Christmas 2015

 We had a busy, but very fun and family-filled Christmas this year!

With their excitement over celebrating Jesus' birthday, and their innocent belief in Santa, Rudy (their elf), and their growing appreciation that there are others in need, this was one of the richest, most rewarding Christmas seasons I've spent as Porter's and Emma Rose's mom. 

Porter, of his own volition, made a point to only ask Santa for a small handful of items this years, and both kids went through all of their toys before Christmas and chose what they wanted to give to others before receiving more.

We had a lovely Christmas Eve celebration at Nana and Papa's with all the Leavitt cousins this year.

It's so fun to see their little friendships developing.  Emma Rose talks about her best friend, Caroline, all the time; while Porter and Ansley are partners in crime, Caroline and Emma Rose are 2 princess-diva peas-in-a-pod!

On Christmas morning, Porter and Emma Rose waited impatiently for mom and dad to get downstairs so they could find out if Santa actually came to our house...

...And of course he did!

Later that morning we drove down to Monument to spend Christmas day with the AK Sowas!

We were greeted by a herd of about 25 deer... and possibly a lingering reindeer or 2 as well!

Emma Rose and Porter will thrilled to be reunited with Morgan and Dylan!

 Sherry had beautiful bracelets designed for the Cowlitz Indian tribe! What a unique and beautiful gift to pass down to the kiddos.

Our passionate little artist, Emma Rose was thrilled to have a Christmas art project to work on!

The next morning, we headed up for a Sowa Christmas celebration in Keystone.  Uncle Carlos joined us for a day as well!

Jarrod, Lori, Carlos, Porter, Emma Rose, Corey, Morgan, Dylan

This is what happens when kids get cold and you have to take a break...

(Photos courtesy of Porter Sowa)

So fun to see the kids skiing and playing together again!

 Lori and Corey and I got a day to hike and ski on the back side of Keystone on our last full day there.  It was so beautiful!

I love this sign we found back there! Corey's pointing to the one that shows the distance to the Bronco's stadium...

Corey and the kids and I got a beautiful ski day in at Beaver Creek...or half-day.  Beautiful but bloody cold, so we barely braved the cold on our bare hands to get a picture.

In fact, toward the end of our 4th run, Emma Rose decided she was cold and done...Ignoring Corey's and my attempts at persuading her to stop to warm up her fingers and toes with some hot chocolate, the girl who knows what she wants began to scream the whole way down the mountain, skiing at lightning speed and screaming, "I'm going home!!!!!" She reached the base, took off her boots and began to march toward the bus.  Corey tried to encourage a hot cocoa break again, to which she responded to a swift kick in his boot-shins, an attempt to remove his boots from his bindings, and a determined, sobbing, march to the bus.  I guess -6 degrees is a little too cold for a 4-year-old? Who'd have guessed it!?!?!

Our fun Christmas season came to an end with Ansley's 9th birthday celebration.

Emma Rose and Porter had a blast watching Ansley and I participate in indoor flying.  Ansley was so cute.  She told me this was probably her favorite birthday present.  She's a dare-devil, for sure!

Happy New Year to all from the Sowas to you.  

Wishing you rest, joy, and a year full of reasons to smile!

Daisy wishes you a Happy New Year too:
"Play hard, my friends (all 2 of you) and be true to yourself.  Now leave me alone."