Thankful Thursday

We still feel like we are settling back in from our trip to Idaho. Today was the first day that I have really had to completely unpack, put things away, and do some laundry. It's been a very busy past week, including my wisdom teeth being removed (it went very quickly and the recovery has been amazing. PRAISE God!), celebrating Christmas twice, and spending time with family. We are also gearing up for another long, busy weekend, and Greg is on a 48 hour shift. 

All that being said, I am very grateful that we were able to make it to Idaho, and that we were able to spend such a long time with my family before spending such and intense (but still very good) holiday season with Greg's family.

In Idaho we: 

Spent time with Grandpa and Grandma 

 

Watched countless videos of trains  

(this is now the most requested video yes, it is 2 hours long)

Ate like kings and gained 10 pounds, just in time for Christmas pictures

Dressed like bandits for fun in the SNOW

Turned Seven Months Old!

And started pushing up to sitting, self-feeding proficiently, and became increasingly mobile

 

Spent time sledding and playing with the dogs

 

We were reminded what a good dog Helga is and learned lessons in patience from an old dog

 

Finished a wall, installed 5 windows, and installed a chimney for the wood-burning cookstove that I learned to cook on in the guest cabin

 Tried out some new fashions

 

Played in the snow  

(Greg was able to use his new snowboarding gear 4 times in fresh powder!)

Played with Uncle Robby

Who mostly enjoyed using the kids as weights for exercise

 

Played with the toys that were my brothers and mine when we were younger

 Shoveled snow

Spent time with family 

(Missing my brother John and sister-in-law Amy) 

And generally, just enjoyed Nora's very first visit to Idaho

When we left to come home, this is what the weather looked like...

 And this is what it was doing on the last leg of the trip. Yes, we drove home in a blizzard, through the worst part, to come home to rain. Bleh.

Someone asked me if the car was a mess for the drive.  I laughed hysterically.

Fortunately we were able to stay for the night with my friend Laurel in Montana. It broke the trip up wonderfully for both us and the kids, and it was such a treat to be able to spend time with her family. We feel very grateful to know them and to have been welcomed into their home. 

I can't imagine what driving through the blizzard would have been like if we hadn't left when we did, and been able to stay in Montana. 

To recap: 

We arrived home Thursday afternoon after traversing through Winter Storm Draco, I had my wisdom teeth removed Friday, Greg had hockey Friday night and just stayed at the firehouse after, my brother-in-law Rob and sister-in-law Stephanie came with their puppy to help while Greg was on shift Saturday, we spent Sunday and Christmas Eve with the Zarko family, and then Christmas afternoon with Greg's grandparents...yesterday and today are recovery days. 

So, Christmas...

Ben was entirely enthralled by the train that his Grandpa Zarko made sure was set up for him under the tree. He was very good and very careful not to touch it. He also told anyone who walked by him all about the train and repeating constantly train sounds. It was a wonderful treat.

 

The entire Zarko family was together on Christmas Eve, which has been their tradition for years now. It is fun for me to see how much we have grown over the past few years and how blessed we have all been. 

For our Christmas the kids each received one gift. 

Ben got a Thomas the Tank Engine play mat (thank you thrift store!) and his very own wooden diesel train. He was thrilled!

Nora was still wondering why we were out of bed.

 Nora received a bead maze. She thinks it's okay, and much prefers the wrapping and attention from Dad.

The kids also received one special gift from Germany. My friend Julia brought them back a Glockenspiel (or xylophone) that they have both been enjoying. Ben often brings it right next to Nora and plays while Nora laughs and giggles. 

 

 

As this will be the last post of 2012, I do believe I met my goal of one post per week for the entire year. I hope to catalog physically all of the posts, as it really is nice to look back over the year and see how each member of our family has grown through the challenges in our lives. I find that I am most thankful for my family, for our health, for our happiness and love for each other, and the prospect of our future together.