It's New Year's Eve with the Coffmans!!

With three small girls all ready to party (Nico was at a friend's house and Rachel was already in bed) it was destined to be a wild night at the Coffmans. Midnight came a bit early - 9:00pm (hey it was midnight in New York), so we all bundled up and went outside for the big fireworks. Because of all the snow this year, there wasn't much chance of starting a fire, though with really old firecrackers, we had to make sure everyone came back with all their fingers, toes and other important parts.

Do these girls look like they are ready to party or what??
Claire, Millie and Isa get dressed for the fun.

It's Pizza Time!!!

We met J.J.'s Uncle Don and cousin Kris and her boys, Ty and Cody, along with the whole Coffman Clan for pizza. With that many kids, you have to go somewhere the kids can run around and be a little rowdy.

At first, Claire and Millie just took the situation in and scoped out the place....

...trying to decide which games deserved their attention.

Driving is a given! Just wait until they turn 16!!!

And of course, you always have to throw a few guns in there to liven up the party. And if you don't get your turn with guns, Isa demonstrated a few tactics. 1 - stand next to the machine and cry - tears and everything. Just make sure someone is watching..

...if that doesn't work, try tactic #2 - throw yourself on the floor and cry some more. Make your body "boneless" (all toddlers know how to do this). Even if this doesn't get you guns, it's sure to get you something!

And if those don't work for you, Rachel has a few tips of her own. Scream and pound on the table.

It's sure to get you to the cars. Though from the look on Kris' face, Rachel needs lots more practice.

"I feel like a pro already..."

After our trip to Monticello, Utah, we headed on to Klamath Falls, Oregon to visit with J.J.'s family. There was more snow here too for us to enjoy. Nicolette, along with Ty and Cody (J.J's cousin Kris' boys)had already been out enjoying the hill next to the house with snowboarding and sledding. When we came to visit, we pulled out the "real" snowboards and the kids tried them out.

Rob helped Nicolette get into her bindings and ready to ride.

Nico started off like it was nothing.

She made it down the hill more than once.

And after only a couple rides down the hill, she told me, "I feel like a pro already. I know I'm not one yet, but I kind of feel like one." Later, she had a big fall after a big jump on icy snow and didn't feel like riding anymore for awhile. I guess even pros have their off days.

Claire, Millie and even Isabela got in on the sledding action, but Rachel and Grammy Judy had the best, and warmest, seats in the house.

Our Friend Oanh

Grandma and Grandpa Walker met Oanh while they were in Vietnam. She is now in the states studying at BYU. Claire and Rachel love her!! Everytime we see her, she spends lots of time playing with the girls. We sure love her!

Claire and Oanh

Claire, Oanh and Rachel who is doing her best Heisman Trophy pose.

Claire finally can't resist smiling.

Bathtime!!!

Bathtime has turned into a treat at our house. Claire and Rachel both love to play and Claire "helps" Rachel wash up and get clean.

Rachel gets done bathing before Claire, so I get her out, dry her off and get her in her jammies or clothes. She then goes back into the bathroom to see what fun Claire is having without her. More than one time, I have heard lots of laughing and splashing and when I have gone back to check on them, Rachel is soaked again. Who know what happens. I think "Mr. I Don't Know" is in playing with them also.

Christmas Day in Red (and One in Green)

We all received red or green clothes for Christmas which made us a very festive family.

Claire also received fairy wings from Santa which became a wardrobe staple. She of course had to show them from every angle. Like this....

Like this....

and like this.

Rachel wore her red outfit too, though she is a bit young for wings.

The festive Walker family.

Christmas Morning with Groucho Marx

Santa brought some pretty cool disguises for the Walker family to wear Christmas morning. Just in case you don't recognize us, that is Grandpa Walker, Rachel, Paul, J.J., Grandma Walker, Claire and Oahn.

Grandpa and the girls in disguise.

"My Rachel, what a big nose you have!"

"And Claire, what big eyebrows you have."

Everyone got lots of goodies in their stockings including Resee's cups, which Claire inspected very closely.

Nothing like starting off a morning with a good bottle of warm milk on Oahn's nice warm lap.

Christmas is just magical with a 3 year old!

Claire couldn't contain her excitement with stocking gifts like "MY VERY OWN PENCIL!", "MY VERY OWN CHAPSTICK!", and, "MY VERY OWN SOCKS!!". As you can see she laid them all out to check them very closely. They passed inspection and were acceptable to wear.

Rachel being 9 months old was plenty happy with boxes and ribbons and paper, but against the wishes of her daddy, she did get some actual toys, which she did play with ....

...when she got tired of the ribbons and paper and boxes.

Christmas Eve at Hovenweep

On Christmas Eve Day, the sun came out and no snow was falling so we made a fairly short drive from Monticello to Hovenweep Indian Ruins. It was a beautiful day and the ruins are pretty impressive.


The forest service worker there told us the trail was stroller friendly. I guess if you have a big four wheel drive stroller it would be, but the little umbrella stroller was having a difficult time. The easiest way to transport Rachel was to pull the stroller instead of pushing.

More beautiful ruins.

Even with the rear view, Rachel seemed to enjoy the ride.

Claire found a puddle that had frozen over and it became an ice skating rink.

Everyone tried out the skating two at a time (Claire plus someone else) Thank goodness Paul went last because he cracked the ice and water started to seep in.

Christmas Eve Elf

Claire was trying on Oahn's hat trying to look like the Christmas Eve Elf. It must have worked, because that night, we found presents that the Christmas Eve Elf left for us.

All dressed in our jammies brought by the elf and ready for Santa!

Quiet Time

Everyday, we try to make a little bit of time "quiet time" with books or a movie to settle down. As you can see, Claire can really get into a good book. Those Arthur books can be some pretty serious stuff.

Rachel on the other hand, hasn't quite got the hang of it.

There Is Work To Be Done

While in Monticello over Christmas, it snowed quite a bit for us, which Claire loved. Unfortunately that meant there was quite a bit of shoveling to be done. Claire didn't mind it one bit. She bundled up and went out to help.

Claire in her gear. A girl has to be stylish!

Grandpa, Claire and Daddy went to work.


Grandma and Rachel came out to check things out and to supervise. Check out the mittens on the feet since she doesn't have boots!

Tea Anyone?

Claire met a little girl named Salix at the library and she lived across the street from Grandma Walker so later that day, she came over to have a tea party. The girls loved the tiny cups and pitcher that Grandma had and served "tea" to all their babies.