You can't catch me...

This is our gingerbread house. It even has stained glass windows made from hard candy. Can you find the snowmen? We made it last week, but we haven't eaten any of it yet.

By Hadlie and Dad

This is our Christmas card picture! We took it outside in our backyard on a "SnowDay".
Since Darren dreads writing the Christmas letter every year, I told him that we wouldn't have to write one this year and that I would give everyone the address to our blog instead. Since we couple of relatives that don't have the Internet we decided they would probably enjoy a phone call.
I don't know how, but I am ready for Christmas. I have never been able to get everything done and ready before and always have crunched the last couple of days making gifts and mailing gifts etc. But somehow I planned everything right and have shopping, mailing, baking and crafting all finished. I didn't even start until black Friday. I think that my new attitude...simplify! Has helped a lot, I am also afraid with a new addition in our family to shop for and care for, I may never be at this point again until the kids have all moved away. I try to use every minute the kids are both in school to recharge and get things done and won't have that time next year. Last night was also the ward Christmas party ( I was in charge of the nativity program) and since that is over, I can relax and enjoy the holiday. I have already enjoyed the treats from the neighbors too much. I will have to refocus on eating better. I hope this baby doesn't come out made of sugar!

A couple of weeks ago, Hadlie's friend Hope, invited her to go to an American girl tea party. It was put on as a fundraiser for a private religious school and was very impressive. All the girls dressed up and brought their dolls. It was held at a very pretty quaint B&B in Vermont. They had their pictures taken to take home, a 5 course meal, they made a craft to take home and there was a raffle to win an American girl doll and clothes. Hadlie had a blast! They have one twice a year and she already wants to go to the next one.

Silly kid

I am writing this with the snow coming down outside, pretty hard. So hard in fact all of Darren's church meetings have been canceled and we are waiting for the call to let us know that the rest of church will be canceled today. It is forecast that we will get 5-9 inches, I think it will be more if it doesn't stop. We live in NH and you would think that the people here in New England are used to bad weather. Activities and school definitely get canceled more often here for a few inches of snow or sleet than anywhere else we have lived. The kids' school was canceled once two weeks ago and delayed for 2 hours last week, and we have only had snow for 2 weeks. Every year, we are surprised to hear that school will be closed because of weather when we look out and see only a couple of inches. Growing up in Utah, I only remember a "snow day" happening maybe 6 times my whole life, and in Minnesota we didn't ever cancel church for the weather. Here we have church canceled a couple of times every year. Oh, well...I guess I am not complaining! I won't have to sub in primary today.

Making burritos?