Our Yellowstone Vacation

All right... we made it to Yellowstone... barely. We left Saturday afternoon and settled in to the car for what we thought was going to be a 5 hour drive to West Yellowstone. 8 hours later we finally pulled into the Worldmark parking lot. It got quite scary at times with white out conditions along the way. We even stopped to help one lady who had slid off the road and rolled her car. I have never been so glad to get to our destination. It was 11:00 when we pulled in so we unloaded the truck and went to bed.


Yesterday, we drove around town to see what is going on... not a whole lot. A lot of the local stores close up for the winter due to low traffic. It is a shame because West Yellowstone has that old time Mayberry feel. I am excited to stroll through the stores that are open and see what they have to offer. We also spent a lot of time in the indoor pool which the kids loved! Aaron and I sat on the side and actually had time to read! It was a pretty lazy day but very much needed.


Today we decided to take a snow coach ride through Yellowstone. It is basically a van that has been outfitted like a snow-mobile. Our guide drove us through Yellowstone stopping at various spots along the way to see wildlife, geysers, hot spots, waterfalls, bubbling mud, and Old Faithful. Alex's favorite animal we saw was the Bison. Every time he saw one he would yell out "Bi-en." We also saw a coyote, elk, 2 bald eagles, swans, mule deer, and lots of birds- the ravens here are huge. They tried to take a box of Eggo waffles out of the back of our truck.


I must say Old Faithful was kind of a dud for me. We stood out in the freezing snowy temperatures and waited for it to go off for 20 minutes. (Alex and Abbi didn't quite make it- they got too cold so Aaron took them into a warming hut). When it finally did go off, you could barely see it because the sky was white, the steam was white, and the water was white. There was no contrast to actually see it- bummer! Oh well, our guide was very good and he led us to some other geysers that erupted right as we got to them. Those were very cool! All in all it was a great expedition and we all had a great time in snowy Yellowstone. The scenery was so beautiful and I loved looking at all the hot pools.


Firehole Falls

The Great American Bald Eagle

A Bison

Sapphire Pool

Snow day for Christmas

Christmas Day 2008 will be one for the memory books. Adam woke us up bright and early at 6:00 to open presents. I told him to lay down for a few more minutes (hoping to hold him off until at least 7:00). Instead he ran down and woke up Abbi. For the next 30 minutes I could hear them whispering about the piano and Ipod that Santa brought them. At 6:30, due to the snow/wind storm howling outside our power went out. The kids ran upstairs to let us know. Thankful that it meant we might get a little more sleep, Aaron and I told them we couldn't open presents until either the power came back on or it got light enough outside for us to see what we were doing. So, we all went back to bed until 8:00. The power still wasn't on so I called the power company and found out we would not have power until 11:00. What to do? Aaron got out of bed and hauled our generator out of the shed. We plugged in our space heater and our tree lights and voila! we had Christmas. Not quite the Christmas we are used to with Christmas carols playing in the back ground and overhead lights but it turned out fun anyway. Good thing Dad knows how to be handy in a pinch!

The power finally came back on at 10:45 and I was able to make the family a hot breakfast of pancakes and hot chocolate. Despite a few set backs we had a great Christmas. The kids loved their presents and wasted no time tearing into them. Our family room looked like a tornado hit when all was said and done but the smiles on our kids faces were priceless.

After spending the afternoon putting together presents and toys, we packed up the kids, shoveled out the 12 inches of snow we received and set off to Grandma and Grandpa McGee's house for Christmas dinner and even more presents. We were quite spoiled because Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Marshall's house for another dinner and presents.

I love when Christmas time comes around every year and this year was no different. For many years Aaron and I have always wanted to get the kids involved in Santa projects. This year, Aaron was able to work with B98.7 in their Christmas wishes program. Aaron and I were able to take the kids with us as we visited some families around the valley and delivered food and presents. The looks on the faces of the parents when we showed up was priceless. They knew their kids would get a Christmas that year. What a great opportunity for our family to see what Christmas is truly all about.

Aaron and I found this candy bar while vacationing in San Diego. It is 5 lbs of Hershey chocolate. The kids were so excited to open this. Aaron and I were laughing so hard... it is huge!

Our December activities

While the kids have been off track we have done some fun things...

We built a gingerbread house

Made a cupcake tree
Played in the snow with friends


Decked the halls Attended family parties

Went to Abbi's dance recital

Visited the Festival of Trees

And saw the lights at Temple Square

Whew... I am exhausted!

The Nutcracker

After months of learning her new dance, being fitted for her costume, and lots of practice, Abbi did a fantastic job in her dance number "The Nutcracker." We are so proud of her! She did a great job! She got up there and danced like a pro. She got to perform it twice. Once at the Festival of Trees and then again last night for family and friends at a local high school. Way to go Abbi!

I have been trying for days to upload the video with no luck. I'll keep trying so you can all see what a great job Abbi did. She really was Awesome!

Week 1 of off track time

Okay, so in my last post I said that "I love having the kids home in December." Maybe "love" was too strong of a word. Maybe I should say "like," "akin to," or "fond of." It is only Wednesday into week one and I am already wondering how much longer until they are back to school. I guess I need ideas of what to do with them to keep them entertained. Any suggestions are welcome.

Maybe it is just me, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas yet. It is 2 weeks away and I have to force myself to listen to Christmas carols. I am assuming it is the weather. It is hard to get into the Christmas spirit when there is no snow and it is 40-50 degrees outside. Hopefully we'll get more snow to put us more in a festive mood.

I am trying to cook dinner more lately and am proud to say I am at day 4 and counting. What's even better is that there has been no complaining from the little ones. While attending the O Sweet Sadie craft show my Mom and I met Liz Edmunds - The Food Nanny. She was darling and her excitement about cooking rubbed off on me. I bought her cookbook and have tried a few recipes. I made her French baguettes and am excited to say that they actually turned out. I can never get bread or rolls to turn out but these actually did. Go me!- Thanks to the Food Nanny. Tonight I made linguine in a white clam sauce and my kids loved it! I am excited to get my 2 week dinner plan put together. If you need a good gift for someone- check it out.

Well, if anyone has any fun ideas for the kids to do- by all means, let me know. I still have the entire month to go!

Christmas Season

I love the Christmas Season! We just put up the tree this morning and put out all our decorations around the house. Now that it is all done, I can sit back, relax, and enjoy the glow of the Christmas tree lights.

The kids have one more week of school and then they are off for the rest of December. I know some people wouldn't like having their kids home for the entire month before Christmas, but I personally love it. I feel like we have time to do the fun things like bake Christmas cookies, do holiday crafts, visit Christmas displays throughout the town, and enjoy the season together without the stress of homework or bedtimes. It is especially nice because it forces me to get my shopping done early. Yes, I am done shopping, at least for the most part.

This year I look forward to taking my family to Temple Square to see all the lights and having an enjoyable, stress-free season.

"What number wife are you?"

I can honestly say I could have gone my entire life not ever being asked that question, but this weekend while vacationing in San Diego, it happened. Aaron was in San Diego for a conference and I decided that I would join him at the end so we could enjoy a nice weekend together without the kids. So, on Friday, I boarded a plane and jetted off to meet him. Upon arriving at the San Diego airport, I then had to take a taxi to get to Aaron as he was finishing up classes for the conference. So, I hopped in the first available cab and off we went. The cab driver, making small talk, asked me where I was from. When I said I was from Salt Lake, he got all excited and said he was from East Africa and they have the same culture as us. A little confused, I asked him what he meant by that. "Many wives" was his reply and then proceeded to ask me "What number wife are you?" I then told him that is not our culture and that there is no way Aaron could handle more wives than me.

Thankfully the drive was not that long and I had to laugh when I stepped out of the cab and the driver told me to tell Aaron that they were brothers. Oh, how funny the misconceptions of the people of Utah.

On a Gloomy Day Like Today...

...I am missing Maui. It was truly the best vacation ever! Absolutely amazing! If only we could live there forever. Do you think any of the residents of Maui ever get sick of it? As Winter winds its way into Utah and inversions settle down for a "long winter's nap" I am glad for pictures and memories like these.

A sweet reminder

This was posted on my sister's blog but I loved it so much I wanted to post it here as well. Thanks for the reminder Melanie.

For All Moms:

Invisible Mother...... It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone? 'Obviously, not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone! One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England ... Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.' At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Big boy potty

Big News!! Alex went in the big boy potty today! We were so excited, we did the potty dance and gave high fives. I know we have a LONG way to go to be potty trained but today was a big step toward that goal! Way to go Alex!

Happy Halloween!

Okay so I am finally getting around to posting our Halloween pics of the kids. We had an awesome Halloween and our haul was huge! Our day started out at the school for the annual Halloween parade. This always makes me laugh because it seems like only yesterday that I was parading through the halls of my elementary in my "I Dream of Jeanie" costume. Of course, Adam and Abbi didn't really want to have their picture taken so these are the best ones - the others were all blurry.



I then went to Abbi's class to help with her Halloween party. I was in charge of helping them make a q-tip skeleton. I think they all had a great time making it, plus they played a few other
games and, of course, got candy.


That night I stood in line (which was out the door) to get Papa Murphy's Pizza in the shape of a Jack-o-lantern and rushed home to get it in the oven and in my kids belly's before they drove me crazy asking when they could go Trick-or-Treating.

When Aaron finally made it home (traffic was horrible), they all set out, bags in hand, to get lots of treats, and, boy, did they ever! Nothing better than free candy and lots of it!

BTW- this is the only picture I have of Alex in his costume. He is a Lego Knight but did not want his picture taken. What is it with my children? Every one of them at age 2 hated their picture taken at Halloween. Weird.

Our UEA Weekend

This year for UEA we decided to leave town and head towards sunny San Diego. I love San Diego and always hate to leave. This trip was no different. We were there 6 days and, of course, were not ready to leave when Monday came around. We had a great time playing at the beach, surfing, searching for seashells, and catching up with our friends the Waites, who just happened to be in San Diego the same time we were. We also went to LegoLand, rode the rides and were amazed by all the Lego creations, went to Sea World, had dinner in Old Town, and walked through the GasLamp Quarters. Whew! No wonder the vacation flew by.

It was so nice being able to spend time with family (Grandma, Grandpa McGee and Kevin came too). The kids loved it and we all had great time! I think my favorite was either the beach or Sea World. I love going to Sea World and seeing the whales and dolphins up close. We even got to pet a dolphin, hold a starfish, touch an anemone, and pet sea rays. How cool!

FHE

We have been trying, successfully I might add, to hold family home evening on Monday nights once a week. Okay, so we just started three weeks ago, but who's counting? Anyway, thanks to a book called "Short and Sweet with a Treat!" by Mary H. Ross and Illustrated by Jennette Guymon-King, FHE has been made really easy. Thanks Mom for winning the book at GNO at Deseret Book and so kindly passing it on to me! There are 52 FHE lessons already put together including a CD that provides you with the handouts. How easy and cool is that? It has really made us start holding FHE and it has been fun being with the kids. Even Adam did the lesson last week. Great job!

Alex and I were in charge of the treats, so we made yummy fudge brownies with chocolate frosting. They were delicious... but I think Alex had much more fun licking the batter off the spoon!

Things I love about being a Mom

• The giggle behind a locked door while your standing in your pj’s in the front yard
• The rustle of a diaper butt in footie jams
• The sweet goodnight hugs and kisses
• The roaring laughter that only the tickle monster can elicit
• The sweet notes of love left on our bedside table
• The jokes that come home from school – the ones that are still circulating from when I was in school
• The sweet innocence
• The bed head hair do
• The snow boots worn everyday even though it is the middle of summer
• The cuddle time while watching movies and eating popcorn
• The toothpaste art projects found in bathroom sinks
• The joy of unrolling an entire toilet paper roll
• The belief in Santa Claus
• Singing to the radio in the backseat
• The smell of brand new playdough
• Opening a brand new box of crayons
• The unconditional love of my children
• The fingers under the bathroom door
• Going to DisneyLand and reliving your childhood through your own children

Cornbelly's

This week for Family Night, Grandma and Grandpa Marshall took us to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point. What a fun night! The kids loved all the activities available including the Gem mining booth, the pig races, the pumpkin canon, the bouncing pillow, the big rocking chair, the water duck races, and of course, the David Archuleta corn maze. A big "Thanks" to Jon for helping us find our way out of the maze.... I think we still might be in there.

The kids had a great time and we loved spending the time with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Rich.