Hibernating.

Hi-ber-nate: [hi-ber-neyt]

-verb (used without object), -nat-ed, -nat-ing.

1. to spend the winter in close quarters in a dormant condition, as bears and certain other animals. 2. To withdraw or be in seclusion; retire.

{A picture sometimes is worth a thousand words}

Hibernating. That is what I feel we have been doing these last couple of weeks. My cold lingered for longer than I wanted. But thankfully I'm all better now. Life is definitely better when mom is feeling well.

But even when the mom is sick life goes on. We've managed to still try to have a good time indoors.

Children will always find ways to entertain themselves...sometimes a dirty clothes basket will do it!

One Saturday morning Brielle jumped in our bed and made her daddy read a book to her!

She's been into trying to read and spelling out words a lot lately...she loves this little Thomas computer because she is able to practice her letters. She can spend a long time playing with it.

What else can you do when you're indoors all day because it's too cold to go outside...play dress up! I feel like I'm getting my money's worth on their Halloween costumes...and of course the Princess always has to have at least one dance with her Prince...or Cowboy in this case...

Cute little princess.

...and after busting some dance moves with his sister, it's time to watch The Wiggles...they both LOVE that show...

One Sunday after Church, the kids and Scott played with the train set for a long time...even Scott LOVES playing with Braden's new toys...watching my husband play with our kids is one of my favorite things in this life.

He is so good with them and Brielle and Braden can't get enough of their daddy...they LOVE Sundays because they know that he won't be gone that day!

Braden was very engaged in conversation with Scott.

Now onto some very sad news. My brother Kem, who had been living with us since last June moved out. He is in a transitionary stage right now, trying to figure out his life. He is in the process of applying to graduate school (which is a real pain in the neck!)...the girl he was dating here broke his heart and he decided that while he waits to know what will happen with grad school he would go visit my mom and sister in Utah. So last week he loaded his Jeep and headed to Utah.

I bawled my eyes out.

We went to get ice cream at Dairy Queen right before he left...ice cream can make anyone feel better...

...enjoying some ice cream and trying not to think that I will have to say goodbye to my dear brother...

I think Heavenly Father knew that I would need the love and support of my family our first year here in Virginia. I have been spoiled to have my mom and sister here all of last year and then my brother. He and I are 11 months apart. I think we were meant to be twins but since that didn't happen he decided that he couldn't live without me for too long in the pre-existence so he decided to hurry down...just like Braden with Brielle.

Kem and I have always been close. We've had our share of fighting as children, teenagers and even as adults...but we are best friends. He is my favorite brother. He is my only brother...and I think I have the BEST brother in the world!

When he wasn't working, he kept me company when Scott was studying. He was our little garbage disposal (he'd eat all of the left overs in the fridge-I very seldom threw away food while he was here). He taught my children how to dance to Bob Marley's Jammin'. He taught us to eat good cheese. He'd watch our kids so Scott and I could go to a late night movie. He'd often have dinner ready for us when we'd get back from Church on Sundays...

this list is making me cry...

{Scott says he misses seeing you in your "pajamas"} (inside joke) :)

We miss you so much Kemchu!

I'm so glad the sun decided to shine this last week, at least on and off ...it brightened up my spirits from saying goodbye to my brother...going outside just makes us all happy!...

I decided to take our lunches and eat them outside...just to bring a little excitement to our life...

We packed our little lunches and enjoyed them at the playground.

It was nice to get some much needed vitamin D from the sun!

We had way too much fun!

Lastly:

{This little boy has been saying the funniest, cutest things...He must have heard Scott and I say this, he was a little frustrated with something, (I can't remember what it was) when I heard him say this}

Enjoy!

Winter.

I'm sick with a cold. Everyone else seems to be feeling better except for me. It's a good thing I'm sick right in the middle of winter because I really don't think I'm missing that much excitement outside...who wants to go outside when it's 27 degrees? Really. Winter is here and it's here to stay. Last year we had 60 degree weather the day after Christmas and we didn't get any snow until the end of January...but enough complaining. Let's talk about food. Because that's what we do when we are trapped inside a house most of the day. We cook and then we eat.

I made this to-die-for cauliflower soup yesterday. The Pioneer Woman had it on her website (and if you don't know about the Pioneer Woman then you are missing out!) You MUST check out her website www.thepioneerwoman.com This is one website I enjoy checking often. She has photography tips and tutorials, hilarious posts, recipes with pictures! Yes, she has pictures for every single step of her recipes...I especially LOVE her recipes because she cooks with fresh ingredients...Check her out, you will not regret it!

{Photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman website}

Back to the Cauliflower Soup. It was to DIE for! Every time I go to the grocery store and see cauliflowers, I always wish I had a good cauliflower recipe. I finally found this soup...and what is winter without soup? Try it. It's easy and delicious...I got some sourdough fresh bread from Safeway Bakery, sliced it and toasted it and my oh my! It was amazing!...You can find the recipe HERE.

I walked by grasshopper cookies the other day while at the store and I couldn't resist and got some! I don't know how many of you know this really cool trick (I was introduced to it in college)...warm up some milk in a bowl, bite a little bit of cookie at the top and bottom and then suck the milk through the cookie for a few seconds and then pop the cookie in your mouth...well...I tried it again last night (it had been years) and MAN!!!! It was heaven in my mouth...like the little rat from ratatouille who imagines fireworks in his mouth when he's eating...that was me last night. That cookie just melted in my mouth, it was a heavenly experience.

So I guess, one can find joy and happiness in the middle of winter...food...that is the answer...and if you think it'll ruin your new year's resolution to lose weight...I'll tell you a secret...PORTION CONTROL. You can eat anything you want but in small quantities. Count your calories. It works. So, instead of eating 10 of those grasshopper cookies, have 4 (150 calories) it's a great after- dinner dessert.

...and last but not least...my kids...they have been saying THE funniest things lately...the things they've been saying are so funny, I've been writing them down so I won't forget them. Here's a conversation I had with Brielle a little while ago: (Braden also had some input)

Denisse: Who is Heavenly Father?

Brielle: He has a white beard, white eyes, an old face and white teeth.

Braden: He has white shoes.

Denisse: What does He do?

Brielle: He helps people wrap the presents.

Denisse:Who is Jesus?

Brielle: He came down from the sky and has a brown beard.

{This photo is at the National Building Museum a few weeks ago}

On another occasion we were having some ice cream for dessert after dinner (as bribery for Braden to finish his dinner) after putting the bowl of ice cream in front of Braden, this is what he said:

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, that's a lot of ice cream!"

{This photo is so blurry but I think it depicts how much Braden LOVES his new Buzz-Lightyear. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Jensen for the Buzz...it has become Braden's favorite toy}

Brielle was having a conversation with her tío Kem.

Kem asked her, "What do you call people from Perú?

Brielle answered, "Hey! Come over here!"

{so much love, they fight but do love each other}

Lastly, Brielle and Braden were fighting about something Braden had broken. This was the conversation we had about the occurrence:

Brielle: Look mom! Braden broke it!

Denisse: Oh no!

Brielle: Braden, you're mean!

Braden: I no mean Brielle, I'm not bugging anybody!

Oh! one more! Brielle has inherited my very sensitive sense of smell...one day my brother was eating something that had a really strong smell...she didn't like it so she put stickers on her nose so she wouldn't have to smell it...silly...

...and besides food, I find joy and happiness in these two children...

{Happy Winter!}

Welcoming 2010.

On New Year's Eve we went to Olive Garden (thanks to Scott's grandma who sent us gift certificates!). We had a fun evening enjoying each other's company and eating yummy food. The kids were very enjoyable also, which is always a plus!:)

I find the series of pictures above so interestigly funny! It's interesting what a camera can capture when no one is actually posing for a picture...it captures life...

...in contrast, here we have two cheesy but super cute smiles!:) These two are definitely related.

Braden's face...ha ha! I don't know what he's trying to do...

Brielle with her tío Kemchu...

silly...

The whole family.

After dinner we headed to the Washington D.C. Temple Festival of Lights. We have decided to make it a New Year's Eve tradition instead of Christmas because it's way less busy than going during Christmas.

The Christus.

I just want to eat this little boy.

It was a cold night. But definitely worth going.

Braden with tío Kem.

A new trick I learned with my camera....well...not really a trick...it's just out of focus...but I think it looks cool.

My husband.

More lights.

We had a fun New Year's Eve. We welcomed the new year in at home with some sparkling cider, family and a list of new year resolutions.

Christmas.

We spent Christmas Eve with the Lindorf Family. Ben is our home teacher. But he is no ordinary home teacher. He is a superb home teacher. We love him and his family. They had us over for Christmas Eve dinner. We had yummy soup in a bread bowl from Panera and all sorts of yummy food. We also join in their Luke 2 reading and reenactment. It was such a fun night. We enjoyed the company, the food and just the excitement that comes with Christmas.

Brielle was originally designated by the other kids to be Mary and Braden a shepherd. But as you all can see from this picture, that didn't happen...and since Mr. Braden follows everything (good or bad) that his big sister does he decided not to join either. That is why they are labeled "stubborn child #1 and #2) We could not for the life of us convince them to join. I was devastated by their stubbornness...children, children...may be next year...

...and while Brielle and Braden were acting like party poopers, everyone else was enjoying Luke 2.

Kem, as King Herod.

Christmas morning was here before we knew it! So much excitement! I think I was more excited than the kids to see their faces when they opened their presents.

Brielle was the first to wake up and say: "Santa brought us presents!"

It was priceless.

The opening of presents took a long time because the kids would open a present and wanted to play with their toys...and who are we to stop a child from playing with a new toy!

Scott assembling Brielle's princess castle.

Braden taking out his presents from his stocking.

Doing his happy dance.

...and can I say priceless again...because this video is priceless...:)

Have I mentioned before that this man LOVES blankets? He got the best blanket ever this Christmas from Ryan and Kara...and I must say, it is pretty amazing...very soft and cuddly!

Eating some yummy breakfast after opening our presents!

In the afternoon we figured out how to chat online with Scott's family. Ryan and Kara helped us figure things out and we got to see and talk with them and also talk to the rest of the family in Idaho! It was so much fun! Who would have known that video chatting would be so fun?

We had another successful Christmas!