Winter Wonderland: If at first you don't succeed, try, try....ah never mind!

We started at 11 :30 a.m. Big beautiful fluffy white snow flakes were still falling. We had plenty of time and only 3 quick stops to make. I packed everything we need. Hot chocolate. Check. Appropriate clothing: Check. We braved the slow roads and got on the freeway thinking, "surely they plowed it...right?" 20 mph and 100 hours later we got off the freeway. 1st errand: drop off a resume. Jason runs in....the kids scream Christmas songs at the top of their lungs. For 45 minutes. Jason comes out. Mommy and kids are grumpy. Daddy cheers us up and on we go. 2nd errand: Brave Wal-mart 3 days before Christmas looking for a sled. It's snowing. It's December. Wal-mart sells sleds don't they? Apparently not. Unless you count the 2 orange ones that only one kid can ride in at a time that cost $12 and will crack or get run over before we can use them again. It's now been almost 2 hours. Kids have to pee. Daddy needs to change. We run home again. Daddy changes. Off again. We stop at Shopko, buy the last 2 sleds (65% off.) 3rd errand: drop Natalie off at Grandma's house. Kids go pee, change into snow pants, coats, gloves. Liam is a basket case. It's 2:00 and we haven't had lunch or naps. Lizzy is crying, her "nickers" are literally in a twist under her snow pants. Jane cries. She fell in the snow. (she is completely encased in winter gear so at this point I'm thinking she's okay.) Ben wants to stay and play with friends. THAT'S IT!!! Everyone get in the car--except Liam, he's staying for a NAP! We're going sledding if it kills us. We unstuck the van-Grandpa and some neighbors help push us out. We make the 20 min. drive to the park one mile away and VOILA! Sledding heaven. Ahhhhhh. We lasted almost an hour in pure bliss sledding and giggling-until Jane "had to go". It was worth it.



Natalie "objects" to broken gingerbread.



GINGERBREAD HOUSES
We decided to start a new tradition for occupying Christmas Eve morning. Making gingerbread something or other. It was a yummy sticky idea. Too bad the homemade gingerbread was too soft and so was the icing. Here are the pictures to document the activity: (despite the picture at the bottom, we all had a good time!

Sour Crumb

At our ward Christmas party last night, Jason took the twins to the restroom. He could hear them in there singing something and giggling. When they came out, they were doing this weird contorted dance move. It was then that he realized they were saying "sour crumb" which loosely translates in little girl talk to "sauerkraut". If any of you have seen Thoroughly Modern Millie, you'll remember that awesome dance. Here's a video of the girls doing it.