Decemberings

We started to get into the spirit of things the first weekend of December, we went to our old Student Married and new Family Ward's  Christmas parties. 

 Scarlett stepped in as the angel in the little nativity with only sunbeams and older nursery kids.  I was so surprised when she walked on stage all by herself and whispered her line, "Fear Not."  She's getting so brave.

 The next night, at our current ward's Christmas Party (no cooking two night in a row. Merry Christmas to me!) Scarlett joined the primary on stage for Christmas Bells. Before the performance when all was silent Scar announced, "Oh, that was just my fart!"  The three tables around us all heard her confession and most of them laughed; Brian laughed the hardest.  It was a perfect prelude.

Brian's Work Party fell on the evening of my birthday, as it did last year.  Bishop/Dr. Guymon was apologetic, but I think its awesome that someone has planned my party two years in a row.

We received a selfie stick, a spongebob sponge, and a monkey night light in the White Elephant Gift exchange.  Sadly, the selfie stick didn't work with my phone that well so I returned it for $5 to Wal-Mart.  Yay, now I get to go shopping there.

These two were being uncharacteristically adorable towards each other.  Collin and his family moved here the same time as we did, in the same program.  They have a cute family of four as well.

The next weekend we ventured to find Santa.  We found him but decided he wasn't worth the wait, so Brian subbed.

 He did a smashing job too.  The girls LOVED him like family.

 For the first time in my adult life, I actually had room for a real sized Christmas tree. We were gifted one from someone in North Liberty, and I was ecstatic to put it up in the middle of December.

 This was taken the day before our trip to Wisconsin.  We biked to the library, because the weather was so nice, and stopped to enjoy Hurt's Donut Shop.  Scar begged me to go buy a "coconut".  That's how much experience she has with such delicacies.

 And this was from our trip to the Czech Museum in Cedar Rapids.  Apparently, many Czech immigrants settled around our area in the Midwest.  We learned about many of their Christmas traditions, as much as the toddler allowed.

Christmas Dells are Ringing

For Brian's Christmas Break, we traveled 200 miles to visit the unique town of Wisconsin Dells.  We stayed three nights at Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park and had SUCH a good time.  We went down waterslides--even Alice joined with a life-jacket on my lap--which one lifeguard found questionable, but she still let me down because there was no rule about how young a lap rider has to be.  Its okay, though, because I'm a trained water professional.

Scarlett got a swim cap and goggles and Alice got a baby floatie  the night before we left. 

 Then, the night before Christmas Eve they opened their matching Paw Patrol "Pay-Jays" as Scar calls them.  They were a huge hit with the toddler.  Alice pooped on them, both pairs.

 We went to this awesome little hands-on Science place called Tommy Bartlett's Exploratory.

 The only snow we found was man-made at the ski "slopes" in Wisconsin.  Scarlett ate every flake within reach.

We enjoyed the kiddie indoor Amusement Park.  Although all the spinning made us old folks queasy.

The Saturday evening we got home, we opened the rest of our presents. 

 Scarlett gave Alice a slinky. Alice gave Scarlett an ABC paint book.  They know each other so well.

 Alice with her already tangled slinky.

 Scarlett. One present opened and she's good.

 My canning set!

 Brian's remote control monster truck!!

 Yummy playfood from Grandma D!

 Cool bike lights from Uncle Dan!!

 Scar singing, Time for Your Check-up  while using her new Dr. Tools from Grandma G.

 Scarlett in her new outfit, complete with wool socks and new boots for the cold winter ahead.  She's wearing 4t now, which is nuts to me considering she's two and a half. Alice got some clothes from Grandma and news socks, not that she cared.

 Gifts from Cheryl and Brian. Thank you! I was so spoiled.

And the real star of the show. Brian's fat bike for committed commuting all winter long.  Don't you love the purple rims?!1

Our Newish Home

Let me just start out by saying....

                                                           Hubba Hubba.

Here are some snaps shots of our Little Iowan Rambler Rental, the #LIRR . We have loved living here since Alice was born (seriously the two events happened within 5 days or each other). I have procrastinated this post because I wanted to wait and take pics when every room was preposterously clean, but then I would probably have to hire a babysitter for a day(s).  Oh well, now I can seem more real and approachable. Our little home is lived and loved in (hubba hubba). (Parenthesis overload).

I LOVE MY KITCHEN, and I cook pretty well, sooo.........  

This little elf hops in and out of the pictures from now on.  I find it hilarious.

Pictures taken in October. Posting them in November.  Right now, life is slow.

Alice's room.

View from the water-closet AKA bathroom.

Best FriendS Forever.

 Scarlett is potty trained, and she's never even said thank you.  Thank you, mom, for potty training me!!!

BriNat's room.  Guess who's closet is who's! 

Blank frame =Family pics hanging soon!!

Father's Day Gift: Organizing Brian's closet.

                                                 We don't believe in making our bed.

Scarlett's room/kitchen

The raspberry patch and torn out garden. God's Earth rocked it this year.

Raspberry jam made with so much love and  time.  Worth it.