She and Eliza spent a lot of time designing and coloring clothes. Emiline learned to pull herself up and has been trying to get the balance thing down while holding on to things to take steps. Then for Thanksgiving we took advantage of the nice weather and traveled to Levan to see Grandparents.
The Maren, Eliza, and Henry loved going out to help Grandpa feed the animals. The big girls loved playing in the creek. Grandpa built a swing from a tree limb that hung over the creek and a temporary teeter totter. The Girls spent a lot of time outside playing. Henry spent every minute we would let him outside. We enjoyed seeing Andy and his lady friend, and Rebecca with her little boy. We had a nice visit. 
On our way home we had to visit a old favorite hiking spot of Jon and Sunny's. It was in the parking spot here that Jon proposed to Sunny. The kids enjoyed the first half of the hike up to the waterfall and Emiline slept the whole trip up and back. (For those who Henry has a harder time opening up to: This picture is my Henry.) 
When we got back we put up the Christmas tree and spent as we could getting ready for Christmas in one way or another. Henry moved into a big bed and gave up the binky. He is doing great and feeling very big. He has started showing a stubborn streak when it comes to asking nice for things. He was refusing to say please for anything. After a lot of tears and a lot of time not getting what he wanted he is beginning to see that one little word opens up a lot of opportunity. We had a great Christmas! The kids loved the books and toys. Henry only asked Santa for candy, so he was a super happy boy. Emiline got a few books and a toy dog that wags it tale. She loves stuffed animals so this was a winner. A friend of ours was getting rid of their train table so we adopted it and the kids all enjoy it. Emiline likes tearing it apart. Maren and Eliza like to help build it back up and Henry loves playing with it. We are so grateful for it.
During the School break the flu bug made a stop at our house and I think all of us tasted the effects of his visit. Luckily we got a fairly mild case. So we spent a lot of time reading books (a excellent read is "The Message" by Lance Richardson) and playing with new toys. Even though we were sick we were able to make it outside for a snow day before school started again.
We tried to make a snowman, but the snow was not sticking together well. This angry snow blob was as close as we were able to get. (He has an icicle nose.) We made snow angels and I pulled the kids around the yard in the sled for a bit. 
We spent New Years Eve having Pizza and playing board games with the kids. Then Jon and the two littlest kids went to bed and Maren and Eliza and Sunny stayed up to watch movies and Time Square celebrate the coming of the New Year before heading to bed. Yesterday was Maren's first day back to school. She is looking forward to Friday since they are having a show and tell and a game day. We are glad to be getting back into a routine and glad to welcome in the new year. We hope 2013 is a great year for all our Friends and Family.
