Swimming in 0 Degrees!

Of course, the pools are super warm and all varying from warm to insanely hot. 

Jake can swim now completely on his own...even in the deep end!

Tye is really getting close. 

The best part is that the pools are indoors and out.  You can swim outdoors from the indoor pools and with the air less than 5 degrees much of the time we were at April's timeshare in Breck, it was a crazy feeling letting your head chill and then dipping into the hot water.  

We spent most of the days indoors since the kids weren't big fans of the cold air freezing their ears, nose and hair when they weren't under the water.  I told them, "Just keep dipping!"  Truly, my hair froze several times! 

Never, and I mean NEVER, have I ever seen a little boy swim like Braden.  He's Josslyn's age and literally jumps in the deep end when we first arrive and 4 hours later still hasn't gotten out!  Insane.  Scary, kind of, in that he thinks he's invincible. 

Between the Risenhoovers and the Haddads, we have a 7, 6, 6, 4, and 3 year old.  Soon though, Joss will be 4 years old, if you can believe that! 

The place was not busy at all.  That is...until 4pm when the ski lifts shut down for the night!!  Then, it got PACKED quickly. 

Tye never took off his goggles!  Big swimmers!

Merry Christmas Day After!

It's gorgeous out today, as it was yesterday.  A warm December 66 degrees.

Tye is overjoyed with his new computer from Papa and Grammy.

Another Great Aunt Deb hit, the Mickey Mouse music player.

Preparing for 1st grade already with his math facts.  This computer has everything a kid could need for school readiness.  Thankfully, these kids all LOVE school!

Jake looks absolutely dapper in his new suit. 

Ready for January's, 1st Reconciliation!

More trying on of clothes.  Snowboard, snowboards and more snowboarders.

Little miss sassy today...

Then, on Mother's Day, Jake makes his 1st Communion!  Big man, big year-2011!

Go math facts!

Jump roping with yarn.

New hoodie from Dad.

Playing cards.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. We're just hanging out today. Then, tomorrow we're off to Breck for a week.

XOXO-Us

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was amazing.  We rejoiced that we were all well to celebrate together. 

What an incredibly, relaxing, peaceful day it was.

Jake opened his Ipod as his Christmas-Eve gift.  He's loaded with music and ready to roll. Rock-n-roll, that is!!  :)

Josslyn got to take a bath with her new singing in the bath mermaid.  

Tye and I made yet another batch of cookies.

Then, Christmas came.  We had a blast.

Smiles got even bigger. (Remember these days?)

Finding out that you were good enough to get what you asked Santa for.

Pure joy. 

And amazement.

Clothes...these kids go thru clothes.  They love the new attire.

Big hit from Great Aunt Debbie.

So precious. 

Focused.

Semi-automatic Nerf gun?  For Christmas?  Boys!

We Wii'ed out all day!

Who knew Mario Cart on the Wii was so challenging?  Go get yo' daddy, Sage!

Beloved hair-do doll.   

Admiration for the hair, I think.

Unable to miss a moment...Joss fell alseep in the middle of the floor.

Snuggly with her new "pets" and the good ol' never-can-be-left-out-of-anything-ever---forever, Bun-Bun. 

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.  We had the most merry ever.  

Miss the family and my BFFs.  Love to you all. 

~Danielle and the H-Dads

Better!...almost.

November flew by rather uneventfully when we look back on it.  All we really did was pass one virus or infection to each other time and again.  This month however, is shaping up to make up for the troublesome month passed.

 A favorite pastime around here is playing house...of sorts.  The Haddad kids like to play a variety of series of house...with baby, with pets, with wizards, with knights.

 We had the kids resting the day away if they had to stay home from school.  Everyone missed at least one day and was forced to sit around.

 So we found ways to entertain ourselves...mostly by beginning and finishing the first 2 Harry Potter books on tape.  WE LOVE HARRY!!!!  Talk about impressive.  So awesome to be able to listen to it for the first time with my kids.  This week we are going to watch the 1st movie and listen to the 3rd book.  Exciting!

 We'll be joining any decade-late fan clubs out there!

Seriously... 

All smiles now that we're feeling better. 

One of a thousand babies it seems we have in this house. 

Resting and relaxing a bit more. 

Christmas count down. 

Meanwhile, Key Club hosted a dance.  The Winter White Out...we hung blacklights, balloons, disco balls and lasers and hosted it in the tri-level foyer.  It went off without a hitch.  Thank goodness since I was the acting administrator.  I was even taught how to properly search students.  Turned out I hadn't needed the training!  PCHSers are so rad. 

A sweetie, even when she's sick.  Boys too.  We have really good "sick" kids.  Lucky, since we have THREE!  And they are getting big.

Until next time.