WALKING ON WATER

I had hiked the glacier many times.
I have rafted the glacier many times...
I touched the ice bergs from the water...

and now I can say I have walked ON water...and sledded down an ice berg after today.

4 years. And I haven't ever been to the glacier in the winter? Ok, so that is a little wierd considering the fact that it seems like a very popular place for families. I even ran into the Phelps family when I pulled into the parking lot. This place made our little hill by our house, look like the bunny slopes.

20 minutes after we arrived, I wanted to go out to an Ice berg. All of us, ventured across the ice with our sleds in hand.

Here we were, standing under a berg that was floating in the water earlier this year.

Colton started to Cry right when we arrived at this point. He was hungry and cold.

But, I wanted to try 1 more picture. He wasn't having it at all.

 Colton cried and cried. I figured it was time to go. So I loaded him up in the sled and pulled him. Normally, he would stop crying at that point...but not this time. He cried for 45 minutes straight...as I pulled him and Mattie back across the frozen ice field. People were walking by me and I just shook my head. It was one of those momments I thought...I'm a little over my head. Taking all 4 kids by myself maybe wasn't a good idea.

The night before Christmas

Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the house.

Not a creature was stiring....just mom and dad wrapping.

The stockings were hung on the wall, then pulled down to the chair.

For santa Claus is now done,...good night to the world, I'm snoring like a bear.

(poetry by me....can you tell?)

CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITION

I watched a History Channel Special on the History of Christmas. At the conclusion of the show I learned how  The American Traditions of Christmas came to be. I highly recommend renting it from Netflix or your local store because of the fact, you will have a realization that the celebration of Christmas is... all about Tradition.

No matter how you celebrate it, it's important to keep the tradition you share alive in your family.

One tradition in my family (the Lloyds side) is to open 1 present on Christmas Eve. It is always pajamas. That way, you wake up in the morning in new clothes for your Christmas celebration. The kids are the most excited about this present because it sets the tone for Christmas morning. They then go along there merry way to their warm beds...ahhhhh. (that's my favorite part. JK)

Morgan was the first to go this year after a game of inny, minny, minney, mo.

Then Mattie who waited very patiently (which is hard for her). She was so excited about her Froggy pjs.

Then Colton went. Trey was last. I bought Mens smalls for him because the kids XL looked really fat.

Yes, I picked out my own.

Merry Christmas Eve...

SLEDDING ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Our new house is within walking distance from the big sledding hill. Christmas eve at around 3pm, we bundled up and went to the hill. It was starting to get dark, but getting out of the house was very much needed (for me and the kids.)

Colton got a sleigh ride to the hill. I found out he really doesn't like hats on his head. He screamed if the hat fell over his eyes. The cold didn't bother him at all. Completely calm.

4 kids sledding. The hardest part is getting everyone ready. One of them cant find their gloves, another can't find their shoes. I have even created "winter bins" for each of the kids but their gear doesn't always make it to their destination. This day we started getting ready around 2:15pm and it took 45 minutes to get out the door.

Trey pulled Mattie and Morgan pulled Colton. I took pictures. As long as everyone is doing something, it minimized the amount of complaining.

Morgan is healing really well from her surgery. She is now eating again...which is very good. She was the one that cried to go sledding and was full of energy when it was time to go. Everyone did fight over pulling Colton...even Mattie.

We made it to the top of the hill. It was dark. So, in the dark, we sled. That's what we do since it is dark more than light. The snow, rain, dark....nothing scares us away. (Unless it is blowing sideways).

I know what your all thinking "What is on her hood?" My daughter sat too close to the fireplace. I guess she was cold...

When I was a kid, my parents took all 6 of us kids sledding up in the blue mountains. It was an all day event. I remember the hill was huge and as the day went on, more families would go to this same hill in the middle of no where. We were city kids, so I'm sure we didn't have anything really nice for winter gear...which is why I remember being FREEZING COLD and barely making it up and down more than once.
My point: Good winter gear is the key to a good sledding trip.

Where it looks like Trey is pushing Colton, he really was just moving him back and forth for the ride.

After about 1 hour, it was time to pack up in the dark, and walk back down the long hill and head back home. It was Christmas Eve after all and time to unwrap our 1 present before Santa came.

DECEMBER

 AFTER THE OPERATION: SLEEP...

Halfway through the month, we had to slow down and take time to care for a sick child. Morgan had surgery this month. She had her tonsils taken out. They were extremely large and caused Morgan to snore at night. She also talked louder than she should.