BIG snow storm!!!

We finally got rid of the yucky inversion and below freezing temperatures. It has been snowing for days. We have over a foot of fresh clean snow. And it is STILL snowing. 

Harrison loved to watch Brad and Claire though the window. 

He watched happily for over an hour while I fixed dinner. 

The kids came inside soaking wet with bright rosy cheeks and BIG smiles. 

It was the perfect night for a hot bowl of soup and crusty bread. 

Visit to Salt Lake

Last Week Brad had a 3 day school week so we headed down to Salt Lake to have some fun. We were tired of being cooped up in the house and needed to get out!!!

On Thursday we went to Planet Play in Draper to hang out with my siblings and the kids cousins. My mom and dad gave us all pass of all passes for Christmas this year so we are going to put it to good use. 

Brad and Whitters immediately wanted to go on the go-carts. The two of them rode them non-stop for the first hour we were there. 

Whitnee got pretty good. She was feisty. She kicked all the kids butts!

Claire wasn't big enough to drive them so I had to squeeze into the tiny car to take her on the track. She said I wasn't going fast enough. I thought I was going too fast.

Steven and Kari came a little late. The kids were so exicted to see them. It had been a while. 

Steven and Kari always make things more fun. 

Even Natalie drove a go-cart.

After we got our fill of go carts we played laser tag over and over for at least an hour. It was a riot. I was laughing so hard. I have not played laser tag since high school.

The next day I went shopping with Julie and my mom. It was Julie's birthday and she wanted to go to Fashion Place. I have not been there for such a long time. It is so different. That is one thing about living in Logan...I miss good stores and malls. Then we went to Chili's for Julie's birthday dinner.

On Saturday the Fischer girls threw a baby shower for Kendra. Miss K is coming soon and we can't wait to have another girl cousin.

 We did a hot chocolate bar. 

Tori made all the cute snowflakes and the wooden frame and letters. She is so crafty and creative. Kam found all the cute decorations. I just did the food since I am not creative. I have to steal others ideas from the Internet or Pinterest. 

We had a HUGE turnout. 

I LOVE these women!!!

After cleaning up the baby shower a few of us went to Chili's for lunch before we headed home.

Tori snapped these cute pictures of Harrison dipping his fries. He was the happiest kid with his cup of dip. 

We were so exhausted from the whirlwind weekend. But we felt refreshed and ready to go home. 

Catch Up

Christmas came and went so fast I can't believe it in now the end of January!! 

Here is a quick synopsis of the past few weeks. 

Christmas night I had to work. During my shift my left foot started killing me. I had my 2nd foot surgery a few days before Christmas. My bandages had not been removed yet so I was afraid it was infected. I went to the Doctor the next day and found out I had shingles on the bottom and top of my foot. 

Shingles comes from the chickenpox virus that stays dormant in your spine until you get old or stressed then it breaks our and rears its ugly head.

 I get that I was stressed...Christmas, surgery, and whole family had been sick. The odds of a break out on the same foot I had surgery on is so slim and bizzare for that matter!!! Anyway sorry for the ugly pictures but I am a nurse and I can appreciate them. Plus Claire says she wants to be a nurse when she grows up so she will appreciate them one day. 

The blister on the middle of my foot felt like a hot nail was piercing my skin. The one between my toes was the worst. There was constant pressure there from my other toes. I could barely walk.

The pain was so incredibly intense.I felt like my foot was on fire. Pain medicine did nothing. My doctor finally put me on a nerve blocker called Lyrica that brought me relief.  I was glad. I couldn't stand it much longer. 

Luckily it cleared up after a few weeks and I just have to wear the old obnoxious boot for a few more weeks. I don't recommend back to back foot surgery. The recovery has been long and hard. The boot is the  worst part. It is heavy, clunky, and I feel so clumsy in it. Plus I walk different which affects my knees and hips. I am ready to be done. 

The weather has been crappy too this year. January has been unusually cold. The kind of cold that burns your nostrils. None of the kids in the neighborhood want to go outside to play. We have been cooped up for weeks. I usually don't mind the winter but this year I am so over winter and wanting spring to come. Or at least some warmer winter weather with some snow. 

Heading back home for Christmas

We drove through a huge storm to get home Christmas Eve. We watched Santa's progress on dad's phone just to make sure we wouldn't miss him. When we got home he was still in Canada so we got in bed quick. The kids left Santa chocolate milk and cookies. The reindeer got an apple and carrot sticks. 

The kids woke up to their stockings stuffed...

A note from Santa....

And gifts under the tree...

Before opening gifts we read the Nativity together as a family and gave our annual gift to Jesus. 

Before Randy went to bed Christmas Eve he had to shovel the driveway. He came in feeling achy and sick. He woke up the same way. Poor Randy laid on the couch and in bed most of the day with the flu. 

Harrison loved helping everyone open their gifts. He loved every minute. 

Claire trying on dad's duck hunting coat. 

Claire wanted a real puppy for Christmas. This will have to do!!! I can't do a dog again. 

We spent the day relaxing, playing games, and playing with their new toys. 

Harrison was so fun this year. He loved opening gifts and got so excited to see what was inside. He was so cute. 

It was such a whirlwind of activities smashed into a few days. We were tired. We loved every minute spent with family and loved ones. 

Christmas Eve Evening

After hanging out with Randy's family we went to spend time with my family. We did a gift exchange with cousins and siblings. 

 Claire was loving her manicure from her cousin Kirsten.  I can't believe she is almost 12 yrs old!!!

The kids got art kits so they helped each other with their art projects.  

Steven brought some games. It was a trivia game which I am terrible at. Randy and Steven know a lot of random facts to they were kicking my trash!!! 

Baby Bennet. He looks so much like his brothers. 

After our gift exchange we met some of our extended family at The Pie for dinner. They had this enclosed patio with a huge fire. It was nice and toasty and we felt like we were outdoors. Some of the family went ice skating. It was snowing really hard so it was the perfect night for a fire. 

 Goofy cousins.

 Harrison waiting for some yummy pizza. 

 Steven showing off his yummy pizza. 

 I have not seen some of my cousins for a long time so it was nice to chat and catch up. 

Uncle Ryan is my dad's youngest brother. He was the same age as Eric and I so we spent a TON of time with him as kids. Now we have kids the same age. 

After dinner we headed back to my mom's house for hot chocolate and desserts. We played a few games then headed home so we wouldn't miss Santa.