Winter cabin trip

It's always an adventure when we visit Grandma and Grandpa Hendricks' cabin in Island Park during the winter. Even though the cabin winterizing is down to a science now, somehow snow gremlins broke in and mess with enough stuff to keep it interesting for us.

For starters, it was extremely cold in the cabin when we got there Thursday night (Jan. 22). We had anticipated that, so we turned on the furnace, started a fire, turned on the electric blankets of the beds we'd be sleeping in and bundled up until things warmed up.

What we hadn't foreseen was having the pipes frozen. And the six inches of water in the toilet tank and bowl. Fortunately, we were able to get water from a pipe in the front closet, so we filled buckets, poured them into pots on the stove, warmed up the water and melted the ice in the toilet. We all felt a little happier knowing we could flush, but with the pipes still frozen, we had to continue to transport buckets of water to the tank.

We spent the first night in our cozy beds, then went sledding, drank hot chocolate, watched movies and played with Hot Wheels cars and a track until the pipes finally thawed the next afternoon (during mine and Winnie's naps). With water running through all the taps, Seth was able to take a much-appreciated shower (he had spent a good deal of time crawling around in the crawlspace/tunnels underneath the cabin trying use space heaters and a blowtorch to thaw the pipes), and we were able to wash the dishes much more easily.

Our second night and day at the cabin were much like the first, with plenty of snow, sledding, snow cave building and playing, icicle harvesting, movie watching, hot chocolate drinking, snacking and playing with cars. Good times were had by all, and we were able to come home and find Peach and Cory (Miriam's goldfish from preschool) none the worse from our absence.

Gwendolen and Miriam playing with cars inside the cabin.

Rebekah in her "squirrel cave" she made by hollowing out the snow below the crust.

Analee and Rebekah inside the cave Seth dug out for them in the yard at the cabin.

Analee climbing through the chimney/chute they dug out later from the cave.

Gwendolen eating a "snow cracker," as she called it.

Miriam after successfully climbing out the chute.

To see more Island Park pictures, start here.

Winter festivities

Because we had two sickies immediately prior to Christmas, we didn't have the chance to go see Christmas lights or make gingerbread houses until after the holiday. Honestly, I think it worked out better that way, because then we had some things to keep us occupied during the break.

Analee and Seth with the house they built together.

Detail of their house. They were especially proud of the snowman they contrived.

Miriam with the house she and I built together. She decided where everything went.

The chocolate Santa peeking up through Miriam's chimney.

Rebekah with the house she did completely by herself.

Rebekah and Analee after the gingerbread house decorating.

It got so cold during the break that Seth was able to do this trick for the girls (again):

Take a mug of boiling water outside in sub-zero temperatures ...

... fling it into the air ...

... and watch the water turn into snow before it hits the ground.

And when it warmed up a little (after the break), the two older girls decided to make a snowman of a different sort.

Analee's teacher sent a note home saying that parents could take pictures of their kids' snowmen and email them to her so she could share them with the class. I think Rebekah and Analee's snowman was different than the others.

Breaking out of her snowman.

Miri-ism #30

Andrea was making Chex Muddy Buddies for a Family Home Evening treat.

Miri: When I get married, will you make this for the treat at my reception?
Andrea: Sure!
Seth: But first you need to find a nice boy who will take you to the temple to get married. What do you think he will look like?
Miri: Like Weird Al. Only without the crazy wigs and stuff. Just normal.

Christmas

We started our Christmas Eve with our annual trip to the Museum of Idaho for their free exhibit.

Looking at Santas on display.

Funny girl with her funny pigtails.

Miriam using the proper method of cough coverage. Unfortunately both she and Winnie had to be prescribed antibiotics the day before--Miriam for a nasty ear infection that woke her up at 1 a.m. Tuesday, and Winnie for strep throat.

Rebekah getting dressed up in the Children's Discovery Room. From my parents we received a year's membership to the Museum of Idaho, so we'll be making many return trips.

After the museum, we went to the church for the Hendricks lunch/activities/festivities.

 Miriam crafting it up with paint swatches.

It appears that Angel Winnie needs a refresher on what to do with that halo. Seth was the narrator for the nativity.

 Analee as Mary for the first time in her seven years of life. It's rough when you have a lot of sisters vying for the coveted role.

Miriam the wise person, Analee and Rebekah the sheep surrounding baby Jesus (Hudson) with the other players.

The supervising spectators.

Analee taking a swing at the piñata. It obviously didn't hold up much longer, so the bigger kids just took swings at it while it sat on the floor.

Miriam and Emma going for a ride in the smashed piñata.

Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa Scott's house for schnitzel, music and pajamas.

Rebekah playing the Christmas songs she had been assigned at piano lessons. She played "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Carol of the Bells."

Analee and Andrea playing Christmas duets. Analee had played "Up on the Housetop" and "Jingle Bells" by herself before this; she and I played "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night."

Seth and Andrea perform "Baby, It's Cold Outside." We had played/sung it at the ward Christmas party a couple of weeks prior, but we had to subject my siblings to it on Christmas Eve since they weren't in attendance.

Miriam, Bennet and Analee blowing out the candles of the spinning nativity. The kids had all shown an interested in the nativity as it sat atop Grandma's piano, so they lit the candles on Christmas Eve so the kids could see how the warm air makes it spin.

Watch what happens when a little person stands on top of your new jammies.

Whoops!

Analee holds her Christmas Eve jammies and checks out Rebekah's.

Winnie reacts to her new jammies. "They're pink! They have kitties! They're soft!"

Miriam dons her penguins.

The dresser Andrea refinished for Jessica's Christmas present.

On Christmas morning, we descended the steps to see what awaited us.

Miriam had picked out the Barbie and monkey slippers a while ago, but had to wait a long time to get them for Christmas.

Seth helps Analee and Rebekah figure out their Fijits. Each girl received one of the mini robot pets.

Winnie playing with her new Hello Kitty activity book.

Andrea wearing the "MOM" headband Analee made her.

Then we went over to Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Susan's for more present unwrapping.

Miriam excited about the Barbie clothes/accessories she received.

Rebekah watching Analee unwrap her present. Both girls received audio books for their Kindles; Grandma put colored feathered in a gift bag so they'd have something tangible at her house.

Winnie and Kelsey wearing their matching Christmas presents.

After lunch and a much-needed nap (for both me and Winnie), we went back over to the Scotts for a few more presents and leftover schnitzel.

To see more Christmas pictures, start here.

November/December catch-up

I will be better at blogging. I will ... I will ... (If I tell myself that enough times, I think it might come true.)

EARLY NOVEMBER

Meridian! Shelby's baptism! Playing with cousins! Staying in a fancy hotel only to find out the pool was closed for maintenance!

Libby, Analee, Shelby, Ellie, Miriam, Gwendolen and Rebekah outside the stake center following Shelby's baptism.

Uncle Jon tickling Winnie on the way home. He obviously left an impression on Winnie, because just today she told me, "Uncle Jon is funny. He tickles me."

Libby, Ellie and Analee helping Grandma Scott make schnitzel at Uncle Jon and Aunt Annie's house.

Aunt Annie and I preparing plates for our girls.

Ellie and Miriam playing at the park.

Analee on the monkey bars.

Rebekah, Winnie, Miriam and Analee outside the Boise Temple before our drive back to I.F.

LATE NOVEMBER

Elk head in the driveway! Christmas tree hunting! More cousins!

Winnie trying on her sisters' snow clothes.

Miriam, Analee, and their first snowman of the season.

Dennis, Seth, dead elk. The antlers are hanging in the shop. The meat is chilling in the freezer.

Seth introducing Winnie to the elk head after her nap.

Elk head. On a four-wheeler. In a truck. In the driveway.

To see more pictures of early/late November, start here.

Scotts (Grandma and Grandpa), more Scotts (Uncle Jon and family), more Scotts (Uncle Tyson and family) and Grovers hunting for Christmas trees.

Seth taking Bennet and Libby on the four-wheeler while Andrea hauls Winnie in the sling.

Grandma helping Miriam up the snowy slope.

Grandma helping Miriam and Ellie decorate Christmas cookies.

Analee's professionally decorated cookies.

DECEMBER SO FAR

School Festival of Trees! Nutcracker! More sprinkles than one person should eat in a lifetime!

Rebekah wearing some of the photo props ... and her craft.

Analee balancing a mask on her face.

Winnie in a snow hat and feather boa.

Miriam the director.

Four girls with Santa.

Rebekah, Analee and Andrea dressed up to attend the Nutcracker.

Rebekah's sugar cookie creation. She entitled it, "Fully Loaded."

Gwendolen and the cookie Andrea decorated for her.

Miriam's sprinkle overload.

Analee's carefully decorated cookies.

To see more late November/December pictures, start here.