And lest you think we forgot...

The 5th annual polar bear plunge took place on January 5. I have to say that it was the coldest plunge yet,  due to the lateness of the season. Thankfully my Dad was here to make sure we carried it out, and Lauren and Ellie were begging for the chance. Although I honestly hate plunging in the cold, it is a tradition that will never die.

Enjoy!

"I'm the first one to jump in, so this seems like a great idea"

"Am I still alive? My body is frozen solid."

"You tricked me. I feel betrayed. That was no fun at all."

"I hate this, I hate this, I hate this..."

"FINE, I'll put my head under but as a sign of rebellion I'll leave my hand out."

"This is the worst thing I have ever done. Maybe if I scream louder the pain will decrease?"

"Why did I have to be such a man and swim the length of the pool?"

"That was horrible, but I'll put on a brave face for the girls."

"I look happy, but I'm really thinking about how I can't feel my fingers or toes."

"I can't tell you how glad I am that I can't swim yet. And because of this I will never learn."

"If I look calm maybe they'll let me just pull an Ada."

"Fine, I'll jump, but I'm going to land on the step if I can manage it."

"They weren't kidding, that was freezing. My face is stuck in a perma-smile forever."

"Why was I so anxious to do this? Remind me, please."

"It's too late now. Maybe I can reverse the pull of gravity."

"In the future I'll only visit in August when you're supposed to be jumping into this thing."

"I'm so glad that is over. Done. Finished. The End."

2013

Welcome 2013!

I still have trouble writing the correct year.

We had a wonderful Christmas break in Utah and loved every second of it.

It took 2 weeks to get back to normal when we got home.

We ordered new couches for our family room. I hope we like them...it was a bigger decision than I thought.

I visited the urgent care on Sunday with Ellie, who, I hope, is the last of our sick kids this winter.

We got three huge bags of citrus from a friend and are almost finished with them. I love fresh citrus.

One of my new years resolutions is to have fewer resolutions. To take time to stop and relax. I struggle with that.

I've loved the PBS special on the Queen, aired after Downton Abbey. This week is the final installment.

We got a blendtec blender from my parents and are in love with it. In fact, we've used it 64 times since January 5.

I've started running (finally healed from my two partially torn ankle ligaments) and love being outside in the fresh morning air.

During one week our temps went from a low of 24 to a high of high of 81. Layering is key.

I decided to limit myself to checking Faceb*ok and Instagr*m just on the weekend. I've had so much more free time during the week.

We had a fender bender one day after arriving back home, but thankfully J's car was repaired and we're back to normal.

I am grateful for the prospects of this new year and for a family I love to share it with.