Sunday, December 31, 2017

Christmas!

Most of December was snow free, which was a nice change after being in Rexburg for the last 5 years where there is snow on the ground from October to May!  The kids finally got a snow day, but to be honest, it wasn't even that bad.  People are soft here compared to Rexburg!


We bought two trees this year.  Yep.  Bought them.  I miss cutting our own trees, but that's not an option here.  On the plus side, the one we put in our house is probably the nicest tree we've ever had, but it better be with how much money we dropped on it.  It took my awhile to decorate.  My business, Paci-Catchers, keeps be so busy during the Christmas rush.  Mari tried to take things into her own hands by decorating the tree with paper snowflakes.


They did a Christmas Spirit Days sort of things at school.  One day was dress like Santa or an Elf day.  It was so much fun to see two Santas running to the bus stop.


Mari and her marshmallow snowman she built at Pack Meeting.  Complete with fruit leather hair.


Christmas Jammies on Christmas Eve


A neighbor always comes through for us with Christmas cookies for Santa.  These were probably the prettiest cookies we've ever given him.


Before:


After:


Wow.  I got Strep Throat for Christmas, so it was a rough day for me, but I still had so much fun watching the kids open their presents and their excitement never gets old!

Bo was able to take a few days off of work and spent a lot of time playing with the kids.  I went to the doctor the next day and got some antibiotics so I'm back on the mend too.  Now Ryker and Mari have colds and Mari has sneezed and coughed on my face like 100 times, so that's awesome.





Merry Christmas!


Mommy and Mari Days

When the boys started going to school, Mari felt left out.  I told her it was actually a great thing because we would have lots of Mommy and Mari days, which got her really excited!

We do a lot of shopping.






Make frequent visits to the post office...


And go antiquing as often as we can!  ... making sure we try on all the vintage jewelry.
Strike that pose!


Mostly we have fun mowing the lawn, coloring, dancing and snacking on food we don't want to share with the boys.




And sometimes we have to make trips to the school to rescue the boys.  I feel like I get calls from the nurse a couple times a week.


^ low grade fever. 


^ Tick on his arm.

We love Mommy and Mari Days!

Family Comes to Ohio!

We had visitors in Ohio!  ... I knew my mom and dad would come through!

While they were here, we took a trip to Niagara Falls.  On our way there we made a pit stop at Lake Eerie.  It's so crazy that you can drive a few hours down the road and still be at the same lake that is 10 minutes from your house.  



Nana is always a good sport and sits in the back with the kids.



Mari in her happy place!


At Niagara Falls we did the Maiden of the Mist Voyage.  Bo and I visited Niagara 12 years ago and never did the boat ride thinking that it would be really expensive, so we were excited to do it with the kids.  We were extra lucky because my Aunt and Uncle just so happened to be in the area for a wedding, so they were able to go on it with us too!



We got soaked, it was amazing, and everyone wanted to do it again!  Brodie's laughter was so loud!  It was their first major boat ride!  And the first time the kids have gone to "Canada" ... sorta... technically... but not really.












We spent the night in Niagara and on Sunday traveled to Palmyra, New York.  This is where Joseph Smith saw his Vision.  Bo and I had also been here 12 years ago, but it was nice that the kids could now put a physical place with the history of our church.

Palmyra Temple



Sacred Grove



And my parents even came with us!  If someone would have told me my parents would be visiting all the LDS history sites with me some day, I would laugh!  But it happened and here's proof!


A weird bug my dad and Bo found.  Bo is obsessed with taking pictures of bugs, so this guy wasted a good 20 minutes.  Thanks bug.


Hill Cummorah
It was covered in lady bugs, so the kids made a wish and sent their lady bugs off to fetch their wishes.


Back home we went to Glen Penitentiary.  It's not a prison, it's actually a nature center.  Weird name, right?  It's a giant gorge and they used to say that if you went down into the gorge, you'd get stuck in there because the walls are so steep.

Ryker wants to be a Turkey Farmer some day.


Gray Heron on the sidewalk outside.


They also have a rehab center.  Brodie was super excited to see a Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon.  If we lived near my dad, Brodie would be his #1 apprentice.


We always love it when Nana & Papa come to visit and they left on Halloween Morning!

For Halloween we did the Trunk or Treat at our church, which is always a huge hit!  Mari was a Mermaid, Ryker was a Jelly Fish and Brodie was a Tasty Taco.





Halloween Parade at school!


Bo was in Pittsburgh, PA for the week, but it's only 3 hours away, so he drove home for Trick or Treating.  Can't miss out on that!  He really enjoyed Pittsburgh and his pictures look amazing, so hopefully we'll be able to make another trip that way before we move.


We have awesome neighbors who spoil the kids with treats and toys!


 Goodbye Fall!