It has been three months since my last post! Yikes! Time flies when you're having fun right?
Winter has been cruising by with all the Christmas programs at school, dance shows, Christmas time celebrations and New Year's parties! It's hard to believe we are half way through the school year... (and my oldest is turning 6 this month! OH MY!)
Maria had her first big Christmas music program with her Kindergarten class at the "big"high school! She did such an excellent job singing! Emma's first preschool program was also a big hit (minus a fellow preschooler getting sick in the middle of the program!) She was such a sweetie singing up there! Emma also did AWESOME in her dance show this year. I'm sure Maria would have done well also, but unfortunately she got the flu the night before and certainly wasn't feeling up to dancing on the stage the next day. Bummer!
Our Christmas was wonderful! It was more relaxed than the last few years. Our holiday celebrations were more spread out instead of all being Christmas Eve and Day. It was fun watching the girls enjoy decorating the tree, making cookies, making decorations, writing their Christmas lists, and then opening gifts and spending time with family.
After Christmas was complete, our schedule was really quite boring which was a blessing! It's so nice to have no plans every once in awhile. We were able to just hang out as a family and enjoy little winter things like ice skating, fishing and playing in the snow (or what's left of the snow).
Certainly my favorite reason for living where I do, is that nearly all my family lives in the area too. What a blessing!! I seriously would not live anywhere else. My grandma is one of the many that live close and I was able to spend some special moments with her after she moved to the nursing home earlier this fall. We were able to have many visits with her, have lunch with her, and for our last time this fall, my sister, cousins and I were able to make orange doughnuts with her (a family tradition). She was a wonderful lady who cared so deeply for all the people in her life. I will always remember our "special nights" where we would get to go to her house all by ourselves, our doughnut making, our Christmas Eve celebrations, her handwritten letters throughout the years, and countless other things. Just over a week ago, grandma passed away in her sleep. She will truly be missed.
Always count your blessings and give thanks for the wonderful people God has placed in your life.
Up next on our calendar... a postponed trip to West Yellowstone. Wish me luck with 3 little ones on a LONG car ride. At least we have another angel looking out for us now!
