Back to my Camera and Christmas

I feel bad for myself that I haven't been here in a while.  I've taken a step away from my camera and I'm really excited to get back to it.  I've missed taking pictures of my little family.  In the meantime I'll place Christmas here for your enjoyment.  

This year we went back to Utah.  It was an off year for my family so no one was really there until after Christmas.  It was fun to enjoy time with just my parents.  My Dad read "The Night Before Christmas" to Audrey on Christmas eve.  It was so good that I had to record it for myself.  I remember him reading to me as a child fairly often and it was pretty great to see him read to Audrey.  My Mom got down and played Lego's with her on Christmas day.  It always warms my heart to see Audrey doing things with her grandparents.  I hope she has these memories forever.  It makes me think of quilting and making cookies with my Grandma, listening to and trying to play the piano with Grandpa.  Playing ping pong and always losing with my other Grandpa and always asking for him to give me a tour of his office once again, it was full of stories from his past that I loved to hear him tell.  I loved getting advice from my other Grandma; many times I thought how strong she must have been to have gone through so many difficult things in her life.  I always admired her baking and was treated regularly to the very best pies.  I feel so lucky to be blessed with the very best of parents and grandparents. 

I was super sick during the holidays.  I could barely speak half the time and sleep was difficult because of all the congestion.  I thought after dealing with it for a week prior to leaving to Utah that I would be fine but it lasted at least another week.  My Mom was so sweet to make me warm tea over and over again.  She also took time out to make Audrey's favorite bread...which made her so happy.  She even made sour dough rolls just for her for Christmas eve because she knew she would miss the regular ones.  

Christmas was the best.  There are a few moments that I'm so glad I caught on Camera.  The gratitude on Dad's face after opening a gift from my sisters.  The awe on my Mom's face and the excitement on Audrey's. Benji and Karalee were sweet to come and spend time with us and be apart of our Christmas.  

Audrey has wanted a camera ever since she was five and broke the last camera we gifted her.  We found a good solution online and she has been the paparazzi ever since.  I'm so glad too.  She seems to get what I don't.  I'm grateful to have another photographer in that family. She was running around taking so many photos of my parents.  They were so good to indulge her and I was grateful for the pictures.  

Audrey got a new scooter this year.  She exclaimed as she opened it that she didn't need it because she already had one.  

The one at home is a three wheeled scooter.  It's so short that she has to bend over to ride it...it was made for a three year old.  She loves it because it doesn't take anything to balance on it.  What she doesn't know is that I have ulterior motives.  She is 7 and still can't ride a bike.  I guess she doesn't care enough to ride it.  She doesn't like to go out on it very often, I have to beg her.   When I suggest we take the training wheels off she has a screaming melt down.  There are literally no kids in this neighborhood so she has nothing pushing her.  Someone told me that the two wheeled scooter would help her with balance.  I hope it does.  I know she doesn't care to ride her bike, but I feel like it's a right of passage as a child. The training wheels are just going to magically disappear this coming summer.  I'm not going to force her, but I feel like she'll regret it later if she doesn't try now.