Frosty

Ask me how much I enjoy the beautiful snow during these Utah winters. The answer is that I don't. It isn't that I don't want to participate in winter activities; I would love to learn how to ice skate and ski and spend the day sledding bringing my kids home to yummy mugs of hot chocolate. The first winter I spent here in Utah I learned that I have Raynaud's and being in the cold has since been quite painful for me. Once I had Noah I felt terrible about not being able to stand being in the cold because he was missing out on all the fun things he could do in the snow. I only need a few fingers to count how many times I have ventured out there with him. I am so grateful that now Noah has a step-dad and a sister that doesn't mind being out in the cold as much as I do.
Here are some pics of their sledding adventure.

Thanks Ben for being a good sport and taking the kids sledding!

Precious Babies

Elijah and Faith Palea were born January 5, 2010. Both babies are healthy and strong and were able to come home with mom (Cheryl) after just a few days.

Welcome to our crazy family precious angels! Aunt Lindsey loves you!!!

Jingle All the Way!

This Christmas was off to a slow start, with two pregnant women in their third trimester, one toddler, one stressed out husband rushing to finish finals and one wonderful mommy dearest trying to pick up everyone's slack. We didn't even get up all of our decorations until the week of Christmas, but that was when Noah was able to start his vacation, so I think it was a nice surprise for him to come home to all the pretty lights and ornaments.

My ever-talented Ben made this adorable table and chairs for Hope to enjoy her tea sets. I had a table similar to this when I was young and that is probably my most memorable childhood Christmas morning. Knowing Ben, I begged him several times to keep it simple and home-made looking. I know it was a struggle for him; I'm sure if I'd have let him he would have made a very fancy and detailed one for his little princess. It turned out perfect (just as I imagined) and little Hopie couldn't stop smiling about her tea table Christmas morning.



Noah is getting old enough now that Santa has a hard time delivering reasonably priced and useful gifts for him to enjoy. Luckily, everything came together at the last minute and Noah had plenty of pleasant surprises to unwrap. A couple of the presents are Harry Potter books. I am proud to say that my eight year old genius can read and actually understand those ridiculously thick books. :)



Noah has been the designated Santa for the past couple of Christmas mornings. He does a great job passing out all the presents. Ben labeled one of my presents To: A Wonderful Mommy and when Noah read that he delivered it promptly to grandma Bosley. :) See mom, all the years we've told you how wonderful you are, what better proof than that?
This is Noah delivering a gift to Aunt Cheryl.



This is Noah playing with an Alien guy from his Lego building set. I love his eyebrows in this picture.



Noah was set on catching Santa this year and finally after days of trying to convince him that Christmas would be a lot more fun if he just enjoyed the surprise he said he would wait till next year. Santa didn't want to risk it though so he piled gift boxes at Noah's bedroom door with a sign that said "Better luck next year". When Noah opened the door at 4:30 am all the boxes came crashing in on him. (They were empty so it didn't hurt).



After everyone finished unwrapping their presents Chef Ben made everyone a yummy omelet and pancake breakfast.



Thanks so much to grandpa Bosley who was Santa's helper this year and made this Christmas possible. Love you dad!

Noah and the Hobo Fairy

A few weeks ago my mom was telling Noah a story about when she was a young girl and lived close to some train tracks. She told him that the hobos would knock at their door and her mom would have them sit on the porch and give them something to eat.

When Noah lost his second tooth he told me that we had to clean it really good cause the tooth fairies used the teeth as light bulbs to regenerate their electricity. There was a little bit of blood in the tooth that I couldn't get out and he told me that we could just give it to a "hobo fairy". It had been weeks since my mom's story and so it took me a minute to understand what he was saying. Then Noah wanted to make an envelope for the tooth and put a Reese cup with the tooth as a special surprise. Next he wrote a note that said:

"Please take this tooth to a hobo fairy. And please take this Reese's to a hobo fairy.

To: Hobo Fairy From: Noah Please talk to me."

Of course I couldn't resist having the hobo fairy write him a note back. Ben used his fancy handwriting skills and made the paper look old and singed around the edges and I wrote a little thank you poem. Noah was so excited to see that the hobo fairy had actually left him a note!

This child never ceases to amaze me with his awesome imagination.

Trick-or-Treat

Tea Party

Uncle Mike and Uncle Mark sent Hope the cutest little tea set I have ever seen. Hope absolutely LOVES it, and will spend hours rearranging the cups and using the tiny spoons to scoop from the sugar pot and creamer. In the pics below, she was having a tea party with Muffin. Thanks Uncle Mike and Uncle Mark!!!!

Muffin is always very interested in what the kids are playing with, but I think he was a little confused with this one.

Baby Maxwell

Ben got his wish. He's always wanted two little girls, and yesterday we found out that the baby I am currently "building" is in fact, a girl! So far she looks perfect and healthy and it was such a relief to actually be able to see that instead of just trying to believe it.

Daddy was in charge of picking her name and he did a great job...

Meet Evelyn Lily Maxwell!