Lia Goes Snowboarding!

Lia got to have her first snowboarding lesson! I'm kind of sad I missed hers (I missed Max's last year, too) but I'm so glad she got to go! I think she was a bit more interested in eating snow but she really did love every minute of it. Tyler said she'd fall and then laugh that big hysterical belly laugh that she does and get up and keep going. She lasted the whole day! Max got to go with Tyler, too, and they had a blast! I'm so glad the kids get to do this and so grateful to Tyler's parents for doing this for them!

Max Birchall and Lia! Love their little chubby faces!

And of course -- a video of Lia boarding set to her favorite song by Taylor Swift!

Holiday Cheer, Disneyland and presents!!

I have to say, this year the holidays were a bit difficult. Tyler was gone for almost all of December, only coming home for a day or two at a time between interviews. I was busy shooting and trying to meet the daily needs of everyone else and it was hard to find that holiday spirit most days. I tried to include fun things for the kids -- trips to see streets lined with holiday lights, gifts from the elves at the front door, cookie decorating and present shopping. I mostly feel like I failed everyone this year. We had a lot going on and mentally I just felt out of it. I think the kids had a good holiday and got what they wanted. I just wish I had been able to do more for them. Luckily our house was the most decorated it's ever been thanks to hosting the Relief Society Christmas party here! It really was nice to have a Christmasy house, lights and all!

(Christmas picture by Lia)

On Christmas morning they went crazy with presents! Max got the thing he wanted most and obviously he was excited!! They loved tearing through all the wrapping paper and once again our kids were totally spoiled by seriously generous loving grandparents and family!

 

 

(Christmas jammies from the elves!)

 

 

The Christmas aftermath!!

 

Lia made a lovely gingerbread house at school!

Tyler continued the tradition of making pulla.

And honestly, the kids did have a great Christmas, complete with a trip to Disneyland! We surprised them on a school day, acted like we were taking Max to school but got on the freeway and started driving. They finally asked questions about where we were really going and when we told them Disneyland they didn't believe us! I had never been at Christmas time and it was quite the experience! Everything was decorated so beautifully. And bonus -- Max was tall enough to go on almost every ride this time! He was SO excited!

 

  

 

 

Tyler took the kids up to his parents' house for a few days, too. They went snowboarding and hung out with Grammie and Papa and saw their cousins and loved every minute of it! And I got a sweet little break for myself, too, where I went to the movies by myself and ordered Chinese food.

 

And when Max got home the first thing he had us do was build all of his Harry Potter legos he got for Christmas. Tyler built Hagrid's hut and Max built the Quidditch stuff. I built the castle. It took me, literally, over four hours to build. It sure is pretty cool though!