Winter Wonder?land

So yah, WONDERING when this WINTER is going to ease up a bit!!  Between snow, freezing temperatures, bad air and ice covered streets and sidewalks, January has been long.  Phil got me up this morning to go for a walk with the clear air and patches of blue sky.  I'm glad I went because...it's ba-a-a-ack!

On our Snow Day earlier in January, the boys and I headed out to find a parking lot to make snow caves in.  They worked hard and each had a great cave by the end!

 

 

 

 

 Our front yard table at one point...

We've tried to stay busy doing some inside things.  Jacob and I got to go see Earl Watson of the Jazz talk at the high school and later go see him play at a Jazz game last week.  Fun!

 Micah tried to stay inside with a horrible hives for a few days this week...when I finally sent him back to brave the world again, he slipped on the awful ice covering the world.  Poor guy!

Thank heavens for legos!  They continue to entertain these boys when it's cold outside.  Some of their cool creations.

 

 Phil and Jake spent a little time carving.  The boys all got pocket knives for Christmas, and Jacob wanted to do a sword.  He is getting the hang of it nicely.

 

 (This is after playing outside in the snow.)

We have also taken up ice skating a bit.  No pictures, but we went one week with our cousins then the boys wanted to go again.  Little Micah was hovering near the wall when I told him I would give him a dollar if he made it around once without the wall.  The boy loves money and was soon skating like a pro!!  Really fun to see. We've been a couple more times since then.  I'll get some pictures next time.  Happy (that) January! (is almost over!)
 

Wrapping up the Holidays

I failed to post about a few of our favorite things this holiday season. 

Gingerbread Party
Our annual Gingerbread Party was a success.  Phil and I have done this I think 12/13 of our married years!  We love having some of our great neighbors over to create (and eat) our candy-covered masterpieces.  The kids have figured it out over the years and now are able to work with each other to put together their houses...which is good since Phil and I are usually running around a bit.  Here are some of our creations!

 And our Gingerbread village:

I think the funnest part is having everyone show what different things are on their houses and what they used to make it original!  Fun night!

Baird Family Party
We always have lots of fun with the "entire" Baird clan and our party this year was no exception.  It was complete with:

Baird Family 2012 Charades

 A visit from Mrs. Claus and her elf

 Musical chairs for gifts from grandma and grandpa (always clothes which the kids love!)

 Singing silly songs with Uncle Phil

 Attempting the nativity with puppets...ummm...a little crazy!

and Jacob's fan club!  Aubrey loves her big cousin.  It is very sweet!



Blessing, Baconator and Barry
I had to tell about a sweet experience this year.  The boys took turns being sick in December.  Kept passing it back and forth and back again.  Poor Jacob got the worst of it.  He was sick the last week of school and had to miss his class party etc.  We had a family get together planned with Phil's family on the 22nd, scheduled at our house.  The morning of, Jacob was very sick and we were wondering how this was going to work with everyone coming.  Well Phil gave Jacob a blessing and we sent the rest of the family to lunch without Jake and I.  I felt so bad about him missing everything that I went out and got he and I a baconator and frosties for lunch (his favorite).  What kind of mom in her right mind does that when they have a kid that can't keep anything in??  Well I think I might have been a bit inspired.  That was what Jacob needed to "get it all out" if you know what I mean and he felt so much better the rest of the night and was even able to go to the movie with us that night.  Wondering what to do with his mom and dad and sisters at our house with a sick kid, Phil pulled out a Dave Barry Christmas book he had gotten at the library a few weeks prior (The Sheperd, the Angel and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog -- very funny!) and read to us while we watched football.  Not exactly a grand party, but it actually turned out very fun, got us all laughing and was a simple thing to lighten the mood.  I am grateful for little "tender mercies" that added up to make a nice day out of a miserable one!

New Years!
We also had a lot of fun with the Bairds for new years!

 Some Football

 Some Minute to Win it!

 Cup stacking, go Grandma!

 Guess who followed Jacob around?

 The ha-ha game!

 And our favorite way to count down and welcome the new year, the bubble wrap!!

I think it is appropriate that the last post of the year (pretend it is still 2012!) is about friends and family.  As I look back on 2012, those moments of being with our family and friends are those that stand out the most (especially the family time in Italy!  Fun!) I am grateful for the eternal plan that provides a way for us to be together with our families forever.  I love these people.  I am grateful for relationships on earth that can continue.  I am thankful to live where we do and be surrounded by wonderful people.  It is a great blessing in my life and I look forward to making more memories like these in the future.  Happy New Year!