Hays Christmas video

Christmas 2013 from angela hays on Vimeo.

Here's a little taste of our Christmas, featuring almost exclusively our kiddos, Liesel & Hannah. Please ignore the extremely painful (and incredibly flat) note that ends the video. . . and also, I am clearly not a master at using the manual focus with wiggly kids, or transitions, holding the camera still etc. Merry Christmas! And happy almost New Year. I can't believe it.

good tidings & lots of sugar.

I'm not helping the sugar intake any with these 'gingerbread' houses, I know. But it was so fun! We have been trying to ring in the Christmas season this year at the Needles. . . it is so great to have a neighbor to do fun activities with. We invited Rylee over to make these one afternoon and I was impressed with their creativity. Liesel unwrapped a mini-chocolate bar and put in in front for the doorstep. She made windows and doors. She put them on the foil and said they were rocks. And she stared at it for almost an hour to admire her handiwork. It was too cute. 

Speaking of cute:

Micheal as Joseph and Hannah as Mary-- on her donkey heading to Bethlehem. I was later wondering what on earth I put that belt on her. She looks more like a Musketeer than Mary. 

shepherds, wisemen/woman, Mary, Joseph & a ballerina angel (as per her request)

Owen listening intently for the wiseman cue. 

This past Sunday, what started out as a plan to get Brian to watch The Scarlet Pimpernel, turned into a full-blown Christmas party. And I'm so happy it did. We invited the Mallory's and Allred's down (Penrods and us were already down here-- obviously) for a ham dinner. It was 45 minutes of complete chaos at first. Need proof? Look here:

These munchkins were full on screaming/laughing hysterically at their table. The adults didn't know whether to laugh or plug our ears. It was insane. But also really cute that they were having such a great time. It really does warm my heart to Liesel interacting and laughing. It makes her seem so grown up! What was so funny? I'm pretty sure they were saying _________ bo-bannah (like hannah bo-bannah, but filling it in with MONSTER bo-bannah! hahahahahaha!!! or bread bo-banah! hahahahha!) 

????!!?

kids have a great sense of humor. 

We managed to pull off acting out the Nativity. I read the scriptures in Luke 2 while the kids acted out the story. Sort of. Hannah screamed and threw baby Jesus on the ground, the shepherds wandered off and the angel made 2 entrances (but said her line!)-- It was seriously sweet to watch. 

Our friends. Dang, it looks like a lot of kids in this photo. 

 We switched over to Heidi's house, where Santa showed up (Ok-- it was B and his 'Ho! Ho! Ho!" was stellar). He left a Santa hat and presents. The adults did a white elephant gift exchange and sang Christmas carols. 

But the best thing of all? It completely felt like Christmas. 

Christmas Miracle.

 Last Christmas I felt like I had missed the mark on centering the season on Christ. I had no nativity and vowed that I would ask for that this year as my gift. When my mom asked for our Christmas lists in September (ok, maybe she waited until October this year-- but still), I told her I wanted a Fontanini nativity. I really wanted one that Liesel could play with, but that was still beautiful enough for me too. 

Well, the next day (or a few days after) my mom walked into GCF (Goodwill) and hears one worker says to the other, "Did you put that nativity on the shelf?" My mom, thinking she might as well go check it out since I had just asked, heads to the back of the store. And, as you probably already guessed, there's my nativity. The exact one I had asked for, with Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the stable. For less than $10. 

To me, this was a Christmas miracle; Heavenly Father telling me to teach my children the birth of Christ and center the season on Him. 

And has it made a difference? Well, Liesel brings baby Jesus buttons, Cherrios and hair bows. She wraps him in blankies and carries him in her pocket. And most importantly she knows the story and loves it. 

A Christmas miracle.

snow falling on sandstone.

Tired of winter-scapes yet? Because I cannot get enough. Last week there were so many knock-my-socks off moments that had me clamoring for my camera and running up the rocks to catch a better view. Sunrises while jogging that blew me away. Sunsets in the late afternoon that were so insane I felt guilty I was the only one outside for miles who was witnessing it. 

She loves to eat snow. As a one-year-old and now at three, she loves eating snow. We go on icicle hunts and she'll lick those till she pees her pants. Seriously.

I've got a system. We go sledding or skiing every day. It has been in the 20s, but once the sun is high up it actually feels ok. I bundle the kids up and they more or less hang out in this thing. I tried a DVD today, but Hannah still cried. It really does feel amazing to glide over the snow like that. And it really does glide. It almost feels weightless pulling this behind me, which is the exact opposite of jogging where pushing the stroller feels like death. 

Kids in the morning. Something I think I will miss when they get older. The hair all over the place, the head that barely clears the top of the bed, the little voices that get right down to business and the excitement at starting a new day. It is so precious.

 This morning we heard Hannah start to cry and Liesel said, "Don't worry Hannah, I'll be right back." Then a thump thump thump and her little eyes staring right at us, "It's morning time! The sky is light, so that means it's morning. We can get up now."

Hannah eating oatmeal and demonstrating proper hand jam technique as well as the best way to hold your spoon. 

This weekend Liesel and I had a girls night. Turns out, she really didn't like it being just her and mommy-- she wanted the whole family there. She seemed kind of freaked out. We got to the theater and they showed Thor as the preview to Frozen (?!?!?!!!) I had to take her in the hall until it was over. But after that, it was both eyes on that screen until the movie was over. She was into it. 

The next day was the light parade and Sam's one-year b-day party/Navajo taco night. Stellar evening. I always love the Moab light parade. Who can resist a glowing delicate arch, ranger hat (see above) and NPS arrowhead?? Not me. It was snowing this year and colder than last by about 40 degrees, but it was still great! 

So many fun things about this time of year. 

Thanksgiving Needles-style

Matt, Mom, Brian, Hannah, Me & Liesel (Brian's family arrives to the Needles!)

Wooden shoe arch// Uncle Matt & the gals

Liesel running from Monsters-- a favorite pastime with Owen

Liesel and Grandma 

Allred clan- Sam, Leslie & Clay (top) Owen (bottom)

O & L in a very healthy juniper// Liesel screaming and running from another monster (in the form of Clay)

blurry, but too sweet not to share. I love how sweetly they are looking at one another!

Buds. These guys navigate the rocks, crevices and caves better than any 3-year-old I know

My cutie Miss Nah-Nah

This is to the best picture of our babies: Sam & Hannah, but I tried. 

Thanksgiving was held Needles style this year. Meaning, we didn't leave for Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving came to us. And early! Allison and Matt showed up Sunday evening and Liesel ran out as soon as that car pulled up to give grandma the biggest bear-hug ever. Liesel didn't need any warming up to their familiar faces, but Hannah is a little more wary and it took a few days of whining at mama's feet. They both loved their uncle Matt as well. It was pretty sweet to see them interact with him while he read them books, played games and did pretty much anything they asked.

Brian was gone on a SAR for Sun-Mon. I don't think we have ever had a thanksgiving week where he wasn't called out on a rescue.

Brian was gone when they showed up, but we still had a good day on Monday playing around on the rocks and in the house. Tuesday we climbed the six-shooter and Wednesday we spent the day in Moab. Thursday we woke up and immediately started preparing the feast! I had three ovens to work with since I pretty much made myself at home with the empty apt. next door and used the Penrod's as well. The Allreds showed up later that afternoon and we all met up with Brian to do a quick run in the park. It is hands down my favorite run-- the patchy snow wasn't a problem and even though it was cloudy and dreary, I had a blast. It is so fun running with other people and as Leslie pointed out, Brian and I had never done it together! I might also add that it was the most people I had ever seen on that trail EVER. Like x10.

When we got back we ate our feast and talked until 11pm (gasp!). It was great.

Friday we did cross fit Needles, and Leslie and I went running again. I guess that's what you do when you have nothing else to do and willing babysitters-- run again! And again! At least it kept the butter coursing through my veins at bay.

Saturday we hiked the campground loop again and I waved goodbye to our company and hello to the mounds of laundry I had neglected all week.

All in all, another wonderful thanksgiving filled with family, friends and food. 

all is calm, all is bright.

South Six Shooter

sorry about the photography logo. . . blogstomp sticks it on and sometimes I don't notice they're on there until after I upload it. 

I stare at the six shooter every day. There's something about looking at something every day that makes you want to conquer it. I had actually been to the top of the south six shooter five years ago when we first moved here. Brian and I went and climbed it one windy day. It felt small beans compared the the big whoppers we were always pulling off (think hiking 26 miles through icy slot canyons, 5.10d towers and climbing two peaks in five hours). It didn't seem memorable. 

Fast forward five years to now when I can barely remember how to tie a figure-8. Not really, but climbing doesn't happen every evening, weekend and waking moment like it used to. I did make it Indian Creek two weeks ago thanks to Heidi, who watched the gals while B and I climbed the Fin wall with one of his buddies. It was amazing, but left me craving more. And the six-shooter that didn't make an impression before? phenomenal!

Allison and Matt had arrived two days before, but Brian had been on a SAR in the maze. He finally got back and we woke up to another foggy morning. After lounging around the house, we couldn't take it anymore and decided to knock of the six shooter after all. Allison offered to watch the girls! I took absolutely no convincing whatsoever. 

We hiked up in the mist. It was beautiful and other-worldly. We couldn't even see the six shooter-- or fifty feet in front of us. We made it to the base of the climb and did the three pitches to the top (adding in a 5.9 variation). The whole climb I had been silently praying that the fog could part momentarily when we topped out to take in the view. And it did. When I pulled the last move to the summit of the tower, I was blown away by the view. A sea of fog with only the mountains and tips of the rocks above. And the sun was shining. It was a gift just for me. And to this date, it was possibly the most stunning reward for summiting. 

Liesel turns three.

sorry to bombard the blog with a trillion photos of this pink roses cake, but the girl loved it. She chose this cake (or a much more wedding-ish, perfect-ish version of this cake) while surfing pinterest with me. I asked her what she wanted her cake to look like and she said: "pink" So we searched for pink cakes and she chose the one with real roses. I was going to buy pink roses (since after all, it was supposed to be a pink roses cake), but they were $20, and the orange ones were sporting a Manager's Special sticker and were in the 75% off bin. So orange it was. And it turned out to be a three-year-old dream. 

L begged me for a Rupunzel balloon at the grocery store. I was overwhelmed with Mom-guilt since I never bought her a birthday present and caved. $4. Seriously? She smashed it mercilessly the whole way home and then tossed it up in the air, watching it get smaller and smaller the second she stepped out of the car. What?! I asked. I didn't want it anymore mom. My mom once told me while I de-cluttering and experiencing a wave of sentimentality if it had served the measure of it's creation. It had. And now I judge everything by that. If it has, I feel no guilt in letting it go. So, so long balloon. 

All I could think of were those sea turtles choking in the ocean when they mistook rupunzel for a jellyfish. 

That is what the world looked like on our drive up to L's birthday party. Is it weird to ask your friends to host your child's birthday party so that they don't have to drive 1.5 hrs? I think so. We paid them back by getting a babysitter that night for all of us and watching Catching Fire at the theater. 

The birthday theme was pink. In case you couldn't already tell. We had popcorn (that's the treat she picked), strawberry go-gurt and cake. We had wrapped the juice boxes the day before since L & Rylee were begging to wrap something. Win-win. 

Liesel loved opening her presents. The Dr. kit was the bomb. She loves it. And the whoopee cushion? Check out these kid faces: 

 They loved it-- then Liesel popped it. Never would have thought 3-year-old's could understand potty humor, but they totally do. They were all cracking up. It was Owen and Henley who came to the party and the size was really perfect. 

Favorite party moment: in my family we have a tradition of going around and saying one thing we love about the person. My mom always said more than one thing and cried. I always did too. Which was really embarrassing as a teenager. But it is so special! It was adorable to watch her little face as we went around the room. Here are some things people said:

I love Liesel's happy smile

There's no one more deserving of Henley's hand-me-downs

Liesel is brave! I love that she picks up critters: bugs, worms and even spiders!

Liesel is smart, beautiful and fun. (Brian-- after which L ran up and gave him a huge hug)

I love Liesel's fun personality-- she bring so much light and life to our family!

After presents, the kids went outside and played in the snow:

 And lit the snowman on fire. 

 All in all, I felt happy about her party. It was simple, but she felt special and loved and that's what I wanted the most. 

Liesel at Three:

The first thing I can think of is what Liesel does every morning. She and Hannah share a room and lately what she does is wake up, flip on the light and run right to the fridge to select what the early morning snack will be. She then runs back, climbs into Hannah's crib and proceeds to feed her. Nevermind that Hannah was sound asleep before L turns on the light, or that she may not want the following things for breakfast:

snap peas

yogurt (L was feeding her with a spoon, it was half gone and not a drop in the crib)

cherry tomatoes (these on the other hand had been spit all over the crib and floor)

gallon ziplock of shredded cheese

cheerios

grapes

and that was only this week. 

I am trying to put a stop to it, but it's so hard to put a stop to something when it means you're stealing 30 extra minutes of zzzz's. But really. I need to put a stop to this. 

She is quite the singer still and makes up songs all the time. They are usually some variation of a primary song and I recognize about half of the lyrics. The other half are made up and usually involve the following words: I know, marry, today.

Lately she's been peeing slightly in her pants. Yesterday, I told her she needed to stop. She said: but you give me new undies and then it's fine. It's not a big deal. She often tells me what the 'deal' is. That's not the deal. The deal is _______.  She also loves to tell me what her two options are. This is a parenting technique that I've seen work like a charm, but not with her.  For example last night: These are your two options. If you're still hungry uou can have some more soup, or you can get in the bath right now with Hannah. She looks at me and says, Um, these are your two options: you can have toast, or you can have toast and jam. She does this all the time. Complete with her two fingers out and then grabbing each finger with the other hand as she explains both options. I try not to laugh, but it's too funny! She likes to ask for activities or crafts. 

Her prayers are honestly my favorite part of the day. I love hearing the stuff she comes up with. She moves all over the room, rolling, rubbing her head on the carpet, lying on each one of us-- but she gets the job done. Some prayer repeats are: Jesus in the clouds and trumpets (from the 2nd coming picture I presume), spoons, pink, grandma, family, carpets, chairs, the new day. She insists on saying, "I say these things."

This summer she was so interested in bugs and critters. At my parents house she was always looking for curl-up bugs and would hold anything from daddy long legs to fish. I'm not sure if she still has the same interest since there's fewer critters here, but she doesn't seem to be afraid of animals. Lately she loves horses and cherishes the two new horse toys she received from Grandma Hays and Uncle Matt. She talks quite a bit about horses and will sometimes ride her imaginary horse named Pink Roses on the rocks.