Snowboarding

I normally try not to do two posts in one day, but I finally remembered to get my camera back from my parent's house and had to share this picture. Monday we went snowboarding as a family. Well, Max stayed inside the lodge with grandma and grandpa, but you get the point. It was my third time, and I didn't get to go at all last year because I was pregnant. I was a little nervous, but it went relatively well, even if I am still sore. Kayla took a ski lesson and is doing wonderfully. Darreck is, well, Darreck. He's amazing and makes everyone else on the mountain look like amateurs, especially me. We have another trip planned for Friday, given that I have recovered by then!

First Family Christmas

We had a great Christmas- our very first as our family with Max. Christmas Eve we went to my parents then drove around to look at lights. When we got home, Darreck, Max, and I opened our family presents and went to bed late. The next morning we did stockings at our house then went to my parents and had an unwrapping marathon. We actually stopped in the middle for breakfast, yummy orange rolls. We were very spoiled this year, but I think the thing we're looking forward to the most is our passes to Showdown for snowboarding. Mom and Dad went overboard, again, this year and I'm still looking for homes for all our great presents in our house. However, the best part was getting to spend a fun and relaxing holiday with our family. There was lots of singing and game playing and great food. We couldn't ask for anything more!

Max's First Present

At home Christmas Eve

To Daddy from Max- Madagascar 2- Our favorite morning movie

Max and his toys from mom, dad, and Grandma and Grandpa Hale

The best toy of all was the box

Christmas morning

Max, ready for his snowboarding lessons this year

Poorman's Playpen

We only have two days left to keep Max out of the presents. Luckily, Grandma and Grandpa Hale sent us a wonderful gift to help- a box. We put Max in it with a shoe (his so it hasn't been walked on) and a sock (adult size, usually clean) and he can amuse himself for hours. He has this weird thing for feet right now, hmmm...

Every parent has said it before, and this year I join their ranks. Why did we buy him presents? All he wants is the box and paper. Well, and maybe a package of socks.

The Most Enduring Christmas Tradition

The tree is great and the food is nice, but our most long-running Christmas tradition has got to be the ward program the Sunday before Christmas. I tried my best to get out of it this year with a nasty case of laryngitis, but it was no use. I was asked by our choir director to lead and lip-synch two of the songs while she sang my part. I also played violin on the third piece we did. I did manage to get the trio I was in postponed, but it's still slated for next week.

For his part, Darreck sang a solo and a duet and supported all my ranting and raving during the rehearsals I led while the regular director was out of town. I'm probably not the nicest ward choir director in the world (as many in Moscow will attest to), but I believe that ward choirs should be held to a higher accountability than they usually are. That or I'm just a tiny-bit power hungry. I'll let you decide...

All joking aside, I'm so grateful for the talents I've been blessed with and the chance to use them in praise to our Heavenly Father. I hope this Christmas season that we can all take some time to sing beautiful music about Christ, and remember the reason we celebrate Christmas. The birth of our Lord and Savior is the absolute best reason to be joyful and sing praise.

Crawl and Screech (as opposed to twist and shout)

It's official- Max started crawling yesterday! It has been so gradual that I thought he would probably drag it out until after Christmas, but last week he figured out how to pull his knees under him, then he rocked back and forth for a week, and yesterday he finally got coordinated. Today was the real clincher, however. He discovered the printer was on the floor, and that was all the motivation he needed to really get going. So far today he has manhandled the printer, chewed on both remotes, and tried to pull the tree over on himself. Let the fun begin! Everyone suddenly feels the need to warn me about how hard he'll be to keep up with, but I'm super happy for him. He's developing ahead of schedule; what more could a mommy want?

As for the other part of the title, he has also figured out screeching this week. I honestly did not know he could go that high pitched. I'm starting to miss the out and out crying- at least he only did that when he was upset. Screeching is the new response to any and all emotions. We'll have to work extra hard on talking now! Ooh, we'll work on that and sleeping. Yeah, sleep and quiet would be good...

Santa (and) Baby

Ward Christmas party was tonight and Max got his first taste of Santa. While he wasn't afraid of him, it was past his bedtime, so it wasn't exactly a joyous event. Oh well, he still was the cutest kid there (not that I'm biased or anything).

New Job!

Great, incredible, awesome, wonderful news today! Darreck has officially been hired by the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind as a counselor, starting January 4th. After all these months of worry, he finally has a state job (the whole reason we moved here) and now we get to start reaping the benefits of paid vacation, sick leave, exempt salary, pension retirement, and unbeatable benefits. It's kind of funny, no five year old says "I want to be a [fill in the blank] because it has such great benefits!", but it seems to look a whole lot sweeter as you get to be an adult!

The best part of this job is that it's gratifying for so many more reasons than just the benefits. While I know Darreck's public service will never make us rich, I'm so proud of his dedication to advocating for marginalized populations. His service minded nature is what first attracted me to him, and I'm willing to forgoe a fancy house in favor of supporting his social responsible career choice. Besides, he'll be great with the kids. They're going to be so thrilled to have him once they get to know him- he is amazing at what he does.

This move will be bittersweet, however. Darreck has really enjoyed his current job, and I know he'll miss his students. Luckily for us, his employer has been so great about helping him find this job, and has even offered to hire hime back on for summer work. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that his new job is on a teacher's contract (185 days), and he has ALL SUMMER AND ALL BREAKS OFF!!!!! Beyond excited about that. The only interesting part is that his position is in the residential program so he will be working 1:30-9:30 at night Wednesday-Sunday most weeks. I don't mind; I'm a cops kid, so I'm definately used to it.

We're looking forward to this transition over the next month, and we're so thankful for this opportunity our family has been given. We are so blessed. This is the best Christmas present I could possibly ask for.

Dreamin of Spring

I've been putting off updating the blog because I knew I would have to talk about winter, my least favorite subject ever. But, it's been a really good week (minus the -2 degree high) and I shouldn't let a little winter weather stand in the way of talking about it.

On Friday we went to the Christmas Stroll with my mom and Kayla and had a great time. Max stayed warm at home with Great-Grandma. Downtown was fun, and I got my favorite fish tacos, so life was good. I had forgotten about some of Great Falls' yearly traditions, and I'm enjoying rediscovering the sense of community spirit here. Christmas Stroll was always a childhood favorite, and I feel like it's brand new again now that I'm older.

Saturday was dad's birthday. We started off the very snowy day by cleaning the church, and then I led choir practice. Max, once again, stayed behind with Grandma Necia while the rest of us went to see A Christmas Carol in 3-D. Cool special effects, but a little too intense for a Christmas movie, at least in my opinion. To top off the day, we went to Eddie's for dad's favorite- spaghetti.

I really am trying to stay positive in the midst of this awful weather. Here's my list of why I tolerate winter (as opposed to moving to Hawaii):

• Max looks SO cute in his little marshmallow man snowsuit
• At least we don't get as much snow as Moscow
• Down comforters and flannel sheets
• Hot chocolate, caramel steamers, and spiced apple cider
• Chinooks! and the sanity they temporarily bring
• Christmas movies- the happy ones, not the scary ones
• Being a stay at home mommy and laughing at all the poor people who have to go outside to work every morning (yeah, that's a little mean-spirited, sorry)

And, last but not least:

• Eventually, spring will come and I'll appreciate it even more after the cold

Stay warm everyone!