Let it SNOW, Let it SNOW, Let it SNOW

On Friday, December 28, 2012 it snowed over night.  It's the first real snow we've had in two year.  Last year we got a dusting but it wasn't enough to cancel school or even enough to sled.

 

The house covered in snow (even though it was only 3 inches)

So Saturday we took the kids to the "Big Hill" to sled with friends, Alex and Aaron Green.

Marissa on the snow board

Two years ago Robert bought a snow board for his birthday (February) but as soon as he bought it, it stopped snowing, so this was the first time he had a chance to use his snow board.  He was very kind and shared it with his sisters, Marissa and Jessica.  Here's Marissa going down the hill.

Marissa on the sled

Jessica on the snow board
She loved it!

Robert coming up the hill after a great run!
AWESOME!
He is a natural on the snow board

Jessica coming up the hill after a great run!
She loves it!

Marissa coming up the hill
Well prepared for the cold weather.

Everyone:  Jessica, Marissa, Alex, Robert and Aaron
Ready for the big race!

Marissa takes the lead, with Robert a close second.
Robert won - he's on the snow board

Mommy loved being out with the kids.
Sledding was so fun!

Jessica on another run … go Jessica :)

Devon coming back from a fantastic run
Super fast

Devon came a little after everyone else with Dad.  He, and his brilliant mind, immediately set off to building a snow ramp to make the hill more fun.  The more we went down, the more the snow was disappearing so he would collect huge snow balls (2 feet wide) and carry them to the sign of the ramp (and the area before the ramp) to make an awesome ramp for sledding.  From this point on Betsy switched to video to capture the full extent of the fun.

Light's Under Louisville

Friday night we wanted to spend the day together as a family, but Devon had to work 12:00-8:30 so we had to do a few things without him.  We were able to have a delicious breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls and bacon before Devon had to leave for work (as you can tell we are on a late schedule).  

Mark and I took the kids to see Les Miserables at the movie theater.  The movie started at 12:10 so we were getting there at the same time as Devon.  We also saw Hannah Orr working concessions.  After getting good seats and plenty of popcorn, drinks and napkins we were ready to enjoy the show.  Les Miserables is one of our (Mark's and my) favorite stories, playwrites and now movies ever created.  We didn't get out of the movie until 3:00.  We came home to do chores and get ready for dinner.  We had a fine dinner, cleaned up and then went to get Devon at the theater.  Devon was supposed to get off at 8:30 but he hadn't come outside.  When we got there we saw three cop cars outside.  I ran in to find him.  He was just finishing - said something had happened and he'd tell me about it in the car.  As we drove to see "Lights Under Louisville" he said there was a bomb threat.  It was aweful.  Luckily everyone was safe.

So after getting Devon we drove over to "Lights Under Louisville."  It was a spectacular display of themed lights that went on for 17 miles.  Here are some photos! 

Special Night Downtown

For Betsy's Christmas present from Mark, he treated her to a night a the Historic Brown Hotel on 4th Street, downtown Louisville along with a charming romantic dinner at a restaraunt of their choosing and a night on the town.

We checked into the hotel around 4:30 and settled in.  Then we went for a good workout in the hotel's fitness center before getting ready for a delicious dinner on the town.  Mark and Betsy decided to walk around to see what was available and ended up at the Spaghetti Factory on 2nd street.  They had a delicious dinner:  Mark had the Chicken Parmasean and Betsy had the Chicken Marsala.  They each had a spacio ice cream after their meal.  It was a wonderful night.

After dinner they walked around the 4th Street Live area - seeing what attractions were available.  It seems things don't get started until later so we went back to the hotel to relax before going out again.

Once we got back to the hotel, it was evident that we didn't want to go out again.  We had a lovely sweet and very comfortable conditions so we stayed in and watched a few movies on the tv.

It was a wonderful evening for the two of us!

Christmas Day is Delightful for All

Luckily this Christmas morning the kids slept in late - 8:30.  It was so nice to get a few extra hours of sleep.   As usual, first and most obvious are the presents from Santa:  Robert got Fifa 13, Marissa got cool camel colored suade boots, Devon got Poke'mon Black 2, and Jessica got running shoes.  

Next comes the stockings:  

Robert got Nike socks, gift cards, a Christmas ornament and candy

Robert 

Marissa got Under Armor head bands for running, gift cards, candy, and a Christmas Ornament

Marissa 

Jessica got candy, a neck warmer, gift cards, and a Christmas ornament

Devon got running shorts, gift cards, candy and a Christmas ornament.

Betsy

 Betsy got candy, gift certificate to Long Horn, and a black and silver scarf

Mark

Mark got loads of socks, candy and a gift certificate to match Betsy's

Next the kids sent Mark and Betsy on a scavenger hunt to find the combined presents…  We went upstairs and downstairs then back upstairs and downstairs.  This repeated a few times before we found the present behind the sectional in the basement.  

When they opened the present they found wonderous surprise.  The kids had gone in together to get us a movie theater gift card ($35), and an Olive Garden gift card for a date out together.  What a nice treat.  Daddy also got pistachios from Robert, BYU basketball shorts from Jessica, and ? from Marissa.  Mommy got a beautiful charm bracelet from Jessica & Devon from Things Remembered, and a necklace and earrings from Marissa and ? from Robert.  Daddy also got a "BYU Basketball" DVD from Uncle Alan.

Pistacios from Robert

Necklace from Marissa

shorts from Jessica

As for the kids:  They had a wonderful Christmas!  Everyone received their special pajamas on Christmas Eve.  On Christmas morning Jessica received running shoes from Santa, a camera, reunion photo album and a shirt and mustard color jacket from Mom and Dad.  She received the book Safe Haven from Great Grandma Rennhack, a Forever 21 gift card from Robert, ? from Marissa and ? from Devon.

Jessica so excited about her new camera

Marissa received cool suade boots from santa, TOMS shoes, Dicks gift card, reunion photo album and a XC photo album from Mom and Dad, she receive an autobiography of a runner "Born to Run" from Great Grandma Rennhack, ? from Devon, ? from Robert and the Pitch Perfect DVD and soundtrack from Jessica.

Marissa with her TOMS

Devon was hoping for an iPhone but didn't get one - maybe we should have gotten him one, but instead he received a Poke'mon Black 2 dsI 3D game from Santa, a new back pack, reunion photo album, XC photo album, a speical senior year quilt, ice scraper and a electric razor from Mom and Dad.  He received a $30 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble to get the last book in the Eragon Book Series from Great Grandma Rennhack.  He receive two Pokemon videos (that he's always wanted) from Jessica, ? from Marissa and ? from Robert.

Devon opening his back pack

Robert received a much wanted video game called "Fifa 13" (world class soccer).  From his parents he received a new soccer ball and a new basketball, a reunion photo album, his XC season photo album and his Soccer season photo album.  From Great Grandma Rennhack he recieved a new book to start a new series.  He got a Cheesecake factory gift card for $25 from Jessica, an actual "peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake" from the Cheesecake Factory and a Dicks gift card for $25 from Marissa and a NOHS XC back pack (that doubles as a NOHS soccer back pack) from Devon.  

Robert loves his new soccer ball

Marissa loved her present from Devon

Jessica and Devon - 2012

Marissa and Devon 2012

Robert and Devon 2012

Mom, of course, got copies of all the books she made for the kids

Marissa and Robert 2012

Daddy and Robert 2012

Marissa and Jasper 2012

Robert loved his present from Jessica

Marissa and Jessica 2012

Devon watching with anticipation

Robert loving his "cheesecake" from the Cheesecake Factory

Robert, Jessica, Devon and Marissa in their new pajamas

It was truly a magical Christmas.  Daddy surprised mommy with a gift hidden on the tree.  It was a certificate to a Night at the Historic Brown Hotel - downtown Louisville with complimentary dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and a night out on the town.  She was shocked and so happily surprised!

Mommy got daddy tons of clothes (he needed them):  he received jeans, khaki pants, a sweater, a sweater vest, socks and a active coat and a black wool coat.  The family also got a new dart board set, but we are nervous to put it up …

Christmas Eve for the Lowes

The Lowe children are very committed to their family traditions.  Since they were little we have dressed up as shepherds on Christmas Eve and eaten a Mediterranean meal of fish and chicken, vegetables, and flat bread.  This year we had two types of flat bread (parmesean and asiago), we had Salmon, Teryaki Chicken on Kebabs, crab and cheese dip and Mediterranean vegetables.  It was a delicious spread.  Unfortunately, Devon had to work on Christmas Eve during our dinner but came home early - just in time to open the tradition "One present on Christmas Eve".

Mark, Betsy, Jessica 19, Robert 13, and Marissa 15

sisters!

After dinner we all opened our traditional Christmas Eve present - Christmas pajamas (all coordinating).

After we opened presents Daddy started a fire outside and we sang Christmas Carols while we roasted marshmallows.