A little escape from the Snow...

So I must say, "First Night" is so doable St.George style. For anyone who has done the "First Night" in Salt Lake City, you know what I'm talking about...frigid temperatures! Yes, we spent some time in St. George during Christmas break with our good friends...hopefully they still consider us good friends after spending four days with us! We actually had a great time celebrating the New Year, letting the kids run wild and wasting some good quality time on their electronic games...whatever did we do with out them.
Well now I have to set some lofty goals for the new year right, maybe it should be to post more regularly so I don't have to do three in one sitting...yes I hope you all noticed, I'm on fire!

The Annual Sleighriding extravaganza...

So for the past few years we've done a sledding day at Eagleridge golf course just above our house, and the Johnsen clan hits the mountain with furry. It's great proximity for those of us who wuss out either because we don't want to come home with a concussion or because we don't care for frost bite. No matter what happens, we always have a good laugh or two watching each other flail down the mountain...good times!

The old Better late than Never...

Well some of you posted Christmas astonishingly fast, and well my hat goes off to you all. I however clearly just got around to it, but I just couldn't let it go without a few highlights, even though looking at the colors green and red right now are making me a whee bit nauseous. We had a wonderful holiday...Santa thankfully didn't disappoint, and the smiles and laughter were in abundance the whole morning! An electric scooter, an American Girl Doll and the Cozy Coupe were the hits of the day...to bad that dang scooter still has seen light of day, wrong state to live in for outdoor gear for Christmas...well at least we know Santa doesn't discriminate. Hope everyone had a wonderful day...peace be with you all!

A Night with Sugarplum Fairies...and Wedgies

Yes...we were out for a lovely night of culture, our annual Nutcracker outing with Zachary's family. Grandma Burr has made this a wonderful tradition my kids have come to look forward to. We meet for dinner at Lamb's restaurant and then it is off to the beautiful ballet. We always have the same seats, the balcony seats right next to the stage. This is as close up and personal as you can get...like sweat on the brow close. Being this close though, also brought some interesting observations from my little Ava! It all started when the Snow Princess and her Cavalier came leaping onto stage and Ava said "he looks weird...he's wearing sparkles...why would he do that?" Some things mom just doesn't have answers for. Just when I thought we had moved past it, she leans over and comments about his wedgie...where I simply had to agree...yes Ava he does! So that was us being cultured, I think it went well, bring on the Symphony!


Parker, Alec, Abby, Kelsey and Ava


Grandma Burr, Kelsey and Ava...Thanks Grandma


Both Grandma Burr's Alec and Ava


You Know Us!

Just a couple highlights

So hopefully soon I will post more often so as to not have to result to the collage in order to recap some of our events...January has so many possibilities, right! We've had a fun and crazy month filled with lot's of fun parties, snow, school activities, family, friends and more! I hope everyone's Christmas is picture perfect, and I hope to see them all posted Dec.26th...just kidding, take the weekend off and enjoy the beautiful holiday.

I just can't "fake" it...

So again we have the "tradition" issue...clearly I have a few I just can't let go...hence the real Christmas Tree. I know that everyone says fake is the way to go, but I'm just not sold...yet! So until then we will enjoy the tradition of going to the tree lot, where Alec and Ava enjoy a mean game of hide go seek through the tree's (I'm sure nobody noticed) and I get to pick just the right tree. It was my year to choose because Zachary and I have a different opinion on what makes a good tree...just picture Charlie Brown Christmas and you have a perfect visual of last years tree. Needless to say we had a great time and we have a lovely smelling house, with an abundance of pine needles...I love it!

What a weekend of Thankfulness

So I know it's probably not "common" if you will to hit the bowling alley Thanksgiving morning, but it's what we've been doing since I can remember...who can explain tradition, I certainly can't and won't try. Every year 9:00 a.m the extended Ence family hit's the lanes for some serious bowling, quarters from Grandpa for Soda, snacks from Grandma, and a whole lot of commotion! Thank you Grandpa and Grandma Ence for a not so "common" tradition.

Grandpa Fred, Ava and Me

Alec, Me, Sidney, Ava, Kennadee, Bowen, Jeff


Sidney and Ella

Me and Zach...just an FYI, I was not the one with the camera, being a new blogger I have not got in the habit of always having it with me, therefore I had them sent to me from various people and they obviously sent the one's I was in...maybe I just can't pass up a photo op!

So after some serious bowling with my side of the family we headed to Provo to be with the Burr family. For the first time in many years the entire family was able to come...we had people come from as far as New York and Washington State, to New Mexico, Texas and Nebraska...hopefully that covered it. It was so wonderful to see everyone and catch up, it was great to all be together on such a special holiday.