Living The Life

Happy New Year Family!

We had a little different New Year's Day.

Still awesome.

We have had a party the

 last couple of years, but it didn't work this 

time, so we did our own thing.

Part of that "own thing" was to go

 to the lake, skating.

And it was marvelous.

Short, because of achy feet.

But marvelous.

Mia being awesome

It was a really beautiful winter day in the upper 20's.

More awesomeness

We are so fortunate to live where we do.

We had the place almost to ourselves.

We wondered if we were super scary, because

 the few people who were there left when we came.

 Haha!

I really love that they put a Christmas tree in the rink.

I wished I could skate so much!

Doing a dance?

My Dr. says I can skate next year.

A little fancy dancy?

So fancy

something was clearly amusing

Like Dad's double hat?

I especially like this one of Mandy and Mia.

Classic Dad: a little crack-the-whip

I love this one!

Strike a pose

I just hung around the snowy perimeter of the rink.

I didn't want to take the chance of slipping.

Ouch!

Mom and Mia selfie.

Ah yeah!

The Mom and The Dad

Disclaimer: I don't know this guy.

I pretended to take a picture of King's house so he wouldn't 

think I was a creep. It is just such a classic Minnesota

winter picture I couldn't resist.

And there's King's House so I am not a liar. 

We asked a former teacher of Sam's to take a family photo for us.

I couldn't even help but take some sky pictures.

It was just so dramatic and lovely.

We live in such a beautiful place.

Again with the classic Minnesota

The skating rink at beautiful buffalo Lake

I will hopefully get some Christmas pictures posted here as well.

I was just so happy with these pictures I wanted to share them

right away. 

I am sad for Christmas break to end, sad for Dad to go back to 

work, sad for Mandy and Mia to head back out west.

 I guess all good things come to an end?

I am already looking forward to next year when we can hopefully

 be all together as a family.

But.

I do find it exciting this time of year:

The new beginning

the fresh start

the renewal.

I like the idea of starting again. I know with

the sacrament that we have that opportunity

every week, but I feel it so keenly at the new year.

Also,

we spent some time talking about setting 

goals and then actually doing it.

One of the goals we set for the whole family, is to

go to the temple in August and do a baptism session.

If you don't have a recommend start working on it so 

we can all go together.

Good idea?

We thought so.

Love you all like crazy!

Mom