New Year's Day

We were lucky enough to spend New Year's Eve/Day at the cabin with my parents, my sister and her kids. The weather was amazing and there was still plenty of snow for us to have fun on the backyard sled run and the BIG sled run in a neighboring township.

(Again, Spencer stayed warm by the fire- but next year, I think he'll be out there riding will us...)

Hayley and I have been riding this sled hill since we were little. It is so much fun to be able to take our kids there and see them enjoying it, too.

Travis and Adaline are standing about 20 yards from the bottom of the run, and the small black dots at the top of the run are other sledders. I'm guessing the run is at least 100 yards long. 

Adaline only went down once (and we started her from the halfway point), but it was a bit much for her, so she and Hayley spent the rest of the time cheering on the rest of us.

My dad, Trace and Laura had the best ride of the season. They started about 3/4 of the way up the hill and went all the way to the end into the snow-covered pile of trees that act as a road block and prevents you from skidding out onto the frozen pond. 

We didn't have that tree pile when I was growing up. You just had to learn the perfect time to bale out of your sled :) In some ways I feel like the pile of trees is worse than just jumping ship. I remember the snow always being icy which makes the sled really hard to control. There were always huge dents in the snow which makes you really launch in the air. I didn't like it so much as a kid, but now, it was really fun. This year, the snow was just getting icy, and it was just icy enough to draw a little blood from Trace on one of his crashes. It was a pretty good snow rash on his chin.

We had a great time and then topped it off with a stop at my great-aunt and uncle's cabin for some hot chocolate. Adaline's already talking about her next "trip to sledding."

After Christmas Fun

After Christmas we stayed at my parents' cabin for a few days and enjoyed the most beautiful snow fall. I absolutely love fresh snow (as long as I'm not driving in it!)

No trip to the cabin is complete unless we visit the best coffee shop around (seriously, I wish I could work here)

We were able to walk out the back door and enjoy a nice gently sloping sled run with Adaline, but truly, we only went sledding WITH her, once each. Then she refused to let us ride with her because she was going to do it herself...and she did, she even hiked back up the hill in knee-deep (to her) snow every time!

While we were playing in the snow, Spencer was enjoying the warm fire and attempting to crawl.

He did come outside to experience snow for the first time, and I think he liked it!

 On our drive home, I think we captured the look of pure content-ness (even if it is a little fuzzy!)

Christmas 2012

Christmas went by very quickly this year- I guess that's what happens when you have two kids, right? 

Adaline is finally old enough to enjoy the activities surrounding the holidays and so we packed in as many as we could.

We started out with picking out our Christmas trees on the first weekend of December. We were all a little nervous getting real trees that early, but it turned out to be the best tree we've ever had. It didn't start to drop needles until after Christmas! 

A little rain never slows us down :) 

 Next, we met up with some long-lost friends, the Petty's, and walked down the street to Turlock's Christmas Light parade. It was a beautiful, crisp night and we had a blast watching all the floats go by.

Well, most of us had a blast- Spencer was a little upset that the parade started AFTER his bedtime.

 Next was Adaline's first Christmas Program at her school. If you can see her, you can tell she's a little over-whelmed by the whole thing and all the people.

We also went to a Christmas party at my old job and met Santa, sort of...

Then, our multiple family Christmas gatherings.

After Christmas dinner with the Walsh family we stayed up in the mountains for a few nights to enjoy the fresh snow...more on that next time :)

All in all, it was a wonderful holiday season for us. I loved seeing everything through Adaline's eyes- she was so excited about everything! Hope you had a great holiday, too!

Miss Mary's Christmas Party

Mary, one of my old co-workers, hosts a Christmas Party every year for her current and past students and their families. She has invited me every year that I have worked with her, but I've never been able to make it. This year, Travis and I were able to take both the kids to meet Mary and her amazing staff. It was wonderful seeing everyone again, and seeing how much some of my students have grown in the last few years. 

Mary had multiple craft stations set up around the room, as well as a station for Santa to sit. Adaline would have NOTHING to do with Santa- aside from the high-five she gave him as we walked in the door, but was quite happy to decorate cookies, color, and get her face (okay, her hand) painted. 

 Miss Mary and I both have two kids. Both kids are close in age: our first children would only have been a month apart, but her son came early (you'd never know it now- he is a healthy, big guy!) and our second children were born one week apart. Spencer was only okay with Santa because beautiful Annabelle was already sitting on his knee (just so happens, this Santa is her daddy!)

 And since Spencer was okay with Santa, Adaline reconsidered and stood next to him for a picture.

Thanks again for inviting us, Mary! It was great to see you, the staff, and the kids. Hopefully we can meet up again soon for a play date!

Spencer's First Christmas

 Isn't he cute?!

Hahaha! This is what he's really like 90% of the time!

(no, seriously, he keeps me on my toes!!!)

 (Hey, it's the only picture I could get of them both looking at the camera...)

(See? He never stops moving...)

Knitting again...

Because the Tornquist family is so large, we have resorted to only giving presents to the youngest generation. I, personally, love this. Travis and I make edible gifts to give to my aunts and uncles as well as my cousins and their spouses, and many of the other family members do the same. With the youngest generation, the great grandchildren, the grandchildren draw a name or two and pick out gifts that we hope will work for the intended children :)

This year, I was given the youngest two members of our family, Audrey and Kennedy. I have been dreaming of knitting booties for months, but just couldn't make myself commit to it. This was the perfect motivator for me...I knit the same pattern twice, and I have to admit, they look much better in these photos than they did in real life (I'm sorry, April and Danielle! I meant it when I said feel free to use them for the stuffed animals and dolls!)

Anyway, it was challenging and fun to try out the pattern and actually see the booties coming together. I still need to work on my seeming, but I liked them overall :)

Feeling Better

 After a few weeks of feeling down and out, we were all finally feeling better. One morning, we were hanging out on the bed for a lazy morning and I had to grab my camera and utilize the natural light.

 (This is the personality we usually see in Spencer! He is definitely feeling better!)

 "Mommy, take a picture of Emma, too!"

("What?! This is Adaline's blankie, NOT MINE?!)

("Ahhhhaaahhh!!! That was funny!!)

I am so thankful that both the kiddos are feeling better!