January iPhone Dump

Rounding out January:

We began our new year skating on thin ice. 

 It was an unsteady start, but I have full confidence this year will be one happy adventure.

 Eden traded what should have been her first Sunday of Sunbeams for a trip to urgent care .

Next time I guess I'll believe her when she says her ear hurts.

 Antibiotics and the sweetest sleepy snuggles followed.

 I stole Ryder's shirt one Sunday morning.  

And all of a sudden, my closet seems a lot larger...

 The first snow of the season (one week pre-blizzard).  It was short-lived, but well-loved.

Dear January,
Generally speaking,  I hate, loathe and despise you.  Because you are evil.
This year, however, you were kind and cuddly.
Let's try this again next year.

Winter Concerts Extravaganza

January was packed with celebrations of the musical variety.

Tessa had an adorable solo in her 1st grade Concert for Peace.

She stole the stage.

 Linley was a triple threat at her spring concert: speaking, singing and fluting:

 And no concert season is complete without a solid piano recital performance.

 The samplings:

Possibly related: a Costco-sized Advil purchase was made this month.

The Blizzard

 With this blessedly warm and dry winter, a major-shut-the-state down January blizzard was an actual welcome and exciting occurrence.  

The morning's measurements:

By the days end, we accumulated a solid 30."  

In 24 hours.

 Life came to a complete stand-still for 3 days and it was wonderful.

 A neighborhood sledding session was most necessary.

 Snow caves for sipping hot cocoa also happened.

 Lazy human snow people.

 Sometimes slow and snowy is just what the doctor ordered.

December iPhone Dump

Adding to the awesome that was December:

Super sale on jumpers.  

Linley hated every single second I made her match her sisters.

Prepubescent punk.

 Christmas Eve Star Wars viewing.  Featuring my own little Leias.

 Also notable: Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day we enjoyed 70+ degree weather.  

And that, my friends, is what we call a Christmas miracle. 

How sweet it is.

Happy New Year!!!

We decided to strike in the new year with no time to spare.  I enjoyed hanging out with this turkey.

Bowling.

Also, I'm super clever.

 For Allen, split happens.  

On the lanes and on his pants.  That, there, is my coat, hiding the evidence.

 Later that night, we headed to the Robinson's to ring in the new year with a bunch of buddies.

 No shortage of shenanigans ensued.

If I had to summarize 2015,  I would call it one awesome adventure.  Laced with sadness.  

Here's to 2016, and only adventure!!

Merry Christmas!!

Obligatory pre-present morning sit on the stairs shot + we really need to keep hats away from Tessa...

And then: blissful, bought happiness.

 Christmas morning really and truly is the sparkliest and shiniest of all the mornings.

For those joyful hours, I believe in magic.

Jesus is joy.

 That night we had a houseful of wonderful people over to share the magic.

 It was a most wonderful day full of goodness and light and friends and foooood.

A treasure.  

Thank you, Jesus.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas..

 ...our merry family reenacted The Nativity,

...lit up Lillian with luminary, 

 ...and got dressed in new matching jammies!!

On the eleventh day of Christmas...

...our merry family made Christmas cookies, extra sprinkley.

On the tenth day of Christmas...

...our merry family made and devoured the most decadently delicious peppermint brownie.

On the ninth day of Christmas...

...our merry family assembled and delivered treats, so neighborly.

On the eighth day of Christmas...

...our merry family dressed up for church rather festively.