Ho Ho Ho Ho Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning at the Roemhildt Home

We finally got into all the holiday spirit by doing some fun holiday traditions this past week.  We joined the Day family is a night walk, lantern walk and caroling.  The girls helped me make fudge, zucchini bread and gingerbread cookies.  we wrapped presents and cleaned the entire house to get ready for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve morning I took Grace and Everett to the grocery store to get the last needed items for the meals while Gwenevere and Papa deep cleaned the upstairs.  Then we ate lunch, rested and went over to the Box family's home for Christmas Eve dinner.

this year's Christmas gift: a new ornatamint to remind us of this past year.

Christmas Eve Morning pancake pile: 

Everett playing while we organized our toys to got ready for Christmas

A leg lamp surprise.  LOL  we had several good laughs while inflating this piece of artwork.
Friends of the Tacoma area beware of next year

 The Box family invited us over for dinner Christmas Eve.  It was so fun to spend the evening with good friends eating good food.  My favorite part was the homemade Cheese cake Jason made.  It is the VERY BEST.

making candy cane reindeers Christmas Eve

 We made it back home Christmas Eve in time to put on new PJs given to the kids by Grandma Jeanie and Grandpa Jim (our adopted Grandparents or AKA our neighbors).

Gwenevere holding her littlest present.

Showing off her new PJs

Grace like the idea of getting a picture with her favorite package.  She was sure inside was a little pan for cooking.  Turned out to be headbands but she loved it either way

Best Friends

Christmas Eve Jammies

 While Papa built a fire in the fireplace, the girls helped me set up the tent so we could have a campout in the family room.

the kitties loved the idea of sleeping in the tent

After watching several Christmas movies that our neighbors gave us as a Christmas gift.  the kids finally fell asleep.

the clock stroked 12 and Santa came sliding down the chimney.  It was by far the fastest visit he made to our house.  

Grace got a doll house

Gwenevere got a dog

the Stockings were filled with an orange, candies and teeth cleaning supplies 

 By 12:05 the house was quiet and off to bed we went but sleep did not come easy.  Both Papa and I kept waking up checking the clock and waiting for the girls to wake up.  Finally around 8:30 both girls woke up and we went upstairs to see all the fun surprises.

At the last minute Santa decided to add a little toy to the girls stockings.  It was a big hit

Since we don't have any pictures I must add:  Santa brought Everett, gloves, socks, gas drops, His first tooth brush, and an orange to be eaten by Papa.  :-)

One of my many favorite moments from Christmas Morning:  After opening Gwenevere's first present she declares : "See i didn't need to write to Santa I got everything I wanted."

The rest of the pictures are from the morning.

Grace happy to have her own box of Tic Tacs

Playing with her doll house

Aunt Alisha gave Grace this beautiful dress

 Whenever I asked Gwenevere what she wanted for Christmas she really didn't have a deep desire for anything specific but on occasions she would ask for dresses, and jewelry.  So we bought her a new ring.

Grace showing off her new ring too

Everett with his Cookie Monster from Grandpa Roemhildt

Great Green Grandma gives the best gifts

Gwenevere's Hello Kitty bag from Great Green Grandma

James got a new robe 

Everett was so happy Christmas Morning

The Girls with their My Little Pony cup from Uncle Austin

All three with their new robes

Gwenevere with her "tinker bell" dress

Papa got some new work gloves from Grace

Grandma and Grandpa Thomas sent us some fun new books and pretty jewelry.

Grace with her Panda Popper from Grandpa Roemhildt

James was pretty happy with her popper too

Grandma Sharolee is going to take the girls for an over night stay for their Christmas, Gwenevere and Grace are so excited.  

And Daniel and Dalynn gave us some awesome shadow puppets to play with.  Papa is looking forward to make up new stories and I can't wait to use them for preschool.  Papa also mentioned making a puppet theater for the girls to play with.  Best gift idea ever.  

We have been so blessed.  Thank you everyone for your love, and kindness.  The love of Christ has shown through this wonderful holiday season.  

For me, calling family and talking to loved ones was one of my favorite gifts this year.  Merry Christmas.  

Merry Christmas (family newsletter 2013)

 December 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

13 has always been a favorite number of mine but I could have never guess the year 2013 could be filled with so many amazing blessings.

We started out the year in need of a little family vacation, so for Gwenevere's 4^th birthday we experienced the Great Wolf Lodge (an indoor water park). Then in February we celebrated James' 30^th birthday. James went on a mancation to Steamboat Spring Colorado where he snowboarded for the first time. With a sore rear James flew home just in time for us to sign papers and close on our first home.

We spent the months of March and April fixing up our new home. James patched and textured walls, sanded and refinished the hardwood floors, put new tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, re-wired most of the electrical and remodeled the entire kitchen. He worked non-stop so that I could quit my apartment job and we could move.

May 4^th was the day we packed up everything we had, and thanks to the help of many wonderful friends, were able to move into our new house. It took us several weeks to unpack and get settled but we were happy to be in our new home.

Summer came with lots of visitors, which we thoroughly enjoyed having. When guests weren't visiting us we were out enjoying the warm weather, camping, visiting family and friends or playing at the beach.

Gwenevere performed as a Turkish delight in her ballet company's production of Narnia.

Since we were expecting our first baby boy in September, James and I had a chance to leave the girls with my brother's family and visit Leavenworth WA for an early anniversary celebration. While we were there we ran into Candy Vickery and dear family friend from Drain OR who we hadn't seen since probably our wedding day. It was a fun surprise.

August came and we celebrated Grace's 2^nd birthday at a park by our house. Auntie Grace came to visit, and we got to watch my brother Will compete in another 100 mile run.

September seemed to last for forever, as we waited each day in anticipation of baby brother's arrival. Finally on September 23, 12:15am I woke up with my first real contraction, James set up birth pool, my midwife came and by 1:45 am baby Everett Bennett Roemhildt was born in the comfort of our new home while his two big sisters slept upstairs. My mom was able to be present at the birth and was a big help.

In October we harvested our garden, blessed Everett, and went trick or treating.

November came and so did the cold weather. We finally regained a desire to do more house projects. James refinished our staircase and worked on weather proofing our home for the winter. We had a fun Thanksgiving celebration with our Aloha family, (friends from BYU-H) which was long overdue and so fulfilling.

Now as if in the blink of an eye, it is December. We put up a Christmas tree, decorated our home with lights and are preparing for the celebration of our Savior's birth. At this time of year I am in wondrous awe at all our many blessings we have been given. Not only have we been blessed with many earthly gifts: a home, a baby, continued employment and health, we have also been able to reflect on the gifts from the Savior and our loving Heavenly Father. I am thankful for the gift of the atonement. I am ever grateful for the opportunity to repent of my mistakes and try each day to start anew. With three little children I feel it's hard to to always be the mother, and wife I desire to be but with the help of my Savior I am continually finding the strength to keep trying.

We hope you and your family too find joy in the season. We send our love and prayers to each of you and thank you again for your wonderful friendships. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Love,

The Roemhildts: James, Elizabeth, Gwenevere, Grace and Everett

The Truth

Papa comes home and sees Grace with 7 band-aids on her leg.  Papa asks

Papa:  Why do you have all those band-aids on your leg

Grace:  I did it.

Papa: Why did you put all of those band-aids on?

Grace:  because Mama said "no."

nativity pictures

confession: Growing up i knew several families who would dress up and reenact the Christmas story each year.  I thought they were weird for doing so.  Sorry for judging.

So how did we become one of those families?  by complete mistake.

In 2009 (Our first Christmas with kids) James and I and baby Gwenevere at the time, went to our Stake Nativity.  Gwenevere was almost a year but still baby Jesus size, so when they offered to do family photos for free we said "Why Not"

 Gwenevere did such a great job being baby Jesus the couple behind us in line asked to have Gwenevere in their pictures.

 then in 2010 we happened to go again to the Stake Nativity display, and again when asked if we wanted pictures we said "Sure"

In 2011 we had our second baby, And baby Grace was the perfect size to play baby Jesus, so guess what we did: Yep, we took family nativity pictures.

Grace is in the manger

Then in 2012 we decided to skip the Stake Nativity program and instead go to my sister-in-law's piano performance.  What I thought would be the year that ended the nativity pictures was not.  At my sister in law's performance there was a dress up photo booth.  HA! so of course we had to take a picture.  

baby doll for baby Jesus

So this year, with baby Everett and all, as silly as it sounds, I was looking forward to getting our family nativity pictures taken.  But then life happen, the weekend of the Stake Nativity was also the weekend of the progressive pigout, and the MBT ballet, and 100 other fun things. Since we couldn't do everything on our list of wants, choices where made and the Stake Nativity activity was cut.    As hard as it was, I was happy we were able to experience the other holiday activities.  Then to my surprise, James and I along with Everett where asked to participate in reenacting the Nativity story for the Relief Society program at church.  This was by far more embarrassing but in the end we got pictures taken.

unfortunately the girls weren't in costumes but i had to have my family picture. 

Okay so that was a really long way of saying  "This is as close as we got this year."

And yes, I'll admit, next year I hope we can do it again.  I'm not sure how long this tradition will last but for now it's fun to see the changes in our family each year.  

Snow Days, and family time

Friday morning we woke up to a beautiful cover of snow.  James made it into work safely and the girls and I bundled up for our first snow walk of the season.  

 While getting all three kids ready to go outside Gwenevere told me she wanted to make footprints in the snow like a grizzly bear, bare foot.  I told her it would be cold so she needed to put on boots.  She did what I asked and managed to get a barefoot print in while I wasn't looking.  She was so proud of her footprint.

 Everett loved the snow, okay so he didn't cry, not sure if I can say he loved it, but we all had fun

Gwenevere's little handprints right above the license plate in the front of our car.

On our snow walk we saw a humming bird

Finn joined us for our walk but about half way through he was crying so Gwenevere carried him home.

Grace wanted a picture with our neighbors reindeer. 

After our snow walk the girls cuddled up with their Hello Kitty Piggy Bank (which happens to be the most played with toy lately.)

Late Friday night Grandpa Roemhildt and the Uncles came to visit.  Gwenevere stayed up in her bed waiting for her Uncles to come.  She was so excited. James and the boys stayed up late playing games and watching "Wreck it Ralph"

 Saturday morning we got up and ran around crazy until we were ready to go play in the snow.  We met up with Will and Jenni and they took us to the best sledding area, which was technically closed hehehehe  Jenni in all her amazing-ness made soup, rolls and dessert to eat while we sledded.

Grandpa Roemhildt took some great pictures of the day.  Thanks for sharing them with me.

Hanging out at Will and Jenni's house

Handsome Taylor is growing up and looks like a little man these days

Trying to Tackle James

I love this sassy little girl.  She lights up my world. 

awe so cute

Thanks to the many hands, Everett has held the entire time we played in the snow.  And thanks to everyone I was able to spend most of my time playing in the snow with my little girls.  It was wonderful.

I made it down the hill once

Grace loved going down fast

She even attempted to go down by herself.

Gwenevere trying on Papa's cross country skis

The perfect curl

Gwenevere and Preston racing

Super Will:  the kids loved being pulled around in the sleds.

Although I don't have any pictures of it,  Gwenevere was a snow sledding machine.  She and Preston went down the hill about 100 times.  They both had a blast sledding in the two person sled together.  They did ventured out and tried race sledding in two different sleds but then came back to sledding down the hill together in the same sled.  It was their favorite.

Gwenevere made sure all the bears where feed, with snow.