Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Kim, Jackson, Addison and Dave on Christmas Eve.

Christmas started early with a small celebration with Dave's parents. Addison got a suitcase with some dress up clothes, that she just adores. Jackson was all about the cars. We had a great time celebrating and hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa.

Jackson, Grandpa B, Addison and Grandma B celebrating Christmas.

A few days before Christmas, we loaded up the truck (and it was only partially full because we left things at my parents a week before), and headed to my parents house. Aunt Tara and Uncle Travis were already here, so we had a good time hanging out! The kids enjoyed their time terrorizing Uncle Travis and finding new things to get into at Grandma and Grandpa's house (which is childproofed very well for a grandparents house!)

Mom, Tara and I got to go get massages on Christmas eve morning, and what a treat that was. Uncle Ed flew in that morning also, and the family was complete. We headed to a new church for Christmas Eve, and the Children's service was at 3pm. Since our lives revolve around nap and eating times, this was our best shot. (Last year, we went at 7pm, and left after the first song...so we had high hopes this year). The service was perfect...so geared for kids! We actually got a few family pictures this year after church. The kids had a great time eating, hanging their stockings and putting out the cookies for Santa. Jackson made sure we didn't forget the carrots for Santa's reindeer!

Jackson and Addison on Christmas Eve.

Kim and Dave on Christmas Eve.

After hanging our stockings.

We expected that Christmas morning would start out very early...that's the norm in our house. Addison did not disappoint. She was up at 4:30 (which is early for her), and did not go back to bed (which she usually does). Dave got up with her, and was able to keep the lights off and the stockings a surprise until about 6. Jackson was up not long after that, and we were off.

Jackson on his new bike.

Jackson had a great time opening ALL of the gifts...literally. He helped everyone, with everything! I spent most of the morning trying to keep the gifts separated from the wrapping paper, so nothing was thrown out. Addison got all dolled up in her Bronco's jersey and her new purse with lipstick. Jackson was trying to "fix" everything with his power tools.

Once the flurry of the morning was over, we showered, packed up and headed out to Utah for our first ever family ski trip!!!!

Skiing in Utah.

When Dave and I first got married, he got me started skiing. My aunt talked us into a bonsai trip during New Year's one year to Lake Tahoe to meet them and ski at Squaw. We went, and had a blast! I loved it, and though one thing that sticks out in my mind about that trip is being taken down a blue with a super steep hill to begin with, and I had a blast! Since that trip, we have tried to go every winter. When we were still in Thousand Oaks, Dave took me to Big Bear, and I will NEVER ski there again! The winter before I got pregnant with Jackson was the last time I have been on skiis. That was 4 years ago! Uncle Ed has never been on skiis, so this was a big trip for the family.

We left Christmas morning from my parents house, and all met again in Utah at this fabulous house we found as a vacation rental (we will be going back!). It was clean, kid friendly, and had a great location! The kids traveled very well, and were super excited to hit the snow in the front yard when we got there. On a side note, I am so glad I don't live in the snow. What a production it was to get two kids ready to go out and play for 15 minutes...max! But they had a great time. Apparantly the snow tasted good. Jackson had a great time making snow angels. Addison wasn't quite sure what he was doing, but she was all about trying.

That night, Jackson woke up with a tummy ache. He ended up throwing up, but it wasn't alot...so we assumed it was nerves, and maybe altitude. Long story short, he wanted to go, we tried...but he made it to Starbucks down the hill and threw up again in the car. So he got to stay home with Grandma (who couldn't ski because her foot was broken), and grandpa decided to stay and help. By 11 he was feeling better. We continued to the ski resort. Addison had a good day in their child care. Dave and Trav were great teachers, and had Ed on skiis in no time! By the end of the day, Trav and Dave had me going down a black with them. Not my cup of tea. I still do the pizza wedge, so it's tough to do on the steep down hill parts. But I made it!

The second day, Jackson was all about skiing. We tried to explain the nature of ski school, but it didn't sink in until we got there and I was trying to drop him off. He freaked out! To the point where Shaka, his fabulous instructor, helped prye him off of me as he was screaming. I hurried out, in tears myself (I knew he would be fine...but I can't stand to see him upset like that!). When I was ready, I came back and peeked in their window, and Jackson was doing fine. Dave and I headed over to the 2nd mountain, and ended up getting a call from the resort. My heart dropped....who is hurt?? No one, thank goodness! In the madness of dropoff, we forgot to sign the paper so Jackson could ski. We headed back, and got to see Jackson head out at the start of his lesson.

We had a great day, and so did Jackson. Addison had a bit of a fit when she couldn't go and ski with him, but Jackson learned to "hockey stop," which Shaka explained is very, very good for a beginner. (Dave was trying to teach me how to do that, and I can't yet).

We will definitely be making skiing a part of our winter traditions! In fact, we are planning another trip in February...and because Jackson will be four, he will be in a real, half day lesson...crazy!

Lipstick

It was bound to happen at some point...and today was the day! While I was changing from my work cloth es, to my "hang out clothes (as Jackson calls them)," Addison got into my purse. It was way too quiet, so I knew I was in for some trouble...

Jackson came in to tell me that I needed to see where Addison put the chapstick. You see, Addison has a thing for chapstick...and will put it everywhere on her body. She's pretty good about keeping it to her skin. Dave had just gotten home from work, so we both walked into the family room, only to find our daughter with lipstick all over her. She was smearing it over and over, almost as if to make sure she got a nice, thick layer over her face. She put it ALL over, and because it was all over her face, it ended up on the couch...so now we are looking for ways to get lipstick out of the couch.

Notice the lipstick on her teeth...
Quite the scary face!!!! What a monster! A very serious lipstick face.

Gotta love the mischeviousness!!! Addison is throwing us curve balls we never had with Jackson! Between the two of them, there is never a dull moment around our house!!!!