What a very merry Christmas we have had. We hope the same for all of our dear friends and family.

I can't let this post pass without adding a few of my thoughts about this Christmas season.  This year was one of my very favorite Christmases.  I am not sure the reason for this, but maybe it was many things coming together to create a great atmosphere with wonderful people who I love.  

We began a new tradition this year that will be with us for many Christmases to come!  A few years ago I thought it would be a fun idea to do an Advent Calendar with a chocolate surprise behind every window. Who doesn't like chocolate???  Well... This was an absolute disaster. Instead of starting every day with an excited countdown we began each morning with tears and sadness for all involved who did not get chocolate.  It was ridiculous. This year I decided that the Advent Calendar was a great idea... without the cursed chocolate.  I purchased a wooden one with little drawers and Logan and I brainstormed ideas for every day until Christmas. It was simple. Every day we would do a family activity or an act of service.  Busy days would include something simple, and some weekend days had four or five activities listed! Some of my favorites included; building gingerbread houses with friends, collecting our toys and clothes for donation, ice cream sundae family movie night, shopping for secret Santa for families in need, baking goodies to delver to friends, excitedly talking about favorite family traditions, having a potluck party with friends, ringing the Salvation Army bell, getting Gooies at a favorite local restaurant, and more. I looked forward to these every day and the activities really set a fun atmosphere in our home!  

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is watching the excitement our kids have to give their gifts to each other.  We generally take trips to the dollar store so that each person can shop for members of the family, but this year we decided to let each child earn money to pay for a portion of the gift and allow for a bigger budget.  I was impressed at the thoughfulness that they showed and my favorite things to hear on Christmas morning will always be "I am so excited for you to open the gift from me!," or "Can you open mine first?!?!"

Our basement is officially pretty cool. We have a great set up down there with an air hockey table and foosball table (thanks Jill and Lee!), and a Nintendo Wii system (see pictures below).  I have been a bit wary about buying a game system because I am a stickler for limiting screen time.  It was tough for me to go from our 1980's TV set to a television with ROKU because I didn't want TV usage to go up because of ease of use and more movie/show selection. I was picky about the games we bought and I am pretty happy about the selection because I feel like there is a wide range of fun interactive things such as; 3 karaoke games (is anyone surprised???), Guitar Hero, Just Dance, and Mario Kart.  That being said, I am trying to figure out a good balance with how much time is appropriate for TV, Video Games, and other screen time. If you are reading this and have ideas or ways you manage screen time I would love to start a conversation about it. :) 

Christmas was amazing this year. I love where we live and our kids are pretty awesome. 

Life. Is. Good.

There really isn't much more to say.

Rachel kept up her tradition of ringing the Salvation Army bell with each of our kids. Two hours each. They all had a good time well wishing and handing out candy canes to all of the kids.

ALL the kids were in this year's Christmas Pagent at the church. Here are some of the groups showing Jackson (black shirt with the white stain...I promise that wasn't there when he put it on) and Maren (blue dress). We don't have great pictures of the others.

We have had a great time celebrating the holidays as a family. Here we are at Dockside eating Gooeys (the big ice cream things in the middle) and enjoying the view over the lake.

The big presents this year were an air hockey table, a foosball table, and a Nintendo Wii. Last summer our house became the hang out spot for the neighborhood. Well...things just got a little bit better. I love our home.

Speaking of home- here are some pictures that were taken last week (not by me) of our beautiful little corner of the world. It's been over six years since we moved here, but I still find the place magical every time I step outside the front door.

From our home to yours...Merry Christmas.

Have a good week!

Christmas celebrations continue with two big events this week:

That's a picture of me with the team I work with. We had our work party at a paint place where we made these pictures. Some of us are great artists. I am definitely not one of them. It was fun though. There were also people there from the other offices in our group, and it was good to see them as well.

After the paint thing, Rachel met up with me and we finished off the night with just the people in the picture (my team), as well as their SOs. We ate and played games and hung out together for about four more hours. Good times. I've got to say, I really love working with these guys. They make it fun and rewarding to show up each day. Besides being colleagues, they are also friends, and in a certain sort of way even a kind of extended family. I feel like the culture and values of our office in Post Falls match my own, and it is fun to see everyone contributing their remarkable talents to make good things happen for our patients. So yeah- we're pretty awesome.

*****

Here's the next picture worth mentioning:

That's an orchestra and choir in a full auditorium at North Idaho College. Rachel  interpreted the program. She's awesome to watch. I have to say that with or without her I have come to look forward to this concert each year. We know a lot of the people that help put this thing together, and I can tell you that there is TONS of work that goes into this thing. Rachel prepared for hours. The musicians did too. Almost all of this was done by volunteers with no pay. It was advertised as free, but donations were taken with proceeds going to women's/children's shelters. Also, I don't know what it is about Christmas music, but it just feels good. It was an absolutely beautiful show. There was a children's event that was planned for the same time so that people didn't even have to arrange for sitters. What a great night.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Enjoy these pictures from our neck of the woods (taken by various N. Idaho photographers):

Those who read last week's edition of THC will know that we started the decorating process for Christmas. Well, this week was definitely a continuation, with a hefty dose of Christmas activity thrown in. We had 3 different dinners with 3 different groups of friends last week- one out, and two at our home. We also had people over for gingerbread decorating, went to several Christmas-themed events, and bought pretty much all of our Christmas presents. 'Tis the season.

It's been great!

These pictures are from the "Neigh-tivity" event that our church did at a park in downtown CDA. Free hot drinks, choir music, and a petting zoo (including a camel) for the public to enjoy. It's a nice break for busy shoppers. Good times. Also- take a look at Rachel in that picture with Lindsey. Isn't she radiant? I love that girl!

We had a bunch of friends over to build gingerbread houses. Here's Addy's.

School Christmas carnival. Addy and Jack are doing Karaoke in front of everyone. They did good because we practice at home all the time. Seriously.

Rachel and Maren stood in the cold for two hours and rang the Salvation Army bell. I asked Maren how it was. She said "cold." That's all.

Also, not really related, but we have some school pictures to post:

Have a good week!

I do not have acrophobia.

In fact, hanging off the edge of cliffs, often with nothing but my fingertips between myself and certain death, is a situation I am quite comfortable with.

That said, it would not be an exaggeration to say that putting Christmas lights on our house was one of the most harrowing experiences I have had with high places.

The deed was done though, and things turned out pretty good. Merry Christmas everyone.

Team Rachel did the lights in the yard. Team Dad did the roof.

*****

Besides hanging lights, we also cut down our tree this week and decorated for the season. Handel, Martin, Crosby, and Buble' have filled the air with their swooning music. Apple cider and peach pie keep us satisfied. It's definitely Christmas at the Hazard home.

*****

This girl is awesome! She's spunky, graceful, and full of personality. Maren had her dance recital this week and she did great!

Enough said.

*****

Evelyn has joined the rhythm group, Stomp. After watching a presentation at her school, she came to us with a plan about how she could get up early and fit the morning practices into our already-busy weekly schedule. She's having fun, and I'm excited to go to her performances.

*****

This show has been on my bucket list for a while. When the 20th anniversary tour announced they were coming to Spokane we got online and immediately got some of the best seats in the house. What a great night out with the one I love.

*****

Have a good week!

Hmmm...somehow, all the kids with awkward smiles turned out blury.