Happy New Year's (8 pm style!)

Up "our hill" we will go!

Each year around New Year's we hike the hill by our house.  Seeing the forecast for rain later this week we decided to do it a little early to try and avoid the mud.  It was surprisingly warm!  

The kids were excited to see the cows in the field along our way up.  When we came down they were even closer to the trail.  

 The amazing view from the top...

  I was having fun playing with a couple of new lens for the camera on my phone.

 I like this one in particular.  For some reason it makes me want to laugh.

 I really like this one too.  Such a great reminder of the beautiful area we live in.

 These two crazy dogs joined us for the hike and a great time was had by all!

On the hunt...for painted cows!

Today we took the kids around to see some of the painted cows that are on display around the City.  We had seen a few already and had a good time seeing a few more (even if they didn't want to at first they all said they had a good time).  

 And yes, this is a mini-cow with Pokemon characters.  I think this is what really got Mason interested in the activity.

 And yes, they are silly!

 It started to get very windy and rather cold when we got to this location.

 We found this little pond and the kids enjoyed sitting on the "dock".  Notice their photo bomber!

 Ha ha Daddy!

 Another mini-cow inside (I like how I got all of our reflection in the mirror behind the cow).

 And the full size one outside!  It was getting dark so we called it a day!  Maybe we will visit more another day...  Wait, we know we will see one tomorrow!  :-)

Christmas take two (or three depending on how you look at it)

This morning we got together with the Remillard's.  We had originally planned on gathering Christmas Eve but Rhys wasn't feeling good so we got together today instead.  Still not 100% but she is on the mend.  More gifts and family time.  

Merry Christmas!

We let the kids come out of their rooms at 6:30 a.m. (Mason was still asleep and they were all very quiet).  They quickly headed downstairs to check out their stockings and see if he ate the cookies.  They had a note waiting for them.  

Santa did enjoy the cookies, and so did Grace (the name of the tooth fairy who visits our house).  

 They then enjoyed emptying their stockings.

 Jenga blocks were divided between their stockings, they got nerf darts, socks, and chocolate coins.

 Then it was on to the gifts from Santa.

Then onto gifts from Mom and Dad.  

 Their big gift from us was their Hatchimals.

 Giving them love to working on the hatching.

 Olivier's hatched first.

 Then Anna's

 Mason's needed a little help.

 Ta da!

 And here is the trio!  (Their eyes seem especially bright in these photos but aren't that crazy bright in person.)

 Later in the day Matt played Jenga with Anna and Mason.

 For dinner we went to the Arnold's and they got more gifts!

Three boys keep us on our toes!

And Anna just loves being with Corbyn!

 It was a wonderful Christmas!