Gracie however is not so happy the new year started. Her friend Nina has moved to New Zealand for 6 months and Gracie has been an emotional little thing. I keep reminding her that she is lucky she didn't move away forever. Not much help. 
Will has resolved to spend some more time in deep thought and promises to make lots of messes to keep me busy.
And we are all going to try harder to find ways to enjoy the snow. 
Nicolle and Odie came to visit for Christmas. Samuel asked me every day for a month if it was the day the Odie was coming.
We have a tradition that we make sugar cookies on Christmas eve. This year Christmas eve was so crazy and I was so far behind getting everything done that we make the cookies the day after Christmas. They still tasted great.
Will only knock over the Christmas tree twice while it was up.
The kids new way to set up their nativity
I didn't take a lot of pictures this year but this is my favorite. It has been awhile since we have had a big tree in our house. We don't have a lot of space and so for several years we have had a little tree that sat on top of the TV. Our friends thought we were pathetic and brought us this real tree. The kids thought it was great to lay under the tree and look at the lights.
Rodney and his great branch choir put on a Christmas program. They looked so cute and did a wonderful job. It was a great way to remind us of the real meaning of Christmas.
The primary kids all sang a song and Jack was a cow in the stable.
Travis Huckaby entertaining the kids.
We also had some great pictures taken by my brother in law.
The Eberhard grand kids
The whole Theron Eberhard Family.
This is our family picture. It turned out so great. If you happened to get our Christmas card I was a little unhappy about the way it looked after it was printed and I like this picture a lot more but I had already ordered the card. That is the way life is I guess.
Jack and Gracie Looooved skiing. I could not believe how fast they picked it up. Especially because Rodney and I were not that great of teachers. Kids have no fear I guess that is why they learn so fast.
The kids did not like us to ride on the lift with them. I found out on the way home that Jack saw a girl fall off the lift. They definitely would not be alone if I had know that earlier.
Jack just took off down the hill. I had a hard time keeping up with him. He still need to learn how to snow plow and turn but luckily the bunny hill was just the right slop so he could parallel down and as long as he could keep is balance he made it to the bottom of the hill.
Gracie was a little more timid but if she thought she was going to fast she would just fall down. By the end of the day thought she was able to go around the ski school cones and was really good at turning back and forth on the slope and snow plowing.
We ate lunch in the car.
Did Gracie have a good time? This face says it all.
Gracie and I enjoying the lift ride. We had a wonderful day and hope that we will be able to go a few more times. Tamarack witch is only about 30 minutes away is open this season and we are hoping that some ski time might remedy my strong dislike of the snow and long winter.
