Meeting Santa Claus!

Adessa still believes in Santa Claus so she was very excited to meet him! This Santa was perfect... he was so jolly and nice and the girls got to tell him exactly what they wanted for Christmas. 

We didn't let Amara see Santa... we backed her in... the girls were making sure she was ok.

Still hasn't noticed, but then she felt the beard and slowly turned around..

And game was over! But he handled it so well!

They made the family hop in for a picture

Adessa was talking about Santa for awhile, this made her day! 

Annual Mount Washington Trip

We just arrived home from a weekend away with some very special friends. This was our second annual trip to a chalet on mount washington. Last year we were buried in snow and this year there was hardly any- the mountain wasn't even opened. But we still made the most of it and had a blast. We took off Friday afternoon and packed the truck to the brim... For 2 nights! Life is crazy with 3 kiddos! We got there, unpacked everything when I realized that I forgot Amara's bag... The one I needed the most! But we managed... And it's amazing to see what you can get away with actually using! Thankfully I had her diaper bag with one sleeper and 7 diapers which I rationed through the weekend! 

There were 24 of us in the chalet. 6 couples and 12 children. In a 4 bedroom 4 bath chalet. But we managed and it actually didn't feel squishy at all! The kids all got along great and we adults had a wonderful time. There was lots of time spent in the hot tub and we went outside to make our own toboganning hills. But it was very warm and wet. A highlight of last year was the tubing at the mountain but unfortunately that was closed. And when we tired to go up and tobogan we got kicked off because of insurance reasons. So we drove around until we found our own little hill and the kids had a blast! Amara touched snow for the first time and was totally content sitting atop a toboggan watching the kids. 

Saturday night we did our ugly Christmas sweater party and gift exchange and had some good laughs!I love this group of people we get to share life with. 

The ladies who remembered their sweaters... I couldn't find a Christmas sweater, just an ugly one!

The winners of the night... however Danika mentioned the next morning that they were not ugly, but indeed beautiful! I agreed! ;) 

The men were having a little bit too much fun!

Games!

Trying to find a place to toboggan

Adessa is growing up soo quickly. This trip she was amazing! She played the entire time and loved being outside. Last year she only lasted a few minutes before wanting to go inside. It is amazing how big of difference a year makes!

12 children in one chalet! 

She spent a lot of time just touching the snow

Good times!!!

Underwater cameras, always a good time! ....

Family picture time!

I love my big girl so much... she is growing up so quickly! 

Mom comes for a visit!

My mommy flew out to visit solo a couple weekends ago and spent a week with us. It was so wonderful to have her. I sure had missed her! 

We kept totally busy the entire time. When she arrived we stopped in Goldstream and spent a couple of hours checking out the salmon run. There were thousands of giant fish all swimming upstream, and dead ones everyone... it sure stunk! We walked down to the nature center and the girls did "fish prints" where they had a giant dead fish, the girls painted it and stuck a piece of paper on it... they sure enjoyed that! YUCK!

The next day we took mom out on the boat to check out the sea lions in Cowichan Bay. These beasts come up from California every winter to gorge on fish for a couple of months and then head back down. It was quite the experience! We were blessed with a gorgeous, sunny day and I am always amazed at God's beauty when I am on the ocean. There is so much to see and so much to enjoy!

Posing just for me!

So fun having Grandma with us!

Amara's first time seeing the sea lions... I don't think she even noticed!

My beautiful momma, right in her element!

They have some big chompers on them!

Captain Steve and his right hand girl 

Such amazing creatures

We got a little too close for comfort... our boat wasn't turning quite as quickly as I wanted it to...

We almost had a new passenger!!!

Grandma making the annual gingerbread house with the girls and giving them bunny ears... classic!

Took mom out to a ladies dinner at Calvary Baptist Church... I feel so very blessed to have a mother as loving, caring, helpful and generous as this one!!! 

The girls have been wanting to go skating for ages, so after planning it all week we finally decided to go... but got to the rink for the only night of the week they have public skating and there was a hockey game... so on to bowling!!! We had a blast, mom came up with a new nick name for Steve... Stryker! haha... and it wasn't because he got even one strike! ;) 

Grandma helped setup the Christmas tree and do the decorations

Meeko and Grandma have a special bond 

My 10 month old baby on her new walker toy from Grandma! Where has the time gone!!!

Mom and I went on a few hikes... this is her element!!!

Love you MOM!!!! Miss you already and I think nature is calling you back and maybe some others as well!!!