Christmas Break

We had a fantastic Christmas Break, it was a little slice of heaven. I'm not ready for it to be over. In fact, given the opportunity, I might just grab my family and jump into a time machine and go back to the days where Aaron and I owned a farm and the whole family worked it together every day.  It was really nice not to be on anybody's schedule except our own. It was so nice to have Aaron home for a whole week. (His company gives him the week between Christmas and New Years as paid vacation.) Even though we all took turns being sick, I felt like we had the space to be sick, weren't missing anything by taking a few days to rest and relax and heal up.

Besides sledding with cousins, we spent some time at the church gym riding scooters, jumping rope, shooting hoops, and trying out Ivan's Ripstick. I took Lincoln, Adelia, Ollie, and Rue to see the new Disney movie, Moana. (Ivan was sick that day, so Aaron and Cal stayed home with him.) It was a cute movie, and we've been jamming out to the soundtrack every since. Tropical island music makes it feel warmer outside than it really is. Cal started rolling over from back to front. We weaved scarves on Adelia's new loom, took my pressure canner for a test run, and shoveled and shoveled and shoveled the driveway.

We got a ton of snow. It just kept coming and coming and coming. Ruby is fascinated by making footprints in the snow. She kept sneaking out into the backyard. Every time I look out the window, there she is making more footprints. This wouldn't be a problem if she'd remember to put on a coat. But she doesn't. So I have to go out there and haul her in, half frozen, and put her coat on. She throws a huge fit every time. Funny girl.

All the siblings cheering on Cal as he shows them his new rolling over trick.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand of course we started a new project! I gave Aaron a drill for Christmas, and I needed to make sure he had ample opportunity to test it out. :P Also, I really, really, really, need to use the vertical space in our closets more efficiently. So, Aaron is making cubbies! Yay! It's all up now, I just need to paint it. 

Here's the closet "Before"

And a couple of "in the middles" 

 Luckily, we were all reasonably healthy by New Years, so we were able to go up to Hooper and celebrate with my family. All three of my brothers and their families came over. I sure do enjoy spending time with them. We ate a delicious smoked ham, and other yummy food, and played Loaded Questions while the kids watched a movie. Since we all have little kids, the brothers left before the actual New Year, and I went to bed. But Aaron and the three older kids and Gramma Tam and Papa Kerry all stayed up until midnight.

Next morning we got to go to Kyle and Kelsey's ward for Logan's baby blessing. It was a really beautiful blessing, Kyle did a great job. Logan's full name is Stewart Logan Lemmon, he is named after my dad and after Kyle (in our family the oldest son passes down the name Stewart alternating bewteen first and middle name every generation. So Logan is Stewart Logan, Kyle is Kyle Stewart, my dad is Stewart Ross, his dad was Grover Stewart, etc.all the way back to the House of Stewart in Scotland.) Logan was blessed to remember his heritage, and to look to the many priesthood holders on both sides of his lineage for examples and guidance. It really was a beautifully worded blessing.