Jared Laughing

This video was taken back on December 5th, 

but I wanted to show it because it is so fun to watch Jared laughing!!  

February Fun

Going for laundry basket rides.  Who needs Lagoon?
 Jared's not so sure about this.   (Erika was pulling)

I just thought I'd post a few pictures from this last month of the kids.  Where it has been so cold outside, they have had to get a little creative with their fun.  (You can only play out in the snow so long!)  We have made a snowman and a snow cave, and played on the playground equipment (in the snow).  We have had fun up at the cabin twice, snowmobiling and sledding.   

I could not believe how much snow there was up at Strawberry!!
(This was actually on New Year's Day)

This morning before church,  the kids decided they wanted to put on a "play" for me and Aaron of "The Billy Goats Gruff".  They made masks out of paper and each had parts- the trolls and goats.  Heidi got to be the "little troll".  It was so adorable!!   

Come on, little guy!!  You need to strengthen those muscles!!

My sweet Jared

We celebrated Aaron's birthday this last week.  The kids were happy to help him blow out his candles!  

Erika the bookworm

The other night, I walked into Erika's room and I found her exactly like this:  

     She is a very deep sleeper so she didn't even wake up when I took the picture.   (And I know she was sleeping- I could hear her snoring!)  I showed it to her the next morning and she laughed.  Erika LOVES to read!   Often at night I will go downstairs to her room and make her turn out the light and go to bed because she is so into her book.  She has set a goal to read the Book of Mormon before she is baptized in July.  She is already in Alma, so  I think she will make it without too much pressure.  There have been a few nights when it has been late and I have said, "You don't need to read it tonight..." but she is adamant that she has to read her chapter in the scriptures.  We are reading it with her, of course, to help her understand it, but she also likes to sneak in a bit on her own.  I have been amazed at her ability to understand the meaning of things.   I am thankful for her example to me and hope I can teach her something.  Sometimes you wonder if you were sent here to teach them or if it is the other way around.

Our First Christmas at Home

I know we're almost a month out, but I wanted to share a few photos from our first Christmas at home.  Yes, this was our VERY FIRST Christmas in our own home and we were so excited to create our own traditions.  Every year since our marriage, we have spent Christmas Eve and Day at either of our parents' houses out of a suitcase.  It has been great to make memories there, but when our kids started asking, "When are we going to have Christmas at our house?"  we knew it was time to do it on our own.   Aaron's parents and brother did come and stay here through the holiday, which was wonderful.  They are pretty-much empty-nesters and so now they get to come and enjoy our celebration.  

Aaron's parents arrived on Christmas Eve in the afternoon.  We were still finishing our gift-wrapping and getting the house ready when they came.   We had one of our favorite meals for dinner- homemade fettucine alfredo with shrimp and chicken.  Then, after dinner we had a little program.  Erika and Kyle sang a song, Erika and I played a piano duet of "Jingle Bells" (which she had played at the school talent show a few weeks prior) and then I sang "Oh Holy Night".

Mary holding baby Jesus

Doesn't she look the part of an angel?

Then, we had the kids dress up for a nativity program.  While Aaron read the story, the kids acted it out.  They also did a little flannel-board story of it.  The kids were really excited about this because it was their first Christmas present- a Bible and Book of Mormon flannel board set.  (I think mommy was the most excited about this!)  After the program, we sang some songs and then the kids each got to open one gift (which were all books) and then we went to bed!  Oh, we also remembered to put out a few cookies and hot chocolate for Santa and we sprinkled some oats out on the driveway for the reindeer.   

  

Here is the note Erika left for Santa:

Christmas morning, the kids waited patiently downstairs until mom and dad were ready.  Then, the fun began of opening presents.   We enjoyed a nice relaxing morning opening gifts and then had a great breakfast of sticky buns and eggs and sausage.   I think the kids were all very happy with the gifts from Santa and mom and dad.  

Kyle got a marble tower.

Erika was surprised by a new barbie house built by her dad. 

Jared had the most fun playing with (and eating) the wrapping.

After breakfast, we headed out and went sledding.  This was a challenge because there wasn't much snow.   We had to drive over the mountain towards Logan to find some.  We found a great spot by Wellsville close to the road so grandma and grandpa could even shuttle us up the hill with the car!   We had a great time!   It was a beautiful sunny day.   

Uncle Ryan making a run with all the kids.

A beautiful view of cache valley and the mountains.  

When we got home, we had a delicious turkey dinner.  Then, we watched a movie together, "Despicable Me", one that has recently come out.   After that, Christmas was over and we headed off to bed.   It was great to have grandma and grandpa here to share it with us.   It was a very memorable Christmas!  

We didn't get around to making our gingerbread house until the week after Christmas, but that's okay, right?  

First Hunting Trip

On December 4th,  Aaron had the opportunity of taking Kyle hunting for his first time.  Kyle was so excited about it!   He talks nonstop about hunting and fishing with his dad.  (This is a dream come true for Aaron, too.)  They went with my dad and brothers to a pheasant farm in the area (Northern Utah- Corinne area?).  They bought 20 pheasants and were able to hit 16 of them.  We kept about 10 of the pheasants for our family.  After Aaron prepared the meat (that's his job :)  I cooked it up and it tasted really quite good.  Kyle had a blast on their hunting trip and can't wait to go again. 

December Events

On December 17th, Aaron and I celebrated our 11th anniversary.   We went down that night and dropped the kids off with my parents, who took them all to grandma's Christmas party.  (It seems like every year, because we were married the week before Christmas, there is always something going on.   Last year we didn't do anything for our anniversary so this year we wanted to do something extra nice.)  

We decided to go to THE ROOF,  the restaurant at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building.   We had a beautiful view of the temple from our table, and it was a delicious buffet.  We have never been there before and really enjoyed it.   We had a nice evening together.  We walked around temple square for a few minutes (it was freezing cold!) and then headed back to my parent's house.   

Come to find out while we were gone, Jared cried for over 2 hours straight, which is so unlike him.  I felt so bad.  I am thankful to my parents for letting us get out for a nice evening.   I hope they know we appreciate it.  I am thankful for eleven wonderful years with my amazing husband.   Marriage is so good when you both give everything to eachother and make your relationship a priority.  He is my best friend and I look forward to many more years together.   

 The next day we spent at my parents' house.  In the morning Aaron and I did some last minute shopping and went out to lunch with my brother Nathan and his wife Jordan.  They are a lot of fun to be with.   Mom and dad took our three older kids to the Dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving point and they absolutely LOVED it!!   They love spending time with their grandkids and I know the kids love it, too.  I am thankful my parents make such an effort to spend time with our kids.

That night, we had a special dinner,  our "last supper" together, before mom and dad would leave.  We made the traditional German favorite meal- Rouladin, Glaze, and Rotkohl, and it was delicious!!   We had a little devotional where we talked about Christmas memories and shared spiritual thoughts.  Then the kids opened a few gifts.   It was a great night together.    The following Tuesday, my parents flew out to Vietnam for their 18 month mission.   We will miss them a lot.  It was hard to say goodbye, but not so hard in another way because I know it will go by fast and they will be on the Lord's errand.   I'm proud of you mom and dad, and excited for this opportunity for you!

A time of Thanksgiving

The month of November was a busy one for the Michels.  My parents were getting ready to leave on their mission.   We went down for their farewell the weekend of Nov 21st and came back Sunday night.  It was a great day- nice to see so many extended family there.  I enjoyed listening to my parents' talks and felt the spirit in the meeting.  I am so excited for them and hope it is a great experience for them.  

Me and my mom 

My dad on the right with his friend Mike

          Later that week we celebrated Thanksgiving with them.  We enjoyed a nice meal together with my parents and siblings and also both sets of my grandparents.    I am so grateful for the blessing of such wonderful family.  I hope my siblings and also my parents know how much I love them!  

Opa reading to the grandkids (and Jeremy)

 Thanksgiving day we got to go out with the horses and pull the kids on a sled  behind them on the roads behind the houses in the neighborhood by my parents' house.  This is something we did almost every year on Christmas day when I was growing up so it brought back a lot of memories for me.  The kids had a blast being pulled on the sled.  (I prefer to stay on the horse :)

The day after Thanksgiving we went out again, this time with my mom and we took all 3 horses.  We rode down to the gully and pulled the kids on the sleds at different spots.  I think that was the highlight of my weekend down there. There's nothing like a good horseback ride for me.  I am thankful to Aaron for staying back with the baby while I got to have some fun with my family.  It will be a good memory for  me.

Getting ready for a fun ride with the horses.

That weekend Aaron and I also took the opportunity to record a few of our grandparents' life histories as they spoke to us.  We were especially grateful to have the chance to listen to his grandma and grandpa Christensen for many hours.  His grandma has grown quite frail with alzheimers and has a hard time expressing herself at this point.  But, we are thankful for what she was able to share.  We are starting to feel the urgency in learning all we can from our grandparents before they are gone.   We feel very strongly that this is the most important family history we can do at this time.  We are so thankful for wonderful grandparents who have lived faithful lives and set such valiant examples for us to follow.  

Grandma and Grandpa Christensen with their great-grandchildren

Uncle Ryan holding Jared

Is there anything sweeter than holding a sleeping baby?   

          I am grateful for this thanksgiving season when we have a chance to reflect upon all we've been given.  I am truly thankful for all of my many blessings, among which are family and friends, the blessing of being alive at this time with so many opportunities, to be a mother of 4 wonderful children, to have such a great husband and best friend, and to have the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  Life is so good!