Great Wolf Lodge

I swear we are so spoiled. Family and friends are so kind and generous to us. Last week we were invited to join my brother's family on a wonderful vacation to celebrate James' 30th birthday and Gwenevere's 4th birthday. Elizabeth planned an outing at Great Wolf Lodge Resort. It is basically a hotel, indoor water park resort all wrapped in one. So fun! We met them at the hotel last Thursday afternoon, got all settled and took off to the water park.

We played for a little bit but then came back to have dinner and a party for 4-year-old Gwenevere!

The birthday kids! And the Amazing rainbow star cake made by Elizabeth   (But Gwenevere was the designer)

 After cake and presents, James and Elizabeth ran off to the water park for a hot date while Max and I watched the kids. It was so fun! I love my adorable nieces. My favorite was how Grace kept carrying around my phone looking at the picture of Charlie and saying "Charlie" over and over again. And when both babies had poopy diapers at the same time. Anyway, Grace and Charlie fell asleep, then James and Elizabeth came back and demanded that Max and I go to the water park to try out the slides at night. We didn't refuse, we're always up for a hot date! We had a blast, and even got to enjoy a little hot tub time. 

The next morning we got up, ate breakfast and packed up all our stuff so we could check out of our room. We still had the rest of the day to use the water park though so we put our stuff in the car and played some more. 

Charlie got a lot of walking practice trying to keep up with his cousins way far in the distance. 

I love this handsome little man!

Everyone blasting Uncle Max!

This girl is such a beauty!

A little lounging and animal cracker break!

Throughout the day we switched off with James and Elizabeth watching the kids and going down some water slides.

The drenching bucket

We planned on leaving after our lunch break so Charlie could get a nap, but he was still going strong so we stayed a bit longer. He ended up zonking out before we even left the parking lot. It was so much fun. thanks for inviting up James and Elizabeth! (and thanks for letting me steal the pictures from your blog Elizabeth) 

Employed

I have a little side job. We decided that with Max home doing his online class, it would be possible for me to do some part-time work using my degree. I really liked this idea because the extra income would benefit us, I could still be a mom, and I really enjoy working with children and helping them in the learning process. I applied to be on a panel of tutors through a tutoring agency. I wasn't sure exactly what this would entail because it seemed to me, the elementary school children do not get tutors as often as older students. They hired me right away and shortly after sent me a client. As of now, I only have one client (it's not exactly the busy season for tutors with the holidays) I meet with her twice a week and we work on math together. I had forgotten how much I love teaching and how much I really learned in all my practicums. There haven't been many times in our marriage where I was working since we have been students for so long and in the summers it's been most beneficial for us to go to California for Max to do sales. It feels good to contribute a little bit.  

Christmas Cheer: Part 3

This is the blog post where I will try to cram everything else in that we did to celebrate this magnificent Christmas season...along with a lot of pictures.

We tagged along with my mom and brother when they went to go get a real Christmas tree. Even though we have a fake tree, I still love the tradition of going to cut our own down. It was really cold and we weren't there for long but it was still a great memory!

Give this boy a stick and he'll love you forever!

For Family Night we decided to make snowflakes to add to our festive decor. We made a whole bunch! 

After making the snowflakes I remembered doing this same thing at my Grandma's house and decorating the playroom. She told me that it would always snow the next day.....and look what happened this time!

It wasn't much snow, and it melted by noon but it was enough to play a bit and make a weak little snowman!

Charlie pushed the snowman over...that Bully!

Then came one of our favorite family Christmas traditions. The progressive eating day...on the bus.
Every year, all of our family on my mom's side gets together and we ride a bus (driven by my mom) around to each family members house where we eat a food and have an activity.It's an all day event and it was extra special this year because almost everybody was in town. My wonderful cousin Kim and her husband even came from Maryland.

Even though this was an all day affair, I'm glad Charlie found the bus soothing and took a nap in my arms.
 

This year we also stopped by the cemetary where my aunt is buried, she passed away earlier this year at the age of 44. Max and I missed the funeral because we were on our way to California so it was nice to visit the cemetery  leave a wreath, and sing silent night. The progressive dinner was one of her favorite family traditions. 

We also got to spend a lot more time with this little beauty. Gwenevere rode with us for a lot of the bus ride. She is such a great cousin.

I didn't take very many pictures but it was a blast and lasted nearly 12 hours!

Christmas Eve we always go spend with my Green Grandma. She always spoils us with a delicious dinner and gifts for every child, grandchild, and great grandchild. And the family keeps growing. We liked spending some time with our cousins.

Carolyn serenaded us with some Christmas Carols. 

Gwenevere got a chance to try the violin

I've apparently been bad at taking pictures, I wish I got some more family members and Grandma.

We then came home late and put Charlie to bed and did a little Christmas morning preparation. we threw breakfast in the crockpot, filled the stockings, and called it a night.  

We set a low budget for Christmas gifts this year, we stayed under budget and still felt spoiled beyond belief.

Charlie opened his presents very delicately

We had a fun morning together as a family, later that evening we went to my red Grandma's house for Turkey dinner. Yum!

 The next day we went Roller Skating. There was a great family in our ward when we were growing up that has 13 kids. every year on New Years they rent out a roller skating rink from 1am-3am. Now that most of their family has their own kids, they decided to do a daytime roller skating party (in addition to their 1 am party) We had so much fun, and it was great to see a bunch of our old high school friends.

We figured Charlie might prefer skating over walking.

We was pretty good. 

But he mostly rolled in the stroller while we skated...and yes, this is an awkward pose :)

After the skating, we heading over to Uncle Jay's house for Max's family Christmas get together. We arrived just as they were cleaning up the wrapping paper and getting ready for dinner. Just a little late...whoops!

Max and his siblings with Santa/Dad

Charlie spent some time on Santa/Grandpa's lap.

We definitely were able to spend a lot of time with family and it was great. The season is wonderful and we love seeing how everyone becomes a little more Christlike.

Merry Christmas!

Checklist

So, I have been absent from the computer for a bit these days. Partly because I'm enjoying this time of year in full force...but mostly it is because Max is cramming to finish his blasted Math class that has 3 degrees resting on it and since April we have been sharing one computer.

So here is one of my typical checklists that is mainly to remind me of what I would blog about if I have time...and to throw some intrigue out there!

• Christmas cheer part x-Christmas tree farm, snowflakes, snow, snowman, progressive dinner, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Day after, Roller skating
• My new job
• Charlie's Walking attempts
• My husband is finally within reach of getting his diploma

That's all I can think of now! Intrigued?

The things we laugh at!

Speaking of being childish...there have been a handful of times within the last year when I have thought to myself "are we mature enough to raise a child?" I know we're doing just fine but then there are occasions like this, and I wonder...

I know I will probably regret putting the following pictures on our blog but this is an aspect of our life and it should be documented. This is also a hot date idea when you can't leave the house...

Max likes to imagine life with hair. Luckily he has me, who has more than enough to share...

And look at all the hairstyles we can make while siting in front of the bathroom mirror laughing our heads off. 

I think he looks beautiful just the way he is...however, this was hours of fun!
and I'm pretty sure no one will find this as amusing as us...that's all.

Christmas Cheer Part II

It's really fun to get into the season and we don't have to feel guilty or weird about doing childish activities because now we have a child (let's face it, we never felt guilty about being childish before) So yes, our house is now decorated with a countdown to Christmas paper chain, some homemade ornaments, and it will soon have paper snowflakes adorning the walls. Most of these activities have been while Charlie was strapped into his high chair or in bed...so Max and I are really the ones having all the fun. We have also been reading a scripture about Christmas every night with Charlie. 

In response to the comments of the previous post...here is a "grown man" under a tree.

My boys are just too precious

We found a "make your own stained glass ornament kit" and that turned out to be our Family Home Evening on Monday. Charlie couldn't stay up until they were done but he had fun watching from his high chair when we got started.

There was so much anticipation...we had to sit at the oven and watch the beads melt. 

Aren't they beautiful

Anyway, those are some of our Christmas activities. We love this time of year and the time we get together as a family!!

Christmas Cheer!

I love decorating for Christmas, we still don't have as many decorations as I would like but we are slowly accumulating them. We actually decorated 2 weeks ago so this is a bit late but it still as true today as it was two weeks ago. 

The day I wanted to decoraste, our living room was still full of tons of boxes. Instead of unpacking we just moved all our boxes to the extra room.

Anyway, we cranked up the Christmas music, heated some spiced cider on the stove and got down to business.

I love having a baby that gets excited about all the new things around him. 

Charlie was a bit startled by the lights at first.  

But then they grew on him :)

And yes, we still believe it is blasphemous to be full Oregonian with a fake tree. I love the experience of going  to cut down our own tree but this tree was half the price of a real tree and we've already used it for three years.

 Our home is becoming a lot more homey!! I love it!

And Charlie Boy...1 year difference

2011

2012

That's all for now!