sweet husband.

*Making all the fun ornaments for the tree.

*Spending quality time with everyone, with no phones, and very little television.