Three Christmases

This year we were lucky enough to have three Christmases. The first Christmas was at our house in Colorado on December 19th. We had hot chocolate, read a Christmas story and then each child was able to open their "big" present from Mom and Dad. (We didn't want to transport all the gifts to Canada)

Brookie got this kitchen so now she can cook along side of me when I am making dinner.

Emma's present was a kareoke machine and Ellie's was a Nintendo DS which she ended up playing for 13 of the 14 hours to Canada.

Our second Christmas was about an hour away from Lethbridge in Mountain View, Alberta. We stayed in in a bed and breakfast with all the cousins. We played, ate, exchanged gifts, ate, slept (although not very much) and then ate again.

Even though it was very cold it was the perfect Christmas setting with snow and frost on the mountains and on every branch. It was beautiful.

Here are 11 1/2 of the 12 Sherwood cousins (sorry Boo Boo)

Uncle Josh always entertains the kids and is doing a great job here reading 'Petite Rouge' with a fuunny accent. I don't think the kids understood a word he was saying but it was fun.

We had a talent show. Ellie is played the piano and Emma played with two of her cousins who knew the same song.

Our third Christmas was in Vulcan with the Lamberts. This one occurred on actual Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Every year on Christmas Eve we read 'Lowly the Worm'.

One of the fun activities we did while in Canada was sleding. It was freezing cold but we all had a great time.

Emma was heading straight for me. I was able to take the picture and then dive out of the way.

Two little cousing helping eachother up the hill.

We had a great time in Canada and a wonderful holiday. Hope all of you did as well.

Thanksgiving in Utah

For Thanksgiving we decided to go to Utah. My parents met us down there for a visit and Kyle's sister, Maryn and her family live there as well. These are the girls patiently waiting to leave on Wednesday morning. Emma and Mia having a little chat.

If this isn't darling, I don't know what is.

We took the girls to temple square as they had never been there. This is outside of the Beehive House.

The Conference Center.

We also toured the lights on Temple Square the first night they were turned on. It was very busy but beautiful.

We had a wedding reception to go to afterward but wanted our legs to stay warm while we were walking outside, hence the jeans under the dress.

Grandpa was sad to see us leave. Good thing Christmas is less than a month away.

It wa a great trip. Being around family and touring the temple grounds reminded us of the things we are truly grateful for.

YAY STEELERS!!

Last night we went to the Steelers, Broncos game in Denver. We went with Maja and Jeff McMinn who we were friends with in Pittsburgh but haven't seen in 2 1/2 years. It was such a fun game and great to see the McMinns again. Here is the field. There was lots of action in the game. If you don't follow football the Steelers won, making the night that much sweeter.

There were so many Steelers fans. They have got to be the best fans in the world. I bet it was at least 1/3 Pittsburgh fans. On the way out this was the scene.

Everyone was cheering and singing "Here we go Steelers". I actually think it was more fun than if we had been in 'the burgh' because we made a little Pittsburgh right in the middle of Denver (complete with a guy so drunk that he could barely walk).

Ellie started basketball this year. This is her first game. I couldn't get very good pics but you can see the back of her here. She is number 80.

Some more pics of Mia. She is 3 months old now and as lovely as ever.

We had her weighed the other day and she is in the 95th percentile for weight and the 90th for height. She weighs almost a pound more than her cousin Becka who is six weeks older. We like to make them big.

Mixed Bag

There are a few new things to report on. We did the annual fall farm thing. (Not as cool as the Pittsburgh farms but still fun.) Here we are in the corn maze.

They had a gun that shot corn out using pressurized air. Both girls got a turn shooting the corn.

This is a catapult that shoots pumpkins. If you look very closely you can see the pumpkin in the air. It was fun to watch because it shot them really high and far.

They had a playground of hay. Emma is popping up from a hay tunnel.

Mia is 2 1/2 months old now and growing so fast. I am neglecting to take pictures of her but I wanted to get a few of her expressions. This is her pleasant smile.

Her big cheesy, I am goin to laugh any minute smile.

Her "What the .... " look.

There was a Halloween party at the school on Friday. Here are the kids in their costumes. Emma is a fancy witch.

Ellie is a hobo; previously viewed on this blog as a mystery birthday party costume. (I love it when they want to recycle).

My little Tinkerbell.

All the Lambert ladies together.

The girls with some of their best friends, all who live across the street.

We had Ellie's birthday party. It was held at a rollerskating rink.

Some of the girls had never skated before but it turned out to be really fun.

I really can't believe that my oldest child is nine. I know every mother says that as their children grow up but really, where does the time go? We love having her in our family. She is the best sister to have and adds so much fun and joy in our lives.

Avid for Adventure

This week at the girls' school they had a company called 'Avid for Adventure' come in and set up outdoor activities for the students to do. Yesterday Ellie's grade was outside all day doing the activities. After school parents were allowed to come and watch what the students had been doing and siblings were allowed to try. Emma's class goes today but she tried everything yesterday as well. There was a bike course with obsticles. Emma needed a little help on the big bumps but other than that she did really well.

Here's Ellie going over one of the obstacles. The climbing wall is in the background.

Both of my monkeys did great on the climbing wall.

So close to the top!!
There was a pool for kayaking.

The activities were alot of fun and the girls did great. What a fun school day!