Letchworth State Park- beginning of winter

The day after Christmas,as we wondered how Mom/Claudia/Grandma would celebrate her birthday, Travis suggested we go for a hike. I scoffed; although we don't have any snow on the ground (boo hoo!) it is still chilly outside, and all the rain we had made the ground rather soggy. Still, he has so little time off (he still has to feed the fish twice a day and with all the students home over Christmas that duty falls to him alone), I wanted to do some things that he wanted to.

So, we loaded up the van and drove to Letchworth State Park, bundled in our parkas. We brought binoculars and a camera and a camel pack (that was used, but not worn). The girls were sad to leave Licorice, our kitten, home alone. They wish we could have brought her hiking with us. Maybe another time- after the ground isn't soggy or half frozen, and after she gets used to a harness!

The drive was pretty and as we started driving on the windy road, the sun started to peak out. It was beautiful. Although we were unable to actually hike (the trains by the water were closed- too slippery, I suppose), we did have fun racing around and taking pictures, and playing "tag".

Mt. Morris Dam- one day we will tour this place.

Although you can't see much water here, there is some right under the ledge we are standing on.

It was windy and cold!

Wolf Creek Falls

I love this little crouching Nica! She was using the binoculars and was so excited.

I was looking over the edge at Wolf Creek Falls.

Waterfall from a culvert- draining from the west side of the park down into Genesee River

Looking south along the Genesee River. You can't quite see the middle falls at this point.

Looking north along the Genesee River.

Lookout over the middle falls. We've been here in three seasons now! First Winter (today in December 2014) & Snowy Winter (February 2014), Summer (July 2014), and Fall (October 2013). I wonder what it looks like in Spring?

Upper Falls. There was a LOT more volume of water, and it was dirty brown. I wonder if this is normal, or if it was from all the rain we'd had the last week. Maybe a combination?

At the upper falls. Let me just point out this is one of the few times Nica has voluntarily chosen to wear jeans.

The sun came out. It felt WONDERFUL!

The girls agreed with me.

Middle Falls- you can see Megan learning out over the right side at the top of the falls.

Lots of spray

Another culvert drain waterfall.

Travis said he's seen a rainbow every time he's been to this waterfall (twice). It was great to see the sunshine peeking through the clouds. I love sunshine and rainbows and waterfalls!

Middle Falls seen from the road- the walkway below (in the lower edge of the photo) was closed off. I guess it, too, gets too slippery in the winter (especially when it is colder and the water freezes!)

Middle Falls seen from the road, you can see the train trestle that spans the upper falls in the treeline.

I am looking forward to late spring and early summer so we can actually go hiking here in Letchworth. Although, I am also looking forward to our ward's snow day here in February. We had a lot of fun last year, and I think 2015 will be great, too!

Christmas Eve & Day

This year Christmas was wonderful - full of love and service. The girls were really well behaved. They had lots of fun making chocolates as gifts for teachers, neighbors and friends. They helped the Young Women decorate 200 cupcakes. They carefully considered gifts for each other. And, they were great at decorating, cleaning, and helping get ready for Christmas. They also loved hearing and reading the story of Jesus Christ, and remembering why we celebrate. They sang with beautiful voices in church (with Primary or with the Ward Choir) and at home (Nica sang "Fairest Little Jesus Child as she made chocolates by herself after church one Sunday), and even in the neighborhood. On the 23rd we gathered our neighbor gifts (chocolates for the ones without children and a tube of wrapping paper with scissors, tape, and an ornament for the families with little kids home) and went around our circle and sang Christmas songs as we delivered the packages. Seeing the smiles on people's faces was so amazing, and really let me feel joy, hope and the Holy Spirit and Love.

And, then, after a very long day of waiting, on Christmas Eve we gathered after dinner.

The girls knew that they were getting jammies for Christmas Eve. Not only did they see their mom working on them (for some reason I just couldn't seem to find time while they were at school- possibly because I was at school with them!), but we also have a tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve, and that gift is always night-time clothes. I might have to change it up for next year, but it is still so fun to see how excited they get about their pajamas!

The box is still almost as big as she is.

Technically, she hadn't opened them yet, but...

Love her smile!

Look at those Sunshine Eyes

 And the big reveal! They were all super long and super baggy. Here's hoping they last all year...

Miranda's "initial" is different for two reasons: 1. So I don't get her pajama bottoms confused with Megan's and 2. One of my nicnames for Miranda is "Exclamation Point", or Excla (as Brother Zumbrun dubbed her). If you've been in the same room with Miranda for even five minutes, you know why she has that name.

Travis and his girls

ALL of Travis' girls

We were able to hang our last advent pieces- those of baby Jesus. Then we settled in front of the TV and watched the LDS video, "Joy to the World" that tells of the Savior's birth with lots of music. We had a prayer and the girls "went to bed".

Of course, the girls had a hard time falling asleep. It didn't necessarily help that we let them all sleep in the same room. I know that, except for Nica,  they were up at least until 10pm! I woke up a few minutes before 6am anticipating their cries of joy and excitement, only to lay in bed for another 45 minutes! I was glad they slept in a little.

Miranda discovering the gel pack tucked under the lid of her new sandwich container. Megan is looking at some chaptstick.

Zoë and Nica brought blankets down with them and sat close together. I didn't think it was that cold. Zoë is holding up a little box with plasticware ("Great! One more thing to wash...!") and Nica is investigating the freezer pack her sandwich box lid.

 After opening stockings, we cleaned up a little, made beds, and then had breakfast: crepes! We had eggs, sausage and cheese sauce for one style and blueberry or raspberry pie filling with whipped topping for another. I had a third- Nutella! Crepes for breakfast is one of Megan's favorite and most anticipated traditions of our Christmas; she wrote about it as part of an assignment for a school report on traditions.

The girls made record time in cleaning up after breakfast so they could open gifts.

Nica kinda already knew what this gift was, but she loved how BIG it was and was so excited to finally get to unwrap presents!

Who knew girls would be SO excited over hot chocolate!?

Miranda's wish list included a bed for her doll, slippers and a sleep mask.

Of course, it can't be Christmas in our house without a book or two. Zoë got the Percy Jackson compendium on Greek Gods. Miranda got two books of the Shannon Hale series "Ever After High". Zoë started reading even before we finished opening gifts. Miranda soon after.

Megan goofed around and played with a lot of my gifts (mirror, hair ornaments). Nica was admiring the new game we got from Grandma and grandpa.

 Once the gifts were unwrapped, and many put away, and paper cleaned up, we chilled for a while. Zoë escaped downstairs to try out Just Dance 4 on the Wii (all the girls were SOOO happy we were able to get the Wii fixed! It's been broken for a few months) and her sisters followed.

Around 11:45 I called them all together and handed them envelopes full of puzzle pieces. To get the clue, they had to put the puzzle together and solve the riddle.

Megan was lead on this puzzle. Miranda and Zoë were not that thrilled with the game, and were even a little grumpy.

They were led on a chase around the house, gathering a packages as they solved the riddle to tell them where they were. The final clue led them to a basement closet that had a scratching post. Miranda walked right by it, Zoë looked at me and said, "Great! Another chore!" and Megan said, "We're getting a cat!?!"

They were content with just that, but then when I told them that the kitten was on her way, they got really excited! They were so tender, cautious, and patient. They listened really well, and were so gentle with our new little cat. 

Miranda and Nica with our kitten. Megan is looking for a toy to entice the cat to play with.

I built the scratching post/box. The kitten took right to it! Which surprised me a lot. She seems to become really calm when she is in side the box, but when she is on top, she loves to play.

Nica could not get enough of this little kitten! She didn't want to leave her alone, and was happy to just sit and follow her, but was really wanting to have her snuggle. I imagine I might find these to together a lot...

Megan was the most helpful- willing to feed, move, play, and pester the kitten. She was great to grab whatever, and move things and gather whatever she might think would be good for the kitten.

The girls know that this box is the cat's personal space- and they can pet, but can't pull her out. It's her escape.

 Miranda also loves the cat, but is a little nervous around her. Anytime the cat moves to bump her head against Miranda's hand, she jumps a little. I know Miranda will get better and be more comfortable with the kitten, and she already loves her so much.

So, what's the kitten's name? We had two suggestions: Shadow and Licorice. I wanted to see what her personality was like before we settled on a name. Her markings are that of a Mackeral tabby short hair. Sometimes she looks more brown, other times more grey. She is a cat, so: curious, affectionate, and independent. Yep, definitely a cat. Zoë suggested Shadow due to her markings. Nica picked Licorice "because she licks".

I finally had to put the cat in her den and chase the girls away from her to let her have a break. She had a very busy afternoon! They fled to the basement.

Travis had fish duty (all his students are gone so two to three times a day he has to go to work and feed the fish) and so he disappeared for a few hours twice on Christmas (after the kitten arrived and again after dinner). When he was home, he loved watching our girls dance and play. It was a relaxing and enjoyable day for all of us! Okay, maybe not for the kitten.

Zoë is a champion playing Just Dance. Miranda loves the music and the movement and that she can play a game on the Wii.

While waiting to talk with Brett & his family, the girls got their jammies on and the three younger dance to "Istanbul" (or is it Constantinople?) by It Might Be Giants.

We sent the girls to bed about 8:30 (after skyping with family). I went upstairs to check on them (i.e. to tell them to turn off their audiobooks and/or lights). Nica was exhausted, but so happy. She said, "I just want the kitten to sleep with me" and then she murmured, "I love Licorice".