Fresh Mountain Air!

The day after Christmas we loaded up the car and headed up to Lost Creek Camp to play in the snow. We stopped along the way to see the elk at a feeding station and then ate lunch at he Gold Creek cafe. Then on to the camp we went were we spent he next 4 hours sledding & snowmobiling. When everyone was worn out we had snacks in the lodge and played a little ping pong. It was a blast!

Elk
Check out the size of that pancake!




Jay coming up the sledding hill.


Ella Bella was a dare devil...my kind of girl!

Mommy & Moo loved to try and go as fast as they could before running into the trees!

Baby Kara all bundled up...and she looks so happy about it!


Papa takes Hud & Kenna for a ride.

Jaxon, getting tired of climbing the sledding hill.

Jase & Kenna had a great time rolling in the snow together.

Ella & Huddy got pulled on the sled all the way across the camp.

Ty didn't last long in the snow. He didn't want to fall down and he didn't like being cold so he took a nap in the lodge while the rest of us played in the snow.

Kenna has a need for speed (and crashing)!

The daddies pushing the kids down the hill.

Papa with the snow covered kids.

As if playing in the snow wasn't enough to wear these kids out, Papa had then running lines before we got in the car and headed back to Yak.

Christmas Day

Stockings to start the day off!

Next to my salvation, Jay is the greatest gift Ive ever received!
We spent the day playing with all the kids new toys.

Lots of fun fun things to play with!

Ella Bella in her new shades!

The Phillips family of 5! What a good looking family! We loved spending time with you guys!

Mamo with 7 of her 9 grand kids and Great Grandpa & Grandma Clark.

Papa playing cars with Ty.

Great Grandma Norma sporting her new sweater from the night before. She was such a trooper. She just had a hp replacement 3 weeks ago! But she didn't miss out of any of the fun!

Hughes family on Christmas day. One of the greatest joys in life is watching your kids be excited about Christmas. And yet my heart longs to see them grasp with their whole life the true meaning. May the Lord draw each of you to Him and may you live your life for the one true king!

Christmas Eve

We...


Met baby Kara for the first time. What a sweet sweet girl she is! Kenna loved getting to hold her. We hung out with Josh and Heather and the kids for the day until they headed out to do Christmas Eve with Heather's fam.

...saw this face a lot on the trip (its his new look...Ty's not Jay's =)).
...went down to the Union Gospel Mission to participate in the Christmas Eve service. Jaxon and Kenna recited Luke 2 and Kenna sang a song. (the torch has been passed!)

...then we handed out gifts to the homeless. Hudson really enjoyed this. Once, this guy shook Huddy's hand and told him to have a Merry Christmas, and after they guy walked away Hudson looked up and said " I like that guy". It was so cute!

...we got to spend time with my cousin Shannon.

...It was us, mom & dad, Grandpa & Grandma Phillips, Shannon and Uncle Rick on Christmas eve. It was very enjoyable.

...Ty got a car puzzle
...Huddy got to open the first present because he was SO excited about opening presents.
...Jaxon got a BSU pennant signed by the Bronco's Coach, a shirt, book & hat...all BSU.

...Kenna got lots of fun girly stuff and Jay got Blazer gear!

We love our Church Family

We have been so blessed to be a part of Faith Community Bible Church for almost 4 years now and we love the people in this church like family. We chose to leave for Yakima a few days later so that we could spend "Christmas Eve Eve" with our church friends to worship and celebrate the birth of Christ. The service started at 5:00 so we were able to load up the car ahead of time and have it ready to go right after the service. The service was awesome! It started snowing right before the service started so we were praying for clear roads. Almost everyone there said to us at sometime that they would pray for our safety. Thanks to all of you...the Lord heard you and we made it there safe and sound! There was snow from Boise to Baker City but after that (which is usually the scariest part of the trip) the temp was 40 degrees and raining! Praise the Lord. We made it to Yakima only 45 minutes later than usual.

Lets go see the lights & Let it snow!

I love it when it snows! I get all giddy and feel like we need to go do something so we can be out in it! Well, it just so happens that it snowed the day we went to see Jay's dad! We came out of the home(after taking him a tree, decorating the tree & singing songs) and there was a good covering of snow! Yippee! We had planned on taking the kids up to Quail Ridge where this guy decorates every square inch of his house in Christmas lights so it was even more fun because it was snowing! We got out of the car this time and walked around the property. The last few years that we have done this its just cold out and no one really wants to get out of the car, but not this time. It never seems as cold to me when its snowing! The kids loved seeing all the lights and loved trying to catch big snowflakes on their tongues. It was a fabulous evening. I love these not planned nights with our kids that seem to always be the most memorable.

Skinny Boy

I just had to share these. Tyson is feeling himself again....YIPPEEEEE!!! But look at those poor little bird legs. =( He use to have the chubbiest thighs. He was so sick & lost so much weight that he doesn't even have his little baby boy body anymore. So sad. But he still is adorable in this mama's eyes.

Kids Christmas Program

This was a night greatly anticipated for my little girl. As the story goes, Kenna tried out for a singing part which she didn't get and was extremely devastated by, to later find out that the lady in charge loved her strong voice and wanted her to do a speaking part instead! She practiced for weeks! When it came time to perform it on stage in front of hundreds of people she beamed! My stomach was in knots for her, that she might forget her lines or something...but no, she spoke every word with clarity and didn't forget one! I was so proud of her! I asked her afterwards if she was nervous and she said "nope, not one smidgen". =) Here are pictures from the program. Jaxon sang with the choir as did Kenna. It was such a great night filled with sweet Christmas music sung by sweet little kids.

Here she is all dressed up for the night.

Where's Kenna?



This is the 1st & 2nd grade choir. Kenna is in the second row, second to the end on the right side of the picture.
Here she is! Way to go Kenna! Mommy & Daddy were so proud of you!

Jaxon with the 3rd & 4th grade choir


The Foundations Children's Choir
Proud mommy!
Crazy Aunt Bridge & Uncle Chad came to watch (and help take pictures!) Thanks for coming!
Jaxon said it felt "goooooooood" to take off his tie!