Toe Pick

We've been enjoying our Winter Break going on outings and spending time with friends and family.

Yesterday, I took all four kids ice skating with some of their friends.

Ella Grace

Lace and I busting a groove on ice.

Sisters and besties.  All the other kids had been skating before but yesterday was Riley's first time!  And she loved it!  She took to it quickly and has been asking me all day today when we can go and do it again.

Tanner and his buddy, Matthew.

This morning we drove to Calvert County, about an hour and a half away so that we could hike to the Calvert Cliffs.

Calvert Cliffs State Park has a sandy beach at the end of a 1.8 mile trail. 

 The massive cliffs, from which Calvert Cliffs State Park was named, dominate the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay for roughly 24 miles in Calvert County and were formed over 10 to 20 million years ago when all of Southern Maryland was covered by a warm, shallow sea. When the sea receded the cliffs were exposed and began eroding. Today these cliffs reveal the remains of prehistoric species Including sharks, whales, rays, and seabirds that were the size of small airplanes.

We even saw a sea plane!

And Tanner found some fossils including a big shark tooth!

And Ella wrote messages in the sand.

"Ella Loves Mom and Dad."

And then on the way home, we went to Fro Yo as a treat for finishing the 16-volume illustrated version of the Book of Mormon.  We've been reading it all year and finally finished!  Our goal was to finish it by the end of the year, so we completed our goal with two days to spare ;)

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Christmas Eve..... my favorite day of the year!  It's my favorite because I love anticipation.  I love the actual "looking forward to" even more than the actual "thing."  Because once the "thing" arrives, it's so quickly over.  But when it's the day before.... it's still ahead of you.

So, we woke up yesterday morning, got donuts for breakfast and played on the trampoline.

Then, we went with Dave's entire family to the movies (his family Christmas Eve tradition) to see Mary Poppins Returns.

Dave bought the original Mary Poppins and we watched it together as a family the night of the 23rd, so it was fun to watch this one right after watching the original.

The whole crew 17 strong!

Then the six of us went out to pizza (a Mitchell family tradition)

And drove all over town to see the lights (also a Mitchell family tradition).

Our favorite tree.  Every single branch is lit.  We go to see this tree every year.

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus....

Here is the story of the tree.  Too bad the paper is all wrinkly.  But the bottom line is, in 1986, the single bachelor that lived in this house bought a small little sapling at the urging of his sister who told him he "had" to have a Christmas tree.  He said after Christmas, he went outside and planted it in the yard, not knowing what else to do with it and never gave it another thought.  Thirty-two years later, THIS is THAT tree!  He lights it every year as a gift to the community.

Then we came home and opened our matching PJs. 

And then we opened our "Ashmore gifts."  My mom's friend MariCarmen Ashmore sent us gifts every Christmas growing up and it became a tradition to go out to pizza at Connie's pizza, then drive around and see the lights, then come home and open the "Ashmore gifts." Now, I have continued that tradition with my kids!

And then it was time for bed......

So that Santa could come!  Here's the pic of him arriving!

And after he left!

The kids got up at the crack of dawn and got in line from youngest to oldest.  We read Luke 2 about the birth of the Savior and then.....

Opened stockings!

Then we surrounded the tree and took turns opening gifts.

A ukulele....

Thank you, Lacey!

Lacey in her warm cozy reading blanket from Aunt Lindsay.

A nerlie!!

And LOL dolls!

Tanner got a harmonica from Hammy and Papa Mitchell. And I told the story about how much his Great-Grandpa John, Hammy's dad, loved the harmonica.  And would love for him to have one!

Thank you, Ella!

My gift from Riley.... whatever could it be....

Homemade puppets "that it took me an hour and a half to make!"

Thanks, Riley! 💜

My face says it all.... "What? Really?"

In actuality, it was a "prank box" from Dave and wasn't this at all (it was a new sports bra for when I go running - ha!)

Homemade gifts are the best.

And earrings from your 11 year old daughter.

Lacey's "biggie."  A hoverboard..... she's been asking for one for over a year.

Then we gave all the kids some time to play with their gifts before....

Going to Nana and Grandpa's house to hang out with the family for the afternoon.

Uncle Jack played with Ella.

And after dinner, we all gathered around and exchanged some gifts.

Thanks for the doll, cousin Tyler!

It's been a long time since all 9 cousins have been together. 

Then we played Apples to Apples while Ella (who hasn't been feeling well) snuggled with Grandpa.

And I loved getting these pictures from my sister, Maret throughout the day. My parents are with her in California to celebrate Christmas.

I am grateful for family and friends.  Grateful for the birth and life of the Savior.  Grateful for the excitement of Christmas and to be surrounded by the happiness of children.

Merry Christmas to all!  And to all, a good-night.....