First snow

It snowed this weekend! The first snow of the season was a beautiful, picture-perfect snow. It looked fluffy and light with huge snowflakes, yet was perfect for packing and snowman building. I'm not a huge winter fan, so it wasn't really my cup of tea, but Hazel and the girls were excited to suit up and play, so when in Rome...

It was Hazel's first time seeing snow, and she couldn't contain her joy. Between the hats and mittens tempting her to steal them and the snow just waiting to be eaten and pounced in, she was one tired puppy at the end of the day. 

Our new frosty friend.

Grace loved having Hazel to tromp around in the snow with.

And, as with everything lately...we took our moment of sadness to think about how much we wished we could have shown Will his first snow. However, we tried to remember how much he probably loved watching us make snow angels in it from above. 

11 inches later...

The girls have been enjoying every second of the arctic tundra that we have been living in. Our yard is full of snow tunnels, forts, slides, and a new snowy friend out front. The birds keep taking his Oreo eyeballs and he lost his carrot nose yesterday, but he still looks good!

Norah built herself a little chair for when she gets tired digging. 

The snow tunnels are my favorite. 

Emma was the queen of snowball fights with this one!

Snow boarding

Over the summer the girls found Mark's old snow board and decided that this was the year that they would give it a whirl. A few weeks ago, there was a light dusting, so they took it to the back yard and tested it out. One run down the hill and they were hooked. They have been waiting for a big snow so that they could take it to a "real" hill and see what they're made of.

All fun and games on the small hill. 

With just a little snow, the grass sticking through slowed them down just enough they could get the hang of things. 

The big hill was a different story. They quickly realized how fast they can go once the snow packs down a bit!

Norah led the way on the sled to pack the snow so they could go really fast!

Emma did a great job and quickly learned how to dig in to steer the board. 

Check out how DEEP the snow was!

Of course, Mark had to show off his skills too.

It was windy, cold, and snowy, but everyone left with smiles on their faces.

Advent

Each year instead of filling our Advent Calendar with chocolates and other treats, we fill ours with an activity each day. The girls race each morning to open the drawer of the day and see which activity awaits them. We shop for our Adopt-a-family, ring the Red Kettle Bell for the Salvation Army, make a list of what we're most thankful for...it is a great way to keep in perspective what is most important during Christmas time. 

The girls always love shopping for our Adopt-a-family and it is a great reminder of how fortunate we are. 

The girls love ringing the Red Kettle Bell and with their Christmas Carol singing they always rake in the dough for this awesome Charitable Organization!

Who can resist this face asking for a donation! :)

What a fun way to spend time with friends and help others!

My favorite gifts...

These three make everything about Christmas amazing. 

There is something about watching them enjoy Christmas that makes me enjoy it even more. 

Our advent calendar said the girls could open one present early! Lucky for them they each got a Wii game, and were super surprised to see there was a Wii all hooked up for them in the basement!

Holiday Parties

Each year the Johnson's throw an amazing holiday party for our neighborhood. With tons of great food, games, and friends, it is a holiday party we look forward to you each year. 

The kids had fun doing lots of games, but the favorite was definitely racing to make the adults into the best "olaf" they could make. With three outstanding snowmen, Emma's group took the prize as it included the most OCD children in the bunch. They had the straightest TP wrap imaginable!

Norah loved cooing over "her" babies; Walter, Cameron and Dalton. She would have held those boys all night if she could. 

These neighborhood girls always know how to have fun. Apple shots, anyone?!

Downtown Festival

One of our Advent Calendar activities each year is to go to the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree. With carriage rides, meeting Santa, and visiting his reindeer lots of people crowd the downtown. The line for Santa is always around the block, but we like to go just to see the tree and reindeer. We met our friends at Tomasos for some pizza and enjoyed the night walking around down town and then back the the Lakes house to play for the night. Such a great, relaxing night with friends. 

Gingerbread Houses

The girls love building gingerbread houses each year. A few years back Santa told them that he likes gingerbread cookies, so the tradition of making a gingerbread house and leaving it with milk for Santa to eat when he comes was born. 

Piping on the frosting for the roof.

Each girl took a side and decorated til the hearts content!

Our gingerbread village and milk all ready for Santa.

Holiday DeLight Parade

Our Advent Calendar led us downtown on Saturday. We look forward to the Holiday DeLight Parade each year and with the warmer winter weather (30's is a huge improvement from the last few years) it was a fun night out. Since Grace and I were already downtown from the Nutcracker performance, we met Mark and the little girls at Jersey's for a bite to eat before we hit the parade. Our favorite once again was Santa and his reindeer...it's hard to top the big guy...but the lighted horses were also a big hit. With a quick parade, fewer people and wind-free weather it was the perfect dose of holiday cheer. 

Wisc Dells day 1

Our annual Richmond vacation took place in November again this year. Right before Thanksgiving break we headed to Wisconsin Dells with Mark's family. Since we were just there in July it was fun to see the difference a season can make. In the winter months the Dells are like a ghost town! Nevertheless, we had a great time. We spent the weekend at The Wilderness Resort. It was a quiet little get away in a beautiful cabin that slept all of us comfortably and provided lots of entertainment all within a few minutes. 

The girls liked walking by Santa each time we headed to the waterpark!

The Hurricane was a favorite for the older girls...it gave Norah and I some cuddle time while they rode.

Grace really liked the jumping the waves in the wave pool. With a glass roof completely covering the water park, we had the warmth of the indoors with the natural sun of the summer!

Ready to jump some waves!

Emma loved the waves, but was super brave on the slides. Where in past years Grace was the first down the slides to give recommendations to others, this year Emma was reassuring her big sister that the slides were fun. 

Norah and Lydia had plenty of fun on the smaller slides and splashing in the fountains. 

First snow of the season!

The snow has arrived! I blame Mark, he was talking about snow by Thanksgiving so we could go for a sleigh ride over break, and I scoffed at him and the silliness of taking a sleigh ride at Thanksgiving. Guess I was wrong. I've never been a fan of rushing Thanksgiving to get to the Christmas season, but I'm ready for some decorating, Christmas music, and holiday cheer.