random photo mash

Here are some photos of what we've been up to the last month or so: 

Meeting Prancer the reindeer

Isla's new slippers

Nice heels Knox!

Sitting with Santa- Isla said no thanks to that!

bday boy at preschool

decorating the tree

knox's lego creations

breakfast in the nude

Christmas tree in the bus

Knox's ninja turtle drawing

learning about baby Jesus 

practicing my toddler hair styles

hugs at the grocery store

eating popcorn in the bus

wrestling with Mercedes

-Stacie

Thanksgiving in Virginia

As our usual family tradition, the kids & I headed off to Virginia for some pre-Thanksgiving family time and Kyle met us after he finished working the week of Thanksgiving. I was a little nervous about the flight (I always am) but it was really good. This was Isla's first trip with her own seat and it made a huge difference!  They both watched videos most of the flights and didn't cause too much disruption.  All in all it was a good trip there!

you may not buckle me in mom!

Knox was excited to see Mana & Grandpa!

a little plane reading

We arrived on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, so we had lots of time to hang out with everyone before the big day.  I got to go to brunch with my two sister-in-laws.  Valerie is quite the food expert, so it's always fun to go out with her and I of course always love being out to each without any children- that goes without saying!

Sarah, Me & Valerie @ Stella's for brunch

One of the hardest things about leaving Texas (after saying goodbye to all of our amazing friends) was leaving the TexMex and more specifically Chuy's. However, God has shown his light down upon Richmond and Chuy's has opened two locations in Richmond. So, of course we had to go! Twice actually and it did not disappoint!

We really had a great trip just hanging out at my parent's house and spending lots of time with family.  It was relaxing and just fun to be with them since we don't see them that often.  The kids had a blast hanging out with their aunts and uncles too!

Isla & Moses

We also got to spend some time with my Grandmother and that was so fun to be able to take them to her house and spend time with her. They loved going over there and she had fun things for them to do each time they came!

Knox working on his legos

Isla drawing at Grandma Charlotte's

My brother & sister-in-law are the best at giving thoughtful gifts. And true to form they got Knox & Isla some amazing slippers (pictures coming on another blog post) and I mentioned that Isla hates being cold so they got her some long underwear too!

Isla modeling her new long underwear!

getting icecream with Mana

On Thanksgiving day we did our annual Turkey Trot. The county that I went to high school in has an annual alumni 5k, so it's fun to go out and see people that I used to go to school with and my old cross-country coach. This year was the first time that Knox got to participate in the kid run, so cute!

Pre-Turkey trot family pic

Knox eating his "race" cookie, he even got a medal! (he did come in last though, FYI)

wrestling with Uncle Justin

For the past 12 years, we have been in Virginia to celebrate Kyle's birthday.  This year was the big 35 and my mom, Knox & Isla made him a VW bus cake to celebrate. 

um, you're a little too big I think Isla...

After 10 days, it was time to head back to Idaho.  Thankfully, Kyle was on our flights back so it was much more relaxing than the trip out for me.  We flew late and didn't get home to Boise till almost 1 am. It was a long trip but we made it back without any issues!

everyone asleep on the plane

We've been busy enjoying being home and doing "christmasy" stuff with the kids. I can't believe it's only 10 days till Christmas!

-Stacie 

Our first snow

I have been nervous about the Boise winter since we decided to move to Idaho.  I have never liked being cold so it's made things like visiting Kyle's family in Spokane and skiing (back when we used to actually do that) a little more difficult.  But once we settled into the Texas "winter", I was happy with my 40 degree winters (but usually more like 60 degrees).  The idea of snow and below freezing temperatures makes me experience the actual emotion of fear.  I. hate. it.  However, with that said I am doing good in Boise so far! We've had an abnormally warm winter this year (fingers crossed it will stay that way) except for one pretty big snow storm back in November.  I didn't even realize it was going to snow so it kind of snuck up on us.  But we probably got about 7 inches over the course of 2 days and it stuck around for over a week since the temperatures didn't get much over 10 degrees during the day.  I actually saw it say 3 degrees outside one morning, what?! That is too much for me. But the Lord knew what I could handle and thank goodness our house kept the heat in beautifully and I was only cold on the rare occasion that I had to go outside during that 8 day stretch (and believe me that wasn't very often).

our backyard in the snow storm

Knox & Isla making snow angels

Knox helping daddy chop the firewood

I'll give Knox & Isla credit- for being full-blown Texans those two loved the snow!  I was prepared for the weather and they both had ski pants, ski boots, ski gloves, hats, long underwear- it look almost 20 minutes to get all geared up to go outside and then you could only stay outside about 30 minutes- ha! But they had a blast sledding and throwing snow balls at each other.  There is a pretty good hill about half a mile from our house at the local junior high so we went there every afternoon while the snow stuck around for some sledding fun!

sledding with daddy

pure joy!

even Mercedes liked the snow!

making snow cream with the fresh snow- this was Knox's favorite

I may not like being cold but I do kind of like the snow. Fingers crossed for a White Christmas this year!

-Stacie