our ward had a Grinch themed party-the youth put on a production of "the Grinch who stole Christmas"  It was really fun-Johanna and friend Sofi directed and narrated
it actually snowed a bit the week before Christmas-so pretty!  Our tree was really pretty this year too.
Christmas
was spent in Salem with Grandma and Grandpa Hoth.  Danielle, Scott and the girls came up from Albany every day we were there.  We also had some visits from Kevin-we played him scores of player piano rolls!  That's all he wanted to do (except eat the yummy dinners).  We had fun playing games, making cookies, playing soccer/basketball at the gym-though we almost killed grandpa, going to see the Hobbit, making gingerbread houses, cooking a lot, and hanging out.
All the Christmas
Eve pajamas fit-yeah!  Johanna is posing with the scariest movie ever-she had nightmares for several days after watching it last time-I literally had to sleep with her in her twin bed-thanks, Katy!
A Christmas day visit to the carousel is our tradition-it was great to have Danielle with us this year.  A few days after coming back to Medford, Lindsay, our cousin from N.C. came for a very short visit-we celebrated by ice-skating in Ashland-so fun!  Eddy, Log and Cam are starting to get the hang of it!

Johanna and
her friends were so excited for the church New Year's Eve dance-they all came to our house to get ready and they had a great time-Blake and I had to actually stay up for the new year so that we could pick everyone up-well, Blake picked them up, and I waited at home to hear the report.  Our boys celebrated the East Coast midnight by watching the big apple fall on the laptop and banging pots and pans.  On New Years Day we went on a "first day hike" that turned into more of a walk, but oh well-it was nice to get out in the crisp,cold air.  That's our beautiful local mountain-Mt.McGloughlin

Just yesterday we went sledding at Lake Hyatt in Ashland.  It was a bit sketchy driving there, but we were rewarded with absolute beauty and some great outdoor times.  All the kids-and adults too! enjoyed sledding and playing in the snow.  Johanna and I built this adorable snow hula woman. 

Johanna thought we looked like penguins-but i think we look like a couple of weirdos....A great last day of a great vacation!