Frost Family Faces

Beware...this is a very long and festive post!



We had a very wonderful Christmas! I found that I grew more and more excited as Ethan and Ella got more and more excited. I love seeing Christmas through the eyes of children. We got to stay in St. George this year and start a few of our own traditions and also spend some time with my family.
The holidays started off right with Charles getting off work Wednesday, and didn't have to go back until Monday! That was an awesome thing to happen! We enjoyed Daddy being home!! The next best thing was Christmas Eve afternoon I got a call from my very best-est friend (whom I haven't seen in about 10 years because she's been living all over the world) and we talked and got caught up and it was awesome!! I can't believe how much I've missed her!! Thanks for the call Natalie. It totally made my Christmas!
We had dinner at my mom's Christmas Eve to celebrate my oldest nephew's birthday and then went home and had our own Christmas Eve, which was wonderful! Then we put the kids to bed and Charles and I tried really, really hard to stay up and watch a movie, but we only made it half-way through the Polar Express before we couldn't stay awake anymore, so we headed to bed.
I don't know what it is about Christmas Eve, but as exhausted as we were, we couldn't sleep!!
Christmas Morning came and the pictures below show the fun we had...




Santa Came and left Ethan and Ella some fun Gifts!! A Doll and stacking blocks for Ella...



and a car track and toy phone (not shown) for Ethan. Both of them got really warm coats. Santa likes to think ahead and they are both a size too big, so they won't fit until next year, but that's ok, becuase they already have warm coats for this year that fit good.


The peace and serenity of Christmas morning...before the kids!!


Christmas Morning!! going to get the kids! Ella was wide awake...


Ethan was awake, but barely.

Opening their first gift of Christmas...pajamas!!

Ella's cute pajamas!!

and Ethan's Buzz Lightyear pajamas!! Here is Ethan walking out to see what Santa brought him!

Ethan and Ella checking out what Santa brought!






Ella was grabbing and hugging the doll before I could even get it out of the package!

And Ethan loved his car track!!


After we played with our Santa toys for a while, we had a quick "snack" breakfast, then opened presents!

Ethan's presents from Grandma and Grandpa Frost

And Ella's Present from Grandma and Grandpa Frost. (good choices Grandma and Grandpa!)

And My present from Mom and Dad Frost. It's the fifth book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.


What is Charles going to get? (nice hair, eh?)


Yeah, white shirts! Thanks Mom and Dad Frost!

And this is a gift from me to Charles...


a DVD burner!! Wahoo!!

A beautiful set of earrings and necklace for me from Charles!


And these are from Great Grandma and Grandpa Lane...

Books! Yeah!

I love the after Christmas morning mess, until I have to clean it up anyway...

But wait...Santa hid another gift in Mommy's closet. It's for Daddy!

What is it!!...


It's a...It's a...


Baby Backpack!! now we can go hiking more!!



And Ella loves It!!

All of Ella's loot...er..I mean gifts...


And Ethan's...
and Charles'...

and mine! It was a very good and fun Christmas!! (and not that many returns either!)
After we finished with presents we had a big Christmas Breakfast! Waffles, bacon, supreme scrambled eggs, yummmmmmo!

Ethan and Ella's Christmas outfits!

Ella is feeding Daddy her baby's bottle (actually, stuffing it in his mouth!). She's such a good mommy!


Charles is out cold. After he woke up, I took a nap! (but it was in my own bed, not on the floor)
After Ella woke up from her nap, we went over to my mom's for Christmas Dinner. Then we played a couple of games...then someone got out twister. Here we go!...Watch out!!


Four Brothers playing...watch out Ethan!!


I was impressed that my non-agile brothers played, and were able to stay in so long. Here is Chad...he makes a good pretzel too.

Ella got a game in by herself before they started another one! Go Ella!

And here's proof that Charles played. It was quite a game and Charles lasted a long time...in many games! Way to go honey!

Dear Friends and Family,
Call me lazy. That's what I am. I have no excuse other than laziness and procrastination for not mailing out newsletters this year. I thought about it during the beginning of December, but still didn't do it. So, here I am sending out e-mail newsletters, and, I guess it won't be the last time either!
So here is the Frost 2009 events and happenings.

Charles: GRADUATED!!! WAHOO!!! Charles graduated May 2009 with a BS in Computer Information Technology with an emphasis in Information Technology. If you want to know any more than that, you'll have to ask him yourself. Basically, he graduated with a Bachelor's saying he knows computers...period. He is currently working for The Computer Connection, a local business that fixes computers. He's the one that goes to people's homes. For the most part, he enjoys it. There are always ups and downs with any job. He is still the Stake Technology Specialist, and was put in as the Cub Committee Chairman for the ward in August.

Rachel: I'm still at home, and I love it! At the beginning of the year, I joined to the "dark side" and started a blog, which I enjoy doing. I love bragging about my kids and family and also enjoy keeping up on everyone else's. So if you have one, let me know! I am still in the community choir called Lieto! and just finished my 3rd year being in the choir for The Forgotten Carols, which was amazing! I was called as the assistant Bear Leader in Cub Scouts and am enjoying that, along with my previous callings of ward chorister, and visiting teaching supervisor. To see more about the family visit www.frostfamilyfaces.blogspot.com

Ethan is now 3 1/2 and is Mr. Independent! He has to do everything himself from changing his sheets to putting on his shoes. He's a great little "mommy" and will constantly try and put Ella in time-out for...anything! He loves his little sister, but I think he loves her more when he's teasing her. Ahhhh, sibling rivalry, ya gotta love it! in the last couple of months, he has FINALLY started going to nursery by himself, just in time for Sunbeams. I keep praying he will get kind, understanding and patient Sunbeam teachers! He loves to play outside and has learned, in the last couple of months, how to pedal his little Diego bike. He loves to sing and is learning numbers, shapes and letters really well! He counts to ten really well...except, he always skips 10 and goes straight to 11 so I guess he counts to 11 really well!

Ella is growing so fast! She FINALLY passed 20 pounds at her 18 month checkup in November. She's been hovering around 20 pounds since she was 6 mos. old! She's now 23 pounds! She is now running everywhere, trying so hard to keep up with Ethan. She loves to push things, put 'things' in 'things', put lids on bottles, look through books, and is very entertained by Ethan. She's my little monkey. Ethan never really climbed but Ella does! In September she hung onto the garage door as it went all the way to the top, (nope, I didn't see it) and came running outside when I heard her screaming after she let go. She was fine though. She will climb on chairs, beds, the tables, stairs, hang from the table, the fridge handle...you get the idea. The Christmas tree has not been safe. She LOVES nursery which makes Mom and Dad very happy. He hugs are the best! She will wrap her arms around you head a squeeze while saying ahhhhhh!

The Lord has been very mindful of us this year, and we have been extremely blessed. We find joy in our family and our testimonies and are so grateful for the gospel in our lives. We hope 2010 brings everyone peace and happiness.

Love,

The Frost's

Charles, Rachel, Ethan and Ella

I love it when Ethan pretends to shave with daddy!


He also smells like Daddy the rest of the day...YUMMY!

Christmas lights at the temple is always something to look forward to. This year we went with my entire family as our big once a month FHE activity. It was cold but fun!

Funny story about this...Ethan kept running away from us. I was keeping a good eye on him, but then I got into a conversation with my sister-in-law and Charles was taking pictures. The next thing I know, I look around and Ethan is nowhere to be seen! Instant PANIC!!!

Charles, a couple of my bros. and I all start spreading out. I look over by the nativity and I see a little boy in a tan coat in the middle of it. Yup, Ethan was in the Middle of the Nativity. But, wasn't doing anything cute or sweet like giving the baby Jesus a kiss or anything. Nope, he was throwing hay on the lights (probably in anticipation of throwing hay on the statues). Charles grabbed him and we didn't let him let go of our hands the REST OF THE NIGHT!!
But, we had fun anyway. After, we had hot chocolate and cookies at my mom's house. Oh! and it was Jason's birthday, so we also had cake and Ice cream.



Hey, look! I made it into my own blog! Wahoo!



Ethan at the top of the stairs

Ella going up the stairs...again. When we picked her up and started toward the nativity, she had a fit. The kid loves to climb!

Charles has a tradition, as a lot of other people do, to make candy and cookies then give them out to your neighbors. Your neighbors do the same in return so you end up with oodles of junk food that you gorge yourself on all during the holidays. Hey, traditions right? We love 'em!
I've never been one to make sugar cookies. I have a great chocolate Chip cookie recipe, and a bread recipe, and a few others, but that's the extent of my baking. Charles was bound and determined this year to make sugar cookies. So...here's the saga of the 4 batches of sugar cookies.
Last Tuesday I had choir practice. As I was running out the door, Charles get's down a recipe book. He's going to make sugar cookies. "Good luck"! I say as I run out the door, glad it's not me making them. I get home, and taste them. They're not to bad, a little on the salty side, and really flat and hard, but taste wise, not to bad. (I found out later he couldn't find my measuring spoons, so he used a "teaspoon" and "tablespoon" out of my regular silverware drawer. Hmmmm...) Not something I would want to take out to my neighbors though.
The next day, I call my mom and she gives me 4 recipes. So, I pick the one with the least ingredients, (the one that looks the easiest) and make them. Basically, they taste like straight sugar. YUCKY!!! The recipe didn't call for any salt, I realized later, and missed a lot of other things. So, those went in the trash.
The next day, still trying to be good wife, and make sure we celebrate the husband's traditions too, I make another batch. I was originally going to just make the same recipe Charles used the first time, (just with the right measurements) I come across a recipe that says "Melt In Your Mouth Sugar Cookies". Oh, that sounds good! Let's do it! So, I do. The dough tastes great! I think I have a winner...until I bake them. They came out tasting like fish! No, I'm not kidding, they tasted fishy. Soooooo...those went in the trash.
The next day (Saturday) I have an early morning Lieto! rehearsal, and when I get home, Charles is once again making sugar cookies, this time with his mom's 'Ancient Sugar Cookie' recipe. Seriously, it's ancient. It's been passed down from like 5-6 generations. Ok, this has to be better than the last ones! He uses all the right measuring utensils. They come out of the oven...and...they don't taste good....*sigh*. But, better than the last three attempts, so...that's what the neighbors are getting. (SORRY NEIGHBORS!)
Thanks to some very good friends, I now have a few recipes that I will try...but not this year! I'm done with Sugar Cookies! Four failed attempts is all my ego can handle.


Crushing candy canes for the center of the cookies

the cookies. Duhn...duhn...duuuuuhn.

Licking the beaters! My mixer blew up just previous to this. Yeah, we had an exciting day (oh, an my crock pot broke the day before. Not a good day for appliances)

The kids frosting cookies. They did really well! and Charles wasn't to bad either ;)

CHEEEEEESE!!

Ella got the hange of it really well. I love the green frosting on her face.

Chalk up another Christmas memory...