Before It's 2011

It took me a few days, but I think I've recovered from the hectic holidays and I wanted to post about Christmas before it's Valentine's Day.  I say that because my tree is down and the hearts are up...I have a thing for the month of February!  Hint, hint! 

We started Christmas Eve Day at our house with some sledding and snowmobiling.  Then I served lunch for everyone and looking at this picture, it looks like I just served dip.  Somewhere in that dip-covered claw is a carrot, I think.

Next, I tortured everyone with pictures.  Here are Maija, Lexi, Ella, and Emma humoring me in front of the tree.

Then it was me and the girls.

Followed by my favorite siblings!  Pete was apparently practicing for his next mug shot and Maija was taking notice...

Finally, the family of 6 shot! 

So, we opened presents.  We timed it and it took about 45 minutes.  Then came a knock at the door.  Well, I'll be darned...SANTA!!  The funniest thing was Maija's reaction.  She threw that blanket over her head so fast and she stayed covered the whole time.  She finally came out of hiding after he left sweating and exhausted from shear terror. 

Next, was dinner at Papa Al and Jo's house.  Present opening took even less time as someone decided that the tornado-style of package opening would be best.  Lexi was just happy as a clam with her stocking of candy.

O.K. and here's a cuter picture of Blanket, I mean, Maija.

Christmas Morning, the older, more anxious sisters discovered a pretty sweet kitchen and a Wii with a "Just Dance" game to rock out to.  I must note that it looks like Ella and Emma attempted to put on all of their new clothes, jammies, and socks and wore them to bed.

We spent the morning having breakfast and playing the Wii and then Auntie Jen thought it would be a good idea to get them all cranked up to go to Tower for the Lamppa get-together.

There were more presents and more good laughs.  And when it's Christmas, things like eating a whole plate of cookies is more than acceptable! 

It was another wonderful Christmas Holiday!  We are so blessed to spend it with so many of our relatives in the area.  What more could we ask for?

A Picture of Grace

Alright...a mom can exaggerate a little, right??  She's only 6 and has been taking dance for all of 3 months, but still...

She looked beautiful and I was one proud mama while I got to observe Ella's dance class for the first time.

She was once just a peanut in my arms...

And here she is now discovering things she enjoys doing and that she's good at...

And when I asked her, afterwards, if she was nervous, she looked at me a little confused and said, "No, why would I be nervous?"

A beautiful ballerina with nerves of steel!!  So proud to call her MINE!

Grocery Store Gawking

Josh has been pheasant hunting in Montana since last Wednesday.  Livin' the dream, I like to say!!  So, yesterday we HAD to get groceries because we had NOTHING to eat.  And because of the slim-pickings, we had eaten out Tuesday night before Josh left.  Thursday we dined at McDonald's after Ella had dance.  Friday, I ordered some pizzas.  It was getting ridiculous. 

So, I chose Saturday late-morning to do grocery shopping with the 4 Littles.  Wouldn't you?????  When we got in the store, I quickly realized that it was Sample Day or something.  There was free samples at every corner!  JACKPOT!  (It's the little things in life nowadays that I get excited about.)  So, the kids feasted on crackers and dip, potica, cookies, caramel apple pie.  They were good and normally they are pretty good.  But what's funny about the grocery store is the number of times I am stopped by strangers who ask if they are all mine.  Maybe it's because my cart is full of jackets and bodies and bags and not groceries.  And as I stand there sweating from pushing the cart around (because of course, we need the ginormous car cart that seats 4), it's really nice to hear a compliment like, "They are being so good!" or "They're all so beautiful!" or "I bet they're a lot of fun!" 

It reminds me that yes, they are being really good.  Yes, I am so very fortunate to have 4 healthy, beautiful girls.  And yes, they are fun and they do bring a lot of joy to my life.  Sometimes you need a stranger to remind you of your blessings when you're sweating and would rather be any place else!

Ella and her cat-like ears heard 6 compliments yesterday.  She said I should start keeping track with a marble jar.

And one lady who I talked to had raised 5 daughters and 1 son.  She told me I should really consider buying stock in feminine hygiene products.  She was very serious and said she wished she had with her family.  Sometimes I get strange advice instead of a compliment....