Fresh, new snow for a new year.

I just can't say it enough. I love Flagstaff. When our kids are out of school, I totally want to move there. But for now, I'm just glad this beauty is so close to home.

We took a little overnight trip for New Year's Eve with a couple of Nathan's work buddies and their wives. Nathan got to see the pinecone drop at midnight for the second year, and I got to lay in a bed in a hotel room next to my two sleeping babies. I watched A Lot Like Love and cuddled up with Hazel and fell asleep at 10:30. It was nice.....until Hazel started kicking me. Even with pillows in between us, she managed to kick me about 40 times throughout the night, and sat up and started talking about 5 times.

We started the New year with breakfast at Ihop and then immediately went back to the hotel room for an attempted nap. After that failure, we packed up the car and headed out to the snow park.


To pass the time while we packed the car, Owen threw snowballs at this shed while Hazel slipped around on the icy parking lot.


When we finally got to the snow park, it was CLOSED! The parking lot was so full that everyone was stuck in the park and nobody else could get in. We had no choice but to just drive down the street and find somewhere else to play. So much for all the sleds we have bought over the years. I guess we will just have to go back in another month and use them then! Even without the huge hills to sled down, we managed to create a little bit of fun.

Hazel made her own little miniature snowman


Owen literally rolled around in the snow until he was soaked through all his layers

I'm not positive how deep the snow actually was, but Hazel sank down to her waist in a couple of spots.

Look at all that untouched snow. It makes my heart happy.

Hazel and I found a little igloo that someone had made JUST FOR HER! Or at least it seemed that way...

I built a beautiful little snowwoman....put so much love and tenderness into her formation. But apparently all Juan saw was a picture op and a chance for destruction. You can imagine what she looked like after this picture.

We sat down to pose for a family picture, and it started to snow! Okay...not really. I thought if I threw some of the powder into the air, we might be able to fake you out. But it just turned out looking like I threw a bunch of snow in the air.

And then I couldn't stop.

But Nathan definitely got me back by filling the sled and then throwing it at me.

We did manage to find one tiny little hill. Once the grown-up boys had smoothed it out for us a bit, we were able to catch a tiny bit of speed. Especially with a good, strong push.

Despite its disappointments (no hills, cold feet, lack of sleep, etc.), I think it was worth it to see the beautiful snow and take out our aggresions by throwing it at each other.

And my favorite kid quotes from this trip (notice how they both involve hate):

Owen: "My feet are freezing cold! I hate frostbites!"

Hazel: "I hate the sun. It's too shady."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Disappointment eve

It's been a tradition in our family that on Christmas Eve, the children open one gift. For the past few years, we have made this gift a new set of pajamas (sometimes Christmas pjs, sometimes not). Owen caught on a couple of years ago and knew what to expect, but Hazel was NOT pleased. I even explained to her beforehand that she would not be opening a toy, but instead it would be something to wear. I guess she thought I was kidding.

She has become quite ungrateful lately....and rude...and sassy. It really isn't funny (most of the time), but I have to say that I laughed out loud at her reaction to the pajamas. I also reprimanded her later and gave her the "be grateful" lecture, but I just had to share. I also think it's especially cute that Owen tried to make her feel better about the whole thing.

After this video, I tried to convince her to put the pajamas on for a picture in front of the tree, but she ran off to her room with another mean grunt. Owen, however, was perfectly cooperative and posed for me...

And then he had the genius idea that he would just hold Hazel's pjs up beside him and maybe it would look like she had posed for the picture.

Then Hazel came out happy as can be in LAST YEAR'S pajamas and posed for a picture. I just took what I could get and thanked them both.

But I guess my guilt trip about her hurting my feelings when I picked those pajamas out for her kinda worked. She finally conceded and I happily claimed victory!!!!

Merry Christmas...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY G-MOMMY!!!!

Conversations

Two of mine and Nathan's conversations tonight (the only ones appropriate for sharing):

(1) Nathan: Do you want a piece of cake?
Me: YES, dangit. I told you twice already! Once out loud and once in my head.

(2) Nathan: (in response to something rude I did) You're such a ho.
Me: What the heck? You don't call your wife a ho!!!
Nathan: If I can't call my wife a ho, who can I?
Me: How about HOS?!?!?!?!

This second conversation was so wrong, I can't even believe I am putting it on here. But alas, this is the true us. And we still make each other laugh.

In the future...

Hazel loves the idea of Lunchables. She begs for them every time we go to the grocery store, then begs to eat them every day. The thing is, she doesn't actually like them. Every once in a while she will be starving and, therefore, manage to eat the whole thing. But 9 times out of 10, she eats the first bite of whatever meat is included in that day's Lunchable and decides that the meat is "disgusting." This inevitably leads to her refusal to take another bite of anything in that little plastic, compartmentalized tray of processed foods.

We are finally over giving her chance after chance to prove to us that she can be a big girl and eat the whole thing. It's just such a waste of money. So Nathan came home today right as I was getting frustrated with Hazel for wasting yet another valuable Lunchable. I was getting a little worked up, so he jumped in and took over the conversation, using his usual sarcastic drama to make fun of my genuine drama.

Nathan: "Hazel, that’s it. You are never getting lunchables again."
Hazel: "That’s fine. I hate them. The meat is disgusting."
Nathan: "You’re not getting any more lunchables and you’re not going to college."
Hazel: "What’s cobbleage?"
Nathan: "Cobbleage is where you are going to be begging me to go when you are 18."
Hazel: "I can go to cobbleage if I want to!"
Nathan: "You can? Well you better work hard then, cause you’re going to have to do it on your own."
Hazel: "But I can’t drive!"
Nathan: "You’ll be able to when you’re that old. But I’m not going to buy you a car either."
Hazel: "Fine. I’ll just steal your car."
Nathan: "Well, you are your mother’s child, so that wouldn’t surprise me."

Clarification

I am laughing SOOO hard that you all think Owen's team is actually called "The Misfits." It's totally my fault for not clarifying- that is just what I have dubbed them. The actual team name is The Cardinals. :) So- a little less sad than you all originally thought. Sorry to disappoint.

Soccer Misfits

Just a few pics of Owen's soccer team this year, now that Saturday is his last game. We aren't participating in this league next year. I have finally figured out that all the men who want their kids to be awesome soccer players teach them from birth, then volunteer to be a coach for this league, then pick all their friends' kids to be on their team. This results in Owen (who's mom and dad don't know any of the futbol wonders) ending up on the loser team. Once again, his team has lost every single game. They are just like this little leftover group of misfits. Last year he didn't mind, but this year I think it has really had an effect on him. He says things like, "Not this team again!" and "We suck!" and "I definitely need to practice soccer more." Poor kid. It's definitely not doing his self-esteem any favors.

This is our friend/neighbor that joined his team last minute, Anthony

Posing for team photos

The misfits

The huddle

"Good game, good game."

Just FYI- this last picture is the perfect example of what I'm talking about. I think they scored about 25 goals to our zero. And the coach's son was like a little miniature Beckham- I mean this kid was performing miracles. I started cheering for him halfway through the game, the little brat. And, of course, Owen's team will play this team again on Saturday for their last game. No better way to end the season than with a huge arse-kicking, right?