Christmas Morning

We had a great Christmas. The kids loved their gifts and even though we didn't get over to my families for breakfast (our first white Christmas forbid it) we did get out to Geoff's parents that night for dinner. Probably 80% of Hayden's gifts were Dinosaur themed, while Kaylyn recieved a Barbie Doll House and Princess toys and DVD's. Geoff and I didnt' have any surprises, but we got exactly what we wanted. Geoff actually got his 50" Flat Screen in Sept, because of the amazing deal we got on it, so that is his 'yearly gift' as he calls it. (It covers Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary and Fathers Days!) He then got his HD programing two weeks before Christmas, yet again because of the deal he got, but he's incredibly happy. I bought my new Digital Camera. My old one was about 7 years old and the flash, red eye and battery had stopped working so it was time for a new one before the new baby comes. We finally ended up having Christmas with my family Sunday evening, so this year Christmas was extended out for 4 days....kinda made it more enjoyable!

Christmas Eve

For the last three years Christmas Eve has been spent at our house with our parents and sometimes Geoff's sisters family and Great Grandma. We weren't sure this year with the weather if we were going to be able to keep the tradition up, but we were and we all really enjoyed ourselves. We do finger foods and munchies for dinner and then open our gifts from Geoff's family and the kids open their new Pj's, which every year continues to be a surprise! Then when everyone leaves we make sugar cookies for Santa, write letters to him and read 'The Night Before Christmas' and the story of Christs Birth from the scriptures. I think Christmas eve is my favorite time of year. It's such a wonderful time of family togetherness, traditions and excitement!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone! We hope this finds all of you with loved ones, creating memories, and enjoying the season.

Love

The Verbeck Family

WOW.....more snow.

I know, I know....more snow pictures. This is for all of our friends and family that don't live around here, I figure I'll update you on how much more we've gotten. I would say we have to be up to atleast 18" or more, with more expected to hit Wednesday morning and continue till Thrusday afternoon. I was excited when it started, but now I'm over it. The feeling of being trapped in my home day after day (with two very excited kids, this close to Christmas) is driving me nuts. Also, I'm affraid our holiday plans/traditions with family are going to change, so it's kinda a bummer. On the bright side...we'll finally have a white Christmas! Happy Holidays everyone.

"Arctic Blast"

We've been hit with the "Arctic Blast"!!! The news channels always feel they have to 'name' every storm we have in the NW, although I think the entire west coast has been dealing with this in one way or another. According to my ruler I've stuck out on our patio table it's over 7" high. (The ruler is only 7", and I can't see it anymore.) We awoke this morning with about 1/4 " ice on top of the snow we had and now it's snowing very hard again. Who know's when we're going to get a break. It's kinda fun and beautiful to watch, but I hate feeling house bound and Geoff has had to work thru all of it, so I've worried everytime he goes to or comes home from work, since he's been driving the van without chains. Tonight he's staying at my mom's, since she lives closer to his work. They're saying we should have some thawing by maybe Wednesday (Christmas eve).....cross your fingers.

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

Yeah for snow!! We had more snow today, and more is still expected to fall this evening and tomorrow. As of right now they're saying snow thru Christmas, which would be very cool, because since we've lived here (17 years) we've never had snow on Christmas. This time we actually got some of the white stuff, unlike on Sunday when everyone around us got hit, and we were in this weird little pocket that got nothing. Today has been a day for playing in the snow, drinking hot cocoa and sitting by the fire. Hayden hasn't had school this whole week so far, and I'm thinking it's not going to change. He starts winter break next week for 2 weeks...what I would've given to have had almost the whole month of Dec. off when I was in school, but he misses it. They had a great time playing with their neighbor friend today for a combined total of almost 4 hours!!

Let it SNOW, Let it Snow, Let it SNOW!

We got a small dusting of snow today. Not much to really play in, but enough to enjoy the ground being white. Some places less than 20 mins away had 3-5 inches, so the kids were kinda bummed at what we got. Not sure yet if school will be canceled tomorrow, but things are real icy right now and is expected to stay this way for the next week, with temperatures in the teens and more possible snow by Wed. Lets Hope!! I love Snow around Christmas time.

Sleeping Angels

I have to post this because I thought it was the cutest thing......I went up to check on Kaylyn before I went to bed last night (around 11:30pm) and was startled when I saw her bedroom door open. After checking her room and turning on the lights I realized I had no idea where she was. I knew she was upstair somewhere, but she was so quite I assumed she had fallen asleep somewhere. So I start quitely calling her name, as to not wake Geoff and Hayden, but I didn't get any response, so then I went to check on Hayden and sure enough she had snuck in to his room and curled up in his bed with him in his tent and both were out cold. They looked so peaceful, and I had thought about leaving them, but Hayden had school in the morning and Kaylyn gets up really early, so I had to move her, but not without taking this picture first.