What I (re)Discovered Over Christmas

I learned/was reminded of a few things over our Christmas break in Utah. Here they are, in no particular order:

#1: Scott and I are still amateur parents. We forgot BOTH our cameras and did not get ANY pictures with my side of the family. So no, we don't love his family more, they're just a more "camera prone" group so the only pics we have from the holidays are from them. Thank you Becca and Kate.

#2: Ruby needs help with her "sassy" pose

#3: Scott and his sister, Kate, are weird

#4: Kate and their other sister, Becca, are weirder

#5: My kids have WONDERFUL grandparents

#6: If it's even possible, Abe looks even cuter wrapped up in Christmas ribbons


#7: Apparently frozen fingers don't have to be the result of scraping your car windows in subzero Montana winters after all!

#8: We have the best time at the cabin when the whole Christensen clan is together, which doesn't happen often

#9: My kids LOVE their Christensen cousins (as well as their Smith-side cousins, but again, no camera ... we're idiots, I know, we've established that)

#10: Scott's brother, Cody, and his wife, Nikell, are masters of Gingerbread House Decorating Trickery

#11: My kids LOVE their Aunt Becca and Aunt Kate

#12: Hen's a quick study on cross-country skis

#13: Ruby makes an adorable ski bunny

#14: Abram is quite possibly the cutest, happiest baby ever

#15: And he LOVES being outside in the snow

#16: He's so cute, I have to post another shot ... I just can't help myself

#17: I love to see my kids together. Seriously, look at them. Can you even stand it?
Neither can I.

Feliz Natal

(I know, it's been forever, but that's beside the point.)

We're headed out tomorrow for the traditional holiday trek to Utah (even with a Winter Storm Warning in effect, because that's the way we roll), but I just wanted to take a minute and say ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

There Was a Little Girl...*

*WARNING: This post is extreme Mommy Blogging. Meant mostly for grandparents and Doubting Thomases of the familial sort. You know who you are.

My daughter, who shall remain named, Ruby, has two moods and two moods only. She is either the best thing around or the ... well, I don't want to actually say, "the worst," so let's just say ... the opposite of the best.

Unfortunately, whenever we leave the comforts of home she tends to clam up, whine a lot, and cling to me, therefore greatly reducing her ability to showcase her warm and cuddly side.

I present this video as proof to my family members who believe Ruby to be a cross, whiney, near-mute.



p.s. If you stick it out to the end, you'll be rewarded with a semi-nude chubby baby.

And So It Begins...

It snowed today. My kids wanted to go out and play in it. Contrary to my sometimes cranky and lazy parenting style, I got them ready and let them loose.

They loved it.

While watching them play, I felt sad for the time thinking of Henry going to all-day Kindergarten next year. We won't have days like this. Ruby won't have anyone crazy enough (and old enough, Abram still won't count yet this time next year) to go out and play in the soggy snow with. It made me sad. And made my heart hurt a little to think this boy will spending so much time away from us next year ...



But he took serious advantage of it.


Do you think he's somehow aware of his limited stay-home-and-play-in-the-snow days?


As for this girl, once she managed to pull her attention away from her graham cracker (this girl is OBSESSED with food!) ...

... she got into it a little more ...

... and then sweet release!!!

If this doesn't brighten your day, I don't know what will...

(I think I love this so much because it seems like something my brothers would do.)