Skiing and sweets

On our third trip skiing this year, Michael and I went by ourselves. The canyon was closed when we left so we made a short stop and took care of something on our way and the wreck was taken care of right after. It had been snowing for two days and we were expecting great snow. It was a little heavy because it was so warm(32 in the parking lot) but still fun. I love making fresh tracks! Neither of us brought a camera except our phone camera so all I got was this long arm reach. It was so beautiful, it makes me want to just head up there to take pictures.

On our way down the canyon afterwards, there was a roadblock. We called Nelson from the cell phone to check the udot website for the cause and he actually saw us on the road camera. We are in the white Toyota Sequoia, about halfway back in the line, next to a red car, see us? They were doing avalanche control and I guess they close the road so they don't have to dig you out if there's a big one. Pretty funny that we got on camera. We weren't stopped for long and on our way to the next activity...

Candy making at Nana's! Here's Caroline getting the ingredients ready for fudge.

Stephanie, Katie and Brittney minding the stove.

Here's the sweet crew!

serious sledding

Monday night we went to Soldier Hollow with 150 of the Pearce's closest friends for what I call luxury sledding. There are Krispy Kreme donuts and hot chocolate in the lodge and then the sledding! A rope tow pulls you on your inner tube up the hill as Christmas music plays over the multi-run slope. The kids like to make these huge linked masses of tubes. Then, you whiz down the hill and do it all over again. No dragging your tired bones up an icy hill, encouraging whining kids, etc. It is almost surreal. Thanks for the invite, Pearces!

exciting times and more parties!

I am wondering if I am more excited than other mothers when their oldest gets ready for a mission or if everyone feels this way? I may be more excited than Michael, no, not really, but almost! I know I will not be excited to not see him for 2 years but I am very excited for this experience for him. We had to get a head shot with his hair parted, etc to submit with his papers. They aren't in yet because you have to wait until a certain time before your birthday but we are almost there. Will let you know when the wait for the call begins!

The Pearce's spend Christmas eve with their own immediate family so they have all of us over beforehand so we can exchange gifts and well, have another party!

Here are the boys at dinner.

This is the girls' table except it looks like Michael crashed.

Then Katie played the piano and we sang Christmas songs.

Grandpa opening his gift from all of us.

Fun times, just hanging out and having fun!

Christmas fun begins!

We got together with my side of the family to exchange gifts and eat. Here are all the kids (except Natalie and Erika's kids) behaving so the picture taking will be over. They are all getting so grown up, it's crazy!

Actually they were behaving so they could have a crazy picture at the end.

Kathy and Dad opening presents.

The grownups! minus Jeramy & Cheryl and Erika & Doug, we missed you!

Then we went night skiing at Sundance. We weren't sure if it would be snowing because it was 39 and raining at home but we went anyway. It was 32 and mostly snowing in the parking lot at Sundance, just a little wet but not so bad once we started up the mountain. Katie had another choir concert so she couldn't come and Nelson wasn't feeling well enough (fighting a cold) and had some online shopping to finish so it was just me and these three. We had a lot of fun, I love to ski!

spaceman Michael

All teenagers!

That's right! All four of my children are teenagers. Today is David's 13th birthday! I love this picture of him, I think he's 4 in this picture. I think he is excited and we are surrounded! Gotta run but just had to wish David a fabulous day!

What's up or as Nelson says...Wazzup!

Christmas begins! Katie must've been the most excited because she brought ALL of the decorations up from the basement by herself. Then she needed a rest. Things are always more busy than you want during December but it's been good, lots of fun.

Caroline refused to make a cell model for Biology with food like everyone else. Thanks to Aunt Lisa, who has one of those machines where you fill balloons with stuff, her model was made out of various balloon shapes, confetti and yarn. It was pretty awesome.

One Saturday night, Caroline and two of her friends, Melanie and Heather, came over and they had a little photo session with Caroline's many hats.

My personal favorite pic of Melanie. LOVE the hair!

Hey, Caroline! Did you forget to play with your friends?

Just a little wakeboarding in between glam shots.

Caroline!!!

Ok, back again.

David's 13th birthday is this Friday but we always have his party as early as possible so it doesn't feel so close to Christmas. We went to play in Chuck and Oranee's sports court and the boys had a great time. Give David a ball and he is in heaven.

Sorry about the cake, David. I guess I realized he didn't like chocolate ice-cream but didn't realize that crossed all dessert lines (is this child really related to me? just kidding David). I told him I'd make any other flavor he wanted for his real birthday. Sheesh mom!

Last night was the Relief Society's annual progressive Christmas dinner. I hosted on of the groups for the dinner portion and it was so nice to get my house really clean just before Christmas but mostly to have wonderful friends over for dinner.

Today Caroline started us off with a Christmas concert at 3:30. They were so good! Luckily, Canyon View had two concerts because at 7 we have double booked high school and junior high choir concerts. I love choral music. It really gets me in the Christmas spirit more than anything I think. Katie and I went to a Messiah sing-in this year and it was really wonderful. It's been too many years since I have done that and I guess I missed it.

Katie sings in two choirs at Orem High. They did an amazing job.

Quick zip up the robes over her dress...

Katie got to accompany her choir also and it was so fun to watch her bouncing and feeling the music! Go Katie!

Hidden Influence

Isn't it strange when you go back and watch your old childhood movies and TV shows and you realizes there's more behind the story than just a cute cartoon? For instance Dr. Suess's Lorax is so enviormentalist anti-corrporation control! And Rudolf is about acceptance and prejudice as opposed to just a small story of saving Christmas (everyone belief when they were four.) It's interesting what kind of opinions and standards are silently being pounded into out heads through the shadows. From the moment we're born to when we die the silent influences of the world pressure our thoughts and decisions. These invisible forces playing into our young developing brains could be for the best, or for the worst depending on what exactly lurks in the shadows. We as humans have the illusion of control over what goes on and our influences but we may not realize the impact of what we hear and see. We as a whole must accept that most of this is out of our control and that all we can do is hope and patiently wait for the outcome. -Caroline