SNOW + SLEDS + FAMILY = FUN!

The stars aligned and we got SNOW... AFTER we got snow clothes and sleds for Christmas... on a SATURDAY... (so we could actually enjoy it!) Actually, we haven't had hardly any snow since the first weekend we moved here at the beginning of November. Supposedly it's been the driest winter on record here in Utah.And we were kind of hoping we wouldn't get snow until  after Christmas when the girls would receive snow gear including sleds. This morning, I opened the door to go out for a run and there was SNOW! I'm pretty much out of it when it comes to weather forecasts or the news, so it was a sweet surprise. I turned around changed my running shows for snow boots and hustled everyone into their new snow clothes to go play. Coby wasn't sure there would be enough snow to sled in, but I figured this was our chance so it was at least worth a try! Ohhhh there was enough snow! We had such a fun time. Off we trekked sleds in hand to the great park with a bowl shaped field just a couple blocks down the street. Those hills worked perfectly! The girls were awesome - I thought we might fight some nerves from the little ones since this was their first time, but they loved it. We sledded single, double, even all three girls at once. Forward, backward, on our bums, on our knees. Coby and I had just as much fun as the kids, I think! Next time it snows... on a Saturday (keep your fingers crossed), we'll hit the bigger hills at Sage's school playground field just up the street the other direction! After sledding and throwing a few snowballs, we walked home and warmed up with some hot chocolate made in our new Cocoa-Latte hot chocolate maker (a Coby find at Costco) - makes the perfect cocoa every time! What a perfect morning - I love enjoying fun activities with my family.

 

Sage, Reese, and Mira in front of our house, anxious to walk down to the park.

(Reese is taller than Mira, but not THAT much taller.)

 

 Coby and Mira at the top of the hill ready for a ride.

Videos below: Coby, Sage, Reese and Mira.

AT THE SAME PARK EARLIER THIS WEEK...

Sage showing off her tricks.

 Reese (above) and Mira (below) trying out their new climbing skills. Much improved over ladder climbing this summer! So cute!

Easter Sunday

As a prelude to Easter Sunday, we started a new tradition this year. In Activity Days, Sage put together "The Easter Story in Eggs" a series of a dozen plastic Easter eggs, each containing a symbol of the last week of Jesus' life and a scripture reference to guide us through the Easter story. For our family scripture study this week, we opened one or two of these eggs each morning, reading and discussing the contents. In addition, we used pictures from the Gospel Art book  to help the girls visualize their Savior and these crowning events at the end of His mortal life. 

Easter morning started off with the girls looking for their Easter baskets hidden upstairs. Our tradition is that, in addition to a few fun things, a bit of candy, and mainly Sunday activities, pictures, music, etc., the Easter baskets each contain one Easter egg - it is empty to remind us that Jesus' tomb was empty on that first Easter morning because He was resurrected. We loved talking about this with the kids. It was fun to hear them share what they knew as they opened the empty egg. Sage, the wisened girl that she is, enjoyed teaching her sisters this hopeful news all week long. We opened our last Easter Story egg which was, of course, EMPTY, and continued reading the end of the Easter Story from the Bible at breakfast later that morning.

Reese found her basket in our bath tub.

 Mira found hers in the toy box, after lots of clues.

 

Sage found both the twins' baskets, and was so good not to tell them. But, when Mira found Sage's in their bathroom behind the shower curtain, we all knew it.

 Then, we headed downstairs with baskets empty for a little Easter Egg Hunt. Mira was so funny - pretty much every time she'd find an egg, she'd turn around, holding the egg up, and excitedly say "Ta-dah!" at the top of her lungs. Sage, we are reminded at times like this, that she is still a kid. Reese couldn't help but open the eggs to see the treats inside despite our promptings to find them all first.

 

Sage made sure everyone found lots of eggs. We assured her that as the twins got older, the eggs would find better hiding spots.

Reese, Sage, and Mira. Reese couldn't stop putting treats in her mouth. She was in heaven.

Mira, Sage and Reese just before church in their Easter dresses.

Church services were beautiful. I was able to sing in the choir, which always helps me feel the spirit and true meaning of the holidays. The speakers shared their testimonies of the hope the resurrection has given them in their life this last year as they endured the trial of losing a baby at birth, a miscarriage, and the unexpected death of a parent. In primary, Sage was was asked to help with the lesson, and share in first person as if she were a Nephite girl who saw and touched the resurrected Christ when he visited the Nephites in the Americas, as testified in the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 11:8-17). Other children represented Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, the Disciples, and Thomas.

In the afternoon and evening, we enjoyed spending time with my family at my parents' house in Ridgefield. (Keri and Eric and their kids, and Tasha and her kids.) We video called with Jason and Natalie and kids who are in Michigan, and Tricia and Dave and kids living in Arizona.

I am grateful for this special Easter holiday that reminds me to take the time to reflect on the life, sacrifice, death and resurrection of my Savior Jesus Christ. I love sharing my knowledge and feelings with my kids and seeing the buds of faith growing in their hearts.

Trick or Treat!

What you would have seen had our little goblins knocked on your door this Halloween!

Reese, our little Witch.

Mira, our "Tiger Tail" - that's what she called herself.

Sage, the Dark Princess of Doom.

At the last minute our dear friend brought this great dress over, so Sage immediately switched from her planned costume of a black cat to THIS. I had a hard time letting my sweet sunshine girl look so, well... dark. The make-up in the next picture really did it.

On our way to the "Trunk-or-Treat" the ward (church) Halloween party on the 29th. Sage was thrilled that no one recognized her. The twins had fun collecting treats.

Coby and I celebrated at the Burton's annual Halloween Bash Saturday night the 30th.

Family Prayer

I love our tradition of family prayer every night and morning. The evening prayer is particularly special, since we aren't rushing for the school bus. After jammies are on, we usually traipse upstairs and kneel in a circle in the loft. The babies usually sit on our laps, but this past week, Mira started kneeling all by herself. Of course I have to sneak peaks at the little cutie, and she knelt with her eyes closed and arms folded the entire prayer one night. I just had to capture this kodak moment, so a couple nights later, I irreverently brought the camera up to family prayer. Of course, the perfect moment had come and gone, and she was a little more wiggly this night. But, oh, don't you just want to kiss her!

Mira at family prayer.


Reese and Mira: Hugs and kisses after prayer.

Reese and Mira: Aftermath of the hugs.

If we don't hold them up, they hug so hard they topple right over.