New Year's Eve

I can't believe that New Year's Eve is upon us.  This year has flown by, as they all seem to do.  It seems like just a few days ago it was spring, and here we are at the end of another year.  We celebrated all day!  We went to lunch at Hires.

 

 

This evening I had planned a last minute, impromptu party for ringing in the new year early.  We made our own pizzas.

 

 

 

We ate dinner together.  And I hung some meager decorations.

 

 

And I appropriated an already-cut-into cake from the other night and spruced it up for the celebration.

 

 

We had party hats, which were a big hit for all, although Mimi's very thoughtful about the whole thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT a face. 

 

 

We played New Years Bingo after dinner, and then we put on our party hats again and got out the noise makers, horns, and clappers--I had painstakingly rigged a tiny balloon drop for us to let loose at the appointed time, which was something like 8:30.  Chaos ensued, with the noise makers going full speed ahead. 

 

 

 

 

My Uncle Mark got a picture of the group that I'll put up when I get it. 

 

Happy New Year!  May 2013 be a year full of success and happiness.

 

 

My Uncle Mark took this of all of us:  Happy New Year!

Transitions

Yesterday we made the transition from Grandma's house to Grandmere's house.  We've hauled all our stuff behind the capitol and we'll be here with my parents until it's time to go back home.  Brad left this morning.  Last night we went out with my family to celebrate Mad's birthday.  We saw the Hobbit and went to dinner afterwards.  The girls got to play at Andy and Emily's house with the boys.  Win win.  Happy Birthday, Mad!

 

 

So, the cat got some catnip toys for Christmas.  They were just sitting in the craft room BEFORE Christmas, and she managed to get into the hard plastic packaging to get them out.  So at least we knew she liked them.  On Christmas Eve morning she got them for real, and it was so funny to watch her react to them.  I had no idea cats really liked catnip this much, and I didn't know that they reacted like they have been taking drugs.  She was racing around, stopping fast, rolling on the ground, then suddenly laying right where she stood to be in a daze.  Well, we were a little worried about how she reacted to them, so we put them away when we were getting ready to go to Utah.  We put them in a Ziploc and put them on the counter.  Well.  Brad came home to this baggie and the toys strewn around the whole house.  When he sent me this picture, I did some reading about catnip, and discovered that while Caroline definitely has the 'receptor' for it (only 70% of cats do), catnip is not in any way habit forming, or dangerous to them.  They will react, and then not be able to react for a few hours.  Repeat.

 

 

The girls are all exhausted, so Mac opted to spend the afternoon on a cozy couch with an even cozier blanket and play on the tablet.

 

 

Tonight was my family's home celebration of Mad's birthday, complete with cream cheese pies with candles.

Party Time

Sledding this morning!  Again, when given the choice between skiing and something else (sledding), Leiden chose sledding.  It actually works out better because we can all participate.  Andy and Emily knew of a great sledding hill, so off we went.  I had forgotten how scary sledding can be.  Exhilarating, but I have a very difficult time looking past the danger.  I try really hard not to be overprotective, but it's something I have to work at. 

 

Mac was absolutely fearless.  Down the hill as many times as she could.  She didn't look to make sure the path was clear, she would run and jump on the sled to get it going.  Wow.  Her oops moment happened when she accidentally (because you can't steer, anyway) went over a jump at the bottom of the hill.  I didn't see it--wish I had--but I'm told she caught about 3 feet of air, and then landed flat on her face.  Some blood and a scratched lip later, she was pretty beat.  Luckily she had already gone down many times.  Then, of course when she did decide to go down, she literally blew RIGHT into a little girl.  Smack into her legs.  The girl actually flipped over Mac and the sled and landed on her head.  Luckily the girl was wearing a helmet, and her legs remained unbroken!  Mac wasn't fazed.  My favorite part about the whole thing was when Mac was asked if she had fun going over the jump her reply was, "It was fun going down the hill, and it was fun going on the jump, and it was fun in the air, but it wasn't fun when I hit the ground."  How true.

 

 

Leiden loved to go down the hill, too.  Her scariest moment happened when she and I were going down together on the least streamlined sled, and as we turned slowly sideways the edge caught the snow, and we rolled over and over--me basically right over her head a couple times.  More scared than hurt, she recovered nicely and had many more runs down the hill.  But no more with me!

 

 

Brad had a distance contest going the whole time with Andy and Colin.  He wanted a big push to try and beat the current record. 

 

 

Mimi was astoundingly good at sledding.  She probably went down the hill at least 10 times in this tiny Swiss Bob.  She did so well leaning into the hill, and was remarkably not scared.  I think her worst part was getting back UP the hill.  Although she had a great time, she did not get out unscathed, either.  She was headed down the hill, and Brad was down at the bottom after a run of his own.  He waited at the bottom for her, and when he could see where she would be coming he stood in front of her path.  As she was drawing nearer, he opened up his legs wide so she could go right through, and at the top of the hill, Andy and I simultaneously gasped.  Brad was holding his sled in one hand, and the rope handle in the other, which spread the nylon rope in a straight line between his legs.  Mimi was clotheslined right across the chin.  Her progress was stopped rather quickly as she flew backwards.  A little bit of a scratched chin, but all was well.

 

 

Tonight was Grandma's party at the church gym.  We were excited to bring along our new Plasma Cars and get some use out of them.  They were actually quite the hit.  The young Macdonald boys and the young Macdonald girls had to practice some serious sharing, and even some of the grown ups took a turn!

 

 

 

 

Brad and his brothers were playing basketball and Mimi wanted in.  You can kind of tell from the angle of this picture that she pretty much throws the ball straight up in the air. 

 

 

Brad helped her try to reach her goal, but even with Daddy's help she was a bit too short.

 

 

We played some fun relay games, including a box feet relay.  

 

 

And a walk with a balloon between you legs relay.  This one was pretty funny. 

 

 

Mimi wanted to participate, but she just couldn't figure out how to keep the balloon between her knees and move forward.  Her progress was hampered until we told her to just hold it there.

 

Seriously, if it weren't for me knowing the colors of the girls' outfits, I wouldn't be able to tell if this was Mac or Mimi. 

 

 

We had a great time, Grandma!  Thanks for throwing a great party!

Little bit quieter day today.  Brad headed out very early this morning to fly to St. George and meet up with Joe and Jeremy for the day.  He's excited to see them.

 

Mimi ate her breakfast with a spoon half the size of her head.  I don't know why this struck me as so funny, but it did.

 

 

After breakfast the girls got their snow stuff on and headed outside.  They really enjoy being in the snow.  Much more than they ever have before.   Even Mimi likes it, and she's the youngest.  The other two at almost three didn't like it as much as she does.  Maybe it's because she has bigger sisters to watch.

 

 

We went on some errands this morning with Grandma--I picked up these beauties from Costco, which is where I will forever order greeting cards from forever more.  50 cards and envelopes for $15.  Seriously.

I designed the card and uploaded it to their 'blank' card option.  Perfect.

 

Then we went to lunch at Sweet Tomatoes.  I forget how great salad bar/buffet type places are with kids--they can get what they want, and so can you!

 

Brad returned from St. George safely late this evening, but didn't take any pictures!  He had a great time seeing his friends again.

Ice Skating

Brad wanted to take the girls--at least Leiden skiing while we were here, but when given the choice, Leiden chose to go ice skating.  Mimi was a little wobbly, even on the walker, but she seemed to have a good time. 

She only went around several times, then hung out with Grandma and Grandpa on the sidelines.

Mac did great with the little walker, zooming around.

Leiden did great without the walker.  She finally started to get the hang of the gliding movement instead of trying to 'walk' on the ice with the skates.  She went around several times without help and only fell a couple times!

As we were getting ready to leave, there was a figure skating lesson going on, which the girls were happy to watch.

Grandma and Grandpa took the girls home while Brad and I stopped for a quick bite to eat at In N Out.  I really like In N Out, but I used to like them more.  I think I've become a Five Guys convert.  In N Out just carries nostalgia from our trips to Los Angeles when I was a kid.  Back then, they were the best, but now, while still delicious, I'm not so sure about 'best' anymore.  Thanks for the bit of time alone, Grandma and Grandpa!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning is here!  We all got up pretty early and headed out to Grandma's tree, where there were TONS of gifts!

The girls already had their main Christmas yesterday, but today was grandparent gifts!  Mimi was super excited about her new tea set.

Mac and Leiden both got some Littlest Pet Shop toys from Grandma, and little play areas for them.  Perfect!

After presents, playing, and getting dressed, the girls helped Grandma make lunch for everyone coming.  The girls had on new Naartjie outfits from my mom, and Grandma was kind to devise grocery sack aprons for the girls who wanted them.

Leiden got to wear a real one as she mixed up the frog eye salad.

After lunch with the Macdonald boy cousins, we headed over to see Great Grandma Syphus.

Then it was up to my parents house for Christmas there.  Brad was sporting his new Superman socks.

The girls got a few trinkets--some makeup kits, brush sets from my parents, and little necklaces from Mad and Joni.

The main Grandmere and Bapa gift was a Plasma Car for each girl!  Last summer when we were here in SLC, we took a trip to my Uncle Mike's house, where there was a Plasma Car.  They fought over it the whole evening, and thus Christmas gifts were born.  We just have to find a way for them to be able to use them during the winter.

The girls almost immediately opened up their makeup kits and went to it.

Mimi needs some instruction in the proper application of makeup!

We had our traditional Christmas dinner of Swedish meatballs, and my mom set the table with the fine goldware and one of her sets of china.  The goblets she chose to use were about 12 inches tall.

After dinner, the girls found a way to use the Plasma Car inside--around and around and around the kitchen!

We have had a wonderful day with our families and we have been so blessed this Christmas with many beautiful gifts and time spent with those we love.  Merry Christmas!