You can no longer call me Bambi

I am pretty dang steady on the ice these days. If we continue to go once a year, in five years I might be awesome. Okay let's not get ahead of ourselves.

So as some of you may remember we took the kids ice skating for the first time last year. This year everyone was looking forward to going back. When we got there they were doing the zamboni.(we didn't know any of this at the time) Andrew saw someone fall in the crowd as everyone was getting back on the ice. Apparently she cut her hand on a skate. After that he was freaked out but wouldn't tell us why! He wanted no part of ice skating.

We tried to reason with him, not knowing why all of a sudden he wouldn't even try it was very difficult. He wasn't giving in. We threatened him with no I-Pod for a month. He said it would be worth it. At this point I was just ticked. We had just. gotten. there. We ignored him for a few times around the rink but then finally I had had enough. Paul and I wrestled him on the ice and practically carried him to the other side.

He made it to the benches and stayed there pouting for a long time. Finally we had a rational talk and I found out he was afraid of getting cut by someone's skates. I told him we would hold both hands, wouldn't let go, ever and that if something did happen he had on gloves so he would be okay. He decided to go around with us once.
After that we found him a walker and he perked right up. He had gotten way too tall to use a cone this year but the walker worked, barely. If he was any taller it wouldn't have.
Finally, after all the drama, we were able to skate around and have some good family fun. It's just dark enough in there that the "action" shots were really dark or really blurry.

Poor think looks like he's handicapped.


I think he was telling Paul he was having fun.
Emma amazed me again. She has no fear and does really really well. I was so proud of her.

Andrew on the other hand can't even stand on the ice for a picture LOL! Poor thing is just like me.
It was zamboni time again so we took a hot chocolate break.


We went around a few more times and Andrew even gave away his walker to a little boy who "needed it more than he did". How sweet is that? He went around a little bit on his own but preferred to hold on to someone. Toward the end I was feeling really good out there. It was so much fun. I was almost able to stop myself, I turned 360 degrees a few times (on purpose!) and I was able to dodge kids without my arms turning into windmills. I would like to go again a little sooner this time. I think it would be good for both Andrew and I.

A quick update while I have a minute...

My rolls are rising, Paul is doing all the last minute grocery shopping and things have been getting checked off my list left and right. Unless I am forgetting something we are in a really good place right about now.

It's funny. We were cleaning last Saturday and Paul found a calendar from 2004 in a stack of my crap. I didn't want to throw it away because 1) it was a temple calendar and the pictures are gorgeous and 2) it had what we had been doing written all over it. It was fun to look back. We did toss it, and sadly enough I didn't make any notes so those memories are all gone. This blog is now my "calendar" of what we do on what days.

We have been busy of course, who hasn't? Here is a quick list of what's been going on.

After it was determined that Emma did not break her elbow her recovery was almost immediate. She was able to perform the next day at her ballroom dance Christmas party. This was last Wednesday. She did a really really good job. It was so fun watching her and seeing what she has learned.

On Thursday Paul took my car and went skiing for the first time this season. He went with Colby and Dave from work and had a great time. Here's Colby.

Here's Paul.

And here's Paul's skis.

He promised me a full tank of gas and a car wash for letting him take my car. We still love going through a car wash. Honestly, does it ever get old?

Once my car was full and shiny we drove through Taco Amigo. These shakes are a little bit of heaven. I wonder if I should get one today? Hmmm. Maybe.

Okay I am tired of moving pictures. Let's do this the easy way.

Monday (the 21st) I took some pictures of our favorite ornaments. Here is just a few. I might blog about more later.
This one is by far our most expensive. It was the only one I like though while we were in Chicago. It cost about a quarter of what the whole fake tree cost. Eeek.

This is one of the squishy stress block. I had my heart set on a cheese ornament so I bought this and just sat it in the tree. Paul and I love it!

This is what the "G" looked like on the first day of winter. Dec. 21st
Tuesday (22nd) was the last day of school for the kids. This is what we did for teacher's gifts this year. There were two cookies and a loaf of pumpkin bread.
The tag I made. I found the quote online.
Aren't these cookies cute?!?
I wish I had a loaf of that bread right now. Gee, I think I'm hungry.
Monday night (21st) Emma had her piano recital. She played Away in a Manger and a Jingle Bell duet with her teacher. Once again, she was awesome.

I found these really cute, thick, embroidered oven mitts at Jo Ann's Fabric. This one has a little penguin on it. Once again I found the quote online and this is what we gave Holly this year.

Tuesday was not only the last day of school for the year it was also pajama day. I dropped the kids off because they had the gifts and Emma had two dozen donuts for her class party.
I had to help carry stuff in so I went in my pajamas. Some people wanted proof, here it is. I saw parent's, student's and teachers Oh My! Last night there was a gentle snowfall. It was nice, not too much, just enough. We drove around and looked at Christmas lights. We love the houses that have them set to music. It rocks, no pun intended.

Friday (the 18th) was a quiet night at home playing games and eating cookies with cocoa.

Marius joined us for our family time.

He got more attention than I think he wanted.



Saturday (19th) night Paul took the kids to a BYU basketball game. I had four hours of beautiful silence. I made cocoa, ate butter cookies and wrapped presents.
Marius tried to help.


Frisky little boy. So that's a brief update on what we have been up to.

BYU vs. Utah - AKA The Holy War

We have been waiting for this day for a long long time. I was excited and nervous. I didn't know if the Cougars could beat the Utes. The thought of leaving the stadium defeated was depressing. It wasn't how I wanted the season to end.

We got to the stadium early and got the kids some stuff at the Cougar Den. Do you love their new hats/hair?

You should have heard the crowd. It was intense. I would be curious to know how far away you can hear the stadium noise.
The fly-over. If you look closely you will see a B on one and a U on the other.

The game started. There was so much energy and excitement. I love this rivalry!

Max looking a little heated.
As the night wore on it got colder and colder. I lent Megan my deluxe snuggie. I was so ready for the cold (I wore long johns this week) I didn't even need it.
The kids started getting bored. Everyone was standing and they couldn't see very well. What could I do? I broke out my camera to entertain them.
I'm trying to get them excited.
But it wasn't working too well. Emma just wanted the game to be over. She was tired and cold. I don't think the kids are ready for football yet.
The Cougars won in overtime!!!
The stadium emptied onto the field.
There was a great debate. To storm the filed or not. We waited a little while until we thought it would be safe for the kids and then decided to go for it.
Finally we made it!
We got to see a handful of players.

Then we just partied with the rest of the crazy fans.
The kids wanted pictures in the end zone.

Then it was time to go. They were done. I think Paul would have stayed all night if we would have let him.

The traffic was terrible. It took us almost an hour to get out of the field we parked in. We ended up going south and decided to get dinner by the mall. I had never been to Ruby River before.
I ordered a raspberry glazed chicken. I liked it well enough but it was a bit of a weird combination.
Paul got steak and shrimp.
When we finally made it home safely. It was really late. The kids had to go straight to bed. I woke up the next morning with a scratchy throat from yelling so much. It was worth it though!