Abundant Recompense Copy

We are making an effort to be more regular about dates with the kiddos again. It makes all the difference to have one on one time with them. Nate took Asa on his very first date last Wednesday. They went to the mall with the sole purpose of riding the escalators. They rode them ten times! I want to laugh and cry at the same time whenever I think about it, because it's the cutest and most hilarious thing on the planet. I love it! Asa informed me after it was done that they rode the alligators (elevators), and the escalators, and had ice cream, and played on the slides. Then he got to have a bath all by himself in Mom and Dad's big tub.

This winter is the snowiest winter I've ever experienced in my life. I actually really like the snow, unless I have to drive when we're getting totally pounded and the plows can't keep up. One quick snow story and then winter wonderland pictures. I think the main goal of our school is to never have a day off because of weather. We could get a foot of snow before school and still not be cancelled. One day a few weeks ago it was bad enough that we actually had a two hour delay, so the plows could clear all the school parking lots before the kids came to school. Whoopee. Fast forward to this week, when we've been shoveling twice a day almost every day. We are getting buried! I went to sleep to a very snowy forecast with high hopes of school being cancelled on Monday. Monday morning arrived, and there in my email was another two hour delay notice! Yeah! Better than nothing, for sure. I told, Nate and the kids, and there was much rejoicing. Roughly an hour and a half later, ...

The Christmas season was fun and busy around our house. It was our first Christmas in our new home! Here are a bunch of pictures and videos that give a little taste of the season. This year's family Christmas music video Preston did his due diligence and helped Nate hang the Christmas lights. They did it before Thanksgiving, and it's a good thing! The roof has been covered in snow since then. Addison and Nate have made the Messiah sing-in a tradition. They went to Abravanel Hall this year. I love that they're both giddy with excitement about it. We made these cute little guys. And lots of tasty treats. We got these awesome glasses in the mail! They turn the Christmas lights to reindeer and other fun shapes! We strung lots of cranberries for our Christmas tree. The looks on the kids' faces pretty sum up how each of them felt about it. Bryn found her new calling in life. She strung berries all afternoon long and loved it! We were interrupted by a visit from hand foot and ...