Brian Head Family Reunion

Last weekend my mom hosted all of us Sedgwick's for a family reunion at Brian Head, UT. Talk about a wonderful time! We all trickled into Brian Head on Thursday night to a cabin that was large enough to hold all 40 of us. Friday and Saturday mornings, after a great patriotic devotional (it was President's Weekend after all) we all headed up to the slopes to spend the day skiing or snow boarding. The funnest (not really a word, right?) part of the day was all being together. The perfect snow wasn't too bad either. I won't mention the near blizzard-like conditions.
In the evenings we ate dinner together, sat in the hot tub, watched movies, played games and chatted until we finally forced ourselves (or should I say, until we forced the 11yr olds) to go to bed.
Thanks for such a great time, mom. It's something we will all remember!

A crazy bunch of cousins trying to make the biggest human pyramid in Brian Head history.

Four wheel drive came in hand on more than one occassion...

The basement of our reunion headquarters was a perfect place for hanging out.

Grandma with some of her loving admirers (aka grandkids).

My family climbed a 20 ft snow bank to pose for this picture. There was so much snow this weekend.

The cabin was in such a pretty setting. I loved the huge amount of snow, the tall trees and views of the ski slopes.

Valentine's Tradition

Everyone in the family looks forward to our Valentine's Day Fondue Fest. The kids especially love the fact that there are "no limits" on how much chocolate they eat. Traditionally I make a delicious milk chocolate ganache and have plates full of strawberries, bananas, cream puffs, donut holes, pretzels and marshmallows. This year we did things a little differently. Emma is on a Dairy Free diet right now as an experiment to see if her headaches improve without milk in her diet. So instead of milk chocolate ganache made with heavy cream, I used a darker chocolate (no milk) and cashew cream instead of dairy cream to make the ganache. The sauce was a success, though we all missed the sweetness of milk chocolate. On a side note, her headaches have gotten a lot better over the past several weeks without dairy in her diet.

Oh, to be Three!

When the girls were little they loved to wear princess dresses. Emma wore them 24 hours a day (her pj's had princess themes). But, most of all, Abbie and Emma loved to dress up, wait for Mark to get home from work and dance around the family room with him. I think Mark really liked it too. He would turn on all types of music and twirl them around the room until they were dizzy--which took a very, very long time.

Now things are different. There is still someone dressed up waiting to play with Mark when he gets home from work. But, there are no more princess costumes or dancing. Today it is Matthew waiting on Mark's arrival. Many days this picture represents what (or who is waiting at the door). Let me interpret: Army pants, Superman cape, light saber in the background, sword in hand, ninja hood coving his head and a Batman mask at his feet. That pretty much sums it up. Ten minutes into play he trades all of this in for his fireman costume. No matter what he is wearing, he and Mark run around the house chasing each other with swords or practicing their ninja moves-which are quite frightening. It's a fun time. And with all of this make-believe play, my heart is warmed to know that though Matthew loves to pretend he's a good guy or a bad guy, he still has his priorities in line. The other day he ran up to tell me that he doesn't want to follow bad guys, he wants to follow the prophet because he knows the way. That little guy makes me laugh! There is something so delightlful about a three year old child. They absorb everything, want to know how to get to China, are concerned about getting bigger but still love to snuggle, and have no end of imagination. I love the terrific three's!!

Here's to all three year olds out there, you make life alot of fun!!

Hooray for Hollywood

The Santa Monica Pier was a big highlight for the kids. Who wouldn't like riding a roller coaster over the Pacific Ocean??

A couple days after Christmas our family, along with our friends the Glauser's headed up north to check out some of the touristy spots of LA. In all of my years of living in Orange County, I had never spent much time north of the Orange Curtain and was looking forward to spending some time with my family up there. We packed two days full of fun and even saw a movie star at lunch (Don Johnson, and yes, he was wearing sunglasses).

Lunch and Shopping at the Grove (place of our important Star sighting).

La Brea Tar Pits

This mammoth found here at the La Brea Tar Pits looked pretty big compared to Emma. Excavation at the tar pits still continues today. In fact, almost all of the ice age fossils on display in the world are from here.

I was pleasantly surprised by the La Brea Tar Pits. It was much more interesting than I had expected and not gimicky at all.

Mann Chinese Theater. Gimicky (is that a word), yes. Crazy people? Yes. Crowded? Yes. Do I need to get out of the car next time I am in the area? No.

I was surprised by the beauitful view that awaited us after we drove the windy roads up to the Hollywood sign. Who knew??

Looking the opposite direction from the same spot, this was the view (it looked closer in real life).

Stay out of this amigas way!

Matthew is making sure that Abbie is having a good time watching the indian dancers near Olvera Street.

Angels Landing train (pictured behind me) served the wealthy locals in the early 1900's who would take their butlers shopping at the Grand Central Farmer's Market. Today people use it to get to their high rise. The ride is just $.25 .

Mark and I were married at the Los Angeles LDS Temple (moment of silence, please) and this was the first time we were able to go back. It was beautiful all ablaze in Christmas lights.

Christmas Highlights

A picture speaks a thousand words, or so they say. I wanted to share a little bit about the great Christmas we enjoyed around here and decided to do it in pictures. I hope you enjoy the over abundance of pictures G&G Rowen. To the rest of you, I hope you don't mind too much. Santa's little elf enjoying an outstanding Christmas party!

The family with Santa--where does this fellow find the time??

Christmas morning was a blur of excitement.

Emma was thrilled to add more Webkinz to her collection.

Matthew's new bike is just his size and NOT purple.

Oats and celery for the reindeer, of course.

Cute in their new PJ's.

Abbie and Emma were enjoying watching the action of the cousin's gift exchange hosted by Debbie and Greg.

We always have such a great time being together. Christmas Eve was, of course, no exception. We had a full mexican spread to feast upon including tamales, enchiladas, beans, rice, El Torito's cilantro salad, flan and fried ice cream. Egg nog smoothies (a must) and appetizers started us off.

Seriously. What a handsome guy.

Hum, what shall I eat next?? Actually that really wasn't what I was thinking.

The cousins are in this picture just waiting to get started with the gift exchange. I don't know why Matthew is pulling at his face.

Of course no family Christmas Eve celebration would be complete without a reading of the account of Christ' birth. We took turns telling the story with scripture, carols and pictures. It was lovey. Merry Christmas to all!

Are You a Real Girl or a Fake One

Up until last month my answer to this question came without even a nano second of hesitation. I was a real girl. No fake Christmas trees for me. As a kid growing up we always headed to the same Christmas Tree lot where Rick Giddings would help us find the perfect tree. Real trees carry memories for me. The smell, the pesky pine needles, the sap, forgetting to water them...it's what Christmas is all about.

After Mark and I got married and had a family of our own we would drive up the Sierras to a Christmas tree lot in Forrest Hill and chop down our own trees each year. It was the best. They had a horse drawn wagon to take you deep into the property, a huge tree swing to play on ,and my favorite thing of all, a bonfire so that we could stay warm, roast hotdogs and sip cocoa while feeling festive. When we moved away from Sacramento, my festive day at the tree lot became a quick trip to Home Depot. But that didn't matter because I still loved having a REAL tree.

That all changed a few days before Thanksgiving. Mark and I went to Lowes to buy a ladder. While he was shopping I took Matthew with me to enjoy the Christmas decorations. I saw a cluster of fake, pre-lit trees and went over to look at them-- I used to like looking at how ridiculously expensive they are. A fellow shopper saw me looking and started telling me that he had a pre-lit tree at home, at least 9 feet tall and beautiful that he was donating in a few days. Then as he left he gave me his business card and said that I could have it if I wanted it. He left and I felt stunned. Here I was in Lowe's facing a question to which I had always had an answer--no fake trees!!! But, if it really looked like some of these trees (which were over $350) maybe I should take a look?? So... long story short, we went his house. This is the tree. It works great in our living room. But, for the record, I am still a real tree girl.

Halloween

A couple of cuties, if I don't say so myself.

Our ward threw a great Halloween party on Saturday night. The kids trick or treated, we had carnival games, lots of food, limbo contest (Abbie won her age group), dancing, etc. What a great time!

Pippy Longstocking

Happy Witch--actually she was just a witch, but she looks pretty happy in this picture, doesn't she.

Passing the Week

Who is this kid? I know. Where does he get it, SERIOUSLY!

This week has been a little different around here. Both Mark and Abbie have been gone all week. Mark is back east on business and Abbie is at sixth grade camp. Naturally, we have missed them a ton. Nothing is quite the same when the family isn't all together. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit that I have enjoyed the lack of fighting among the kiddos, and that the morning and evening routines are a lot quicker, but I miss my Abbie and Mark. I miss the sound of the garage door going up at approx. six o'clock every night, I miss the smooches, I miss the music, the phone ringing (yes, we have hit the time of life when the phone is usually for Abbie when it rings): I miss Mark and Abbie. We have tried to keep ourselves busy though. I thought I'd post a few pictures of what we've been up to.

Leak detection man, ant sprayer, sewing project, taking missionaries to Roberto's on 101, and doctor's appointments not pictured.

We enjoyed a cute Halloween party today with Matthew's play group friends at a nearby park. The kids came dressed in costumes, they decorated cookies and played to their heart's content. It was easy and they were thrilled.

Matthew is all smiles with his friend Jenna and my cousin's son Logan. I was so glad to see cousin Emily today--bummer that we didn't take a picture together--next time.

I love how easily little kids are pleased.

Earlier in the week I took Emma and Matthew to Wayne's World Pumpkin Patch. It's a groovy kind of place that morphs with the seasons. In a few weeks it will be a Christmas tree lot. Usually it's a funky nursery. Today it was bounce house heaven.

The kids loved the free access to the bounce houses. They played and bounced together for an hour and a half.

They also posed for a picture or two.

I loved that this place was really close to home, and yet still felt festive (I don't like the parking lot one day, pumpkin patch the next style).

It was just what we needed to get over the Missing Mark and Abbie Blues. They will be home tomorrow!!!

What are the Chances...

that my kids will eat these??? Matthew spotted this stalk of brussle sprouts at Trader Joe's the other day and we both thought they looked pretty cool. Now they are sitting in the fridge (not even the fridge INSIDE the house) just waiting, and staring at me each time I open the door as if to say, "I dare you". I won't be intimidated by veggies, and I actually like brussle sprouts, but I'm just not sure how to get my little darlings to take a bite. Any ideas? What do you do to help your kids eat more adventurously?

Another Invasion

Imagine waking up in the morning, stretching, yawning, and going to the closet to find something to put on for the day. Imagine seeing these little guys all over your clothes!!!! Ewww!! That was our morning today!
Our little piece of paradise came with a price. The ants love it too. I can hear your question, "why don't you just get pest control??" I know, I know, I have considered hiring a pest control service many times, but when it all boils down, I am pretty cheap AND I have discovered how to get rid of these bad boys--at least for months at a time. The liquid ant bait from Home Depot does the trick. All you do is open the bait and set it out when you see a small trail of ants. Then comes the REALLY hard part. You wait and watch as your tiny stream of ants becomes a huge infestation, swarming over everthing near the bait. The hardest part is watching and doing nothing else. IF you can do this for 24 hours, you will find that your ants vanish, dead.

I am in the watching and waiting stage of the game.

It's disgusting and I am thinking about pest control once again, and wishing I wasn't soo cheap.