Posts

Showing posts from January, 2013

The 2013 Snowman

Image
I really loved this year's snowman. His posture and expression made me giggle every time I backed out of the driveway and saw him. Very Calvin & Hobbes to me. And they even made his hair light up! He lasted for a few weeks, but eventually his arms drooped and his mouth, and an eye fell out. Then he really had something to scream about.

Peterson Wedding

Image
Saturday we drove back up to the Las Vegas temple. Last time I had been here was during college to go through the open house. Rob had come sometime not long afterward. Now all of the kids have been inside too. The kids behaved well while we were in the ceremony and then acted more like this once we were outside taking pictures. We convinced the S family to go with us on another harebrained scheme: to visit the Ethel M chocolate factory . . . . . . and cactus garden. Yes, you read that right. Chocolate and cactus. The factory wasn't making anything on a Saturday, but they were giving out samples, so we didn't hear any complaints from the kids. And the cactus garden was decorated for the holiday season. Here is Will wearing his new suit and the bow tie that his sister gave him for his birthday. Handsome lad, that one, though he still can't smile for the camera . . . Did I mention that Sebi talked me into buying him a suit coat? It is one of the ironies of life that

Las Vegas: the Strip

Image
After Christmas we were headed down to Las Vegas for a wedding (more on that next). It almost didn't happen because Joss came down with a virulent stomach bug and we worried that it would go through all of us right during the weekend. But he was much better the day before we were to leave, so we decided to make it happen. We stayed here. Isn't that a great vintage neon sign?! It was an original two-story motel, but made for families -- we had a suite for six people that we could only have dreamed of during several points on  study abroads. We decided that since this was the first time the kids had been to Las Vegas that we'd take them to the strip. Only first we needed dinner. We checked out some places online and found a chinese place that looked good. After some tense moments looking for a restaurant in a strange town in the dark, we found it. Boy, howdy, what an epic fail! It was awful! A sad-sack place that hadn't seen a coat of paint since the mid-80's a

Boxing Day Exploits

Image
 We got a lot of snow on Christmas Eve, and again on the 26th here. So before the plows had come around and pushed it away, Rob backed his truck out and pulled the kids around on sleds.  I know, I know, like the potato cannon wasn't dangerous enough! I made him put on his hazards,  and attach a flashlight to the kids. And everyone had the time of their lives.

Christmas Morning 2012

Image
 We found the basement-dwellers up before 6:00am, but Joss who had gone to bed late and not had a great night was still sleeping, so we told the others to wait until 7:30. I found them watching Mythbusters downstairs! But they were finally allowed into the living room.  Maddie found a pair of ballroom standard shoes.  The boys found Lego Wii games  even Joss had a Lego Wii game!  we stopped for a lovely breakfast and Opa came by to share Christmas with us. It was plentiful and relaxed and felt once again like crossing the finish line of a great seasonal marathon.

Christmas Eve 2012

Image
 The table prepared,  kids blowing off steam, the dinner,  the tree, surrounded by gifts at last,   the children, read to, sung with, and pajama-ed, and beloved.

Fourth Advent

Image
 The last bunte teller before Christmas this year. The candles were all lit and this year we started a new tradition -- in between each round of eating treats we asked the kids to recite a poem, sing a song, or give a compliment. It worked well and slowed down the ritual to a more European speed.  Because there was swim practice early in the morning on the 24th, Rob bribed the kids with Sharpie tattoos. Maddie's arm there says "H2O Angel".  Sebastian wanted an advent wreath. And Joss wanted to get in on the festivities. He got a water dragon on one arm, a flower dragon on the other, and this three-headed masterpiece on his back. In an alternate life Rob could have been a great tattoo artist! And the kids did actually go to swim practice, early, if not happily!

McFarland Christmas

Image
We got all the McFarlands together for traditional stacked New Mexico enchiladas and Rob gave a tutorial. These came from Great Grandma Dee. When the family pulled into Alamogordo NM, they found the firehouse holding a breakfast and serving these.  The authentic way to serve these is with a fried egg on top. Later we sang carols and exchanged presents before everyone went to their separate Christmases in SLC, Provo and Hawaii.