Home for the Holidays

I just realized that the pictures are going in the wrong order. Whoops. I guess I'll start from yesterday and go from there.

Our holiday has been the best ever. We adults didn't exchange gifts this year. Funds are tight for all of us, and as I was shopping for the kids, I saw so many things that I would have loved to get my family and extended family. I felt bad and kind of sad and thought that we would be lacking some spirit when Christmas day came. Once the family got here that morning, I knew that the gifts for us adults wouldn't matter. It was all about the kids. Watching them open their gifts and seeing them so excited was what it was all about. I couldn't have enjoyed it more. Some extended family had sent gifts to us so we did have some surprises. We are so blessed to have so many people that love and care for us. We had our first white Christmas in years too! It was beautiful. I am glad that it's over, and we have one more night of Hanukkah and all the decorations are coming down. Now we are gearing up for Valentina's and Papa's birthday next month.

The day after Christmas, Asa and I tagged along with Mom and Papa to Goldendale. The trip from Vancouver to Goldendale is normally 2 hours, but with the roads so bad, including the interstate, it took nearly 5. It was an adventure.

There was about 15-16" of snow on the ground at the cabin, so Asa decided to jump off the ladder into the soft snow. I remember doing that when I was younger and he had a blast. He kept wanting to go higher on the ladder, but Mom was a fun wrecker and said NO!

Asa was never without a snowball to eat. He would set it down if he was going to make a snow angel or wanted to run around, but he would always remember where he set it and pick it up and start snacking again.

I got in on the fun too. I would stand up, and Asa would push me down. I made quite a crater:)

This was when we first got there on the 26th. Papa was starting to shovel the road out. The snow was pretty deep. Asa had to walk in the tire tracks because the snow was so deep.

My little snow angel

Their cute little cabin. Mom had it decorated so cute for Christmas. I just realized I didn't get any pictures of her picture perfect tree.

The birdbath. Lots of snow.

I taught Asa to jump off the swing. He caught on pretty quick and begged for me to push him higher so he could "fly with the birds".

He played and played and stayed out for over an hour. I was freezing.

I served Asa up a bowl of snow for evening snack.

Christmas morning. Santa left a nice note for Asa. I did enjoy the cookies and fudge:)

It was a Star Wars Christmas. The kids were pretty spoiled and we know how much our kids needed toys. Poor things have nothing to play with.

Valentina also likes Star Wars action figures.

I haven't seen this cutie in 3 days. I'm going crazy. She has talked to me on the phone though. She looked pretty perfect for just waking up. Sissy had the cutest Holly bow in her hair.

Have I mentioned that I love this adorable girlie?

This was Christmas Eve on our way to pick up Uncle Todd. The roads were so bad. What normally takes about 20 minutes, took over an hour.

Josh will make a snowman, even if there is 1 inch of snow. I had to run errands and figured that he and Asa would make a snowman since we had over 6 inches at that time. I got home and he had made a snowman in my likeness. Turned out, Asa didn't help him. He stayed inside with Uncle Todd. You can see our Penny Penguin in the back round. I didn't get Christmas lights up like in previous years, so Penny Penguin was it.

Christmas Eve. Asa wearing Beya's glasses.

Asa just laying around willy nilly, not paying attention to the Memory game that they are playing...and he still wins. Asa is in a sweatpants phase. I'm not fond of sweatpants, I like Asa to look put together. Sweatpants don't do that. Mom bought him some new ones, so at least he doesn't have high waters anymore. What's worse than sweatpants? High water sweat pants.

On my way to Sissy's at one point this last week. I don't know if you know this, but we had snow over the holiday:)

I think this is 3rd night of Hanukkah. Asa is old enough to light the candles now.

Playing with his kick ass Spiderman and Friends memory game. I have been looking for this version of memory for a year. I finally found it.

Joshua had laser eye surgery. This is him ready to go under the laser. He was pretty nervous and his palms were so sweaty. Josh had bartered with this laser vision center about 7 years ago. He had made their website and they in turn gave him laser surgery. He has been nervous and never did it. I just made the appointment for him and he agreed to do it. 7 years later. Josh said he was just waiting for technology to improve. Right.

I got to watch in a private viewing room. It was pretty cool. It looked pretty gross when I could see the monitor with the lasers lasering his eyes. I told him I'd give birth any day. I really would, or it's been so long since I gave birth that I have forgotten. I would rather have laser surgery instead of being pregnant though. That's worse then the actual child delivery. I'm shuddering just thinking about it. I got kind of side tracked with the baby thing, but the day after his surgery, Joshua's vision is 20/15! Josh told me "why didn't you get me to do this sooner?" He is very pleased with the results.

Asa, first night of Hanukkah. We have a dinner every year on the first night.

Joshua with his glasses! He looks funny to me now in glasses.

I love this girl.I love her little dress and she had on the cutest white knee socks with silver sequined shoes.

The snow that fell that day. Unbelievable.

I have many funny stories that Asa has told me in the last week, and will post more later, but I wanted to communicate with my blogger buddies and fill you in on our great week. I just got a call from Mom. We are heading to JoAnn's to check in on bargains. I guess we need more junk:)