Recently

Jim finished the fireplace, bookshelf, trim work, and coffee table in/for the living room. One night I was doing something in the family (T.V.) room, and he went into the living room to read for a little while. He closed the door between the rooms. He didn't come back, even at 10 P.M. when a T.V. show he wanted to watch started. I heard him quietly snoring and found him like this:

He was incredibly hot after sleeping right next to the fire for some time, but somehow it didn't bother him.

Ever was really into night walks for a second. She likes me to push her in the tiny umbrella stroller. I tried to tell her one night that she should get warm clothes on because it was going to be really cold. She refused to listen and just took her blanket. I brought a sweater for her anyway, and halfway through she was freezing. She still didn't want to put the sweater on, so I wrapped her up like this:

We went to Jim's clinic to get Ever's flu shot. Afterward we visited Jim in his office. Ever had fun "writing" on his computer:

Trisha and Jeremy invited us to their place for Thanksgiving. We joined both sides of their family (the Wilsons and the McEwans) and some missionaries.  They had so much food, including three turkeys. I don't think we made much of a dent in even the second turkey. All I had to bring were rolls, and I was worried I hadn't made enough when I saw the number of people there. It turned out to be perfect. They all got eaten, but we didn't run out until people were snacking after dinner. Ben Wilson made a comment when he saw them about how he'd never had real rolls; he'd only ever eaten Pillsbury. I think he had more than one roll, so I guess mine were acceptable. I felt bad Trisha didn't delegate more, but it was delightful to feast and not cook or clean!

Thanksgiving gang's all here:

Ever had fun drawing on the paper tablecloth after dinner:

There was some intense discussion and demonstration of fancy nail-doing between Tracy McEwan and Midian Wilson. The rest of us looked on and chatted about non-nail-related things:

Trisha insisted on a photo with Ever, who was not very into it:

Trisha also insisted on taking a nasty Kringel family photo:

It was a nice, laid-back Thanksgiving. I'm a big fan of mooching for Thanksgiving dinner.

We went on a family run the Saturday after Thanksgiving, ending with a smoothie (me) and acai bowls (Jim and Ever) at a place in Carlsbad that Jim has decided has the best acai bowls. On our way out, Jim and Ever enjoyed the outdoor seating for a minute. I love the colors in this picture: 

The first Saturday in December we went to a Christmas dinner at the stake president's house with the other bishops in the stake and their wives. Jim and I were worried we would be incredibly uncomfortable, but it ended up being a really nice evening. The people at our table were full of great stories. 

One afternoon Jim was hanging out in the living room. Ever needed to eat lunch but wanted to be next to him, so I moved her high chair and set her up with lunch in there. They held hands while Jim read to her as she ate with her free hand. It was so adorable I had to capture it:

Ever and I both had doctor's appointments last Friday. We learned at Ever's appointment that she's moved up to the 21st percentile for weight. I was shocked; I thought she'd drop off the charts. I'm glad to know she's growing.

This picture was on the wall in my doctor's office:

I hadn't really paid attention to it, but Ever saw it and said, "That baby's in a manger!" Apparently she was listening when we talked about the Christmas story. 

Our ward Christmas party was last Saturday. I really miss the days of activities committees. Between being married to the bishop and being a counselor in the Relief Society presidency, I feel the stress of putting these things on. Jim and I didn't really get to relax and enjoy the party at all, but everything turned out fine. Ever had a tantrum because Kristi Rondo gave her a cupcake and then asked me if it were OK. I had helped Ever pick her three dessert items and then told her she was done. So Kristi took the cupcake back, and Ever threw a fit. I took her into a side room while she freaked out. I do not believe in giving her what she wants while she's throwing a tantrum. Because Kristi had already given her the cupcake, however, it didn't seem right to take it away. So after Ever calmed down, we talked and went back in, and I let her eat the cupcake. I hate how insane she is over treats, but I can't blame her. She comes by the obsession honestly. It just creates constant battles - my trying not to let her turn into me. The other morning I was baking cookies to take to a couple new girls in the ward, and Ever kept begging to eat them. I gave her a teeny bit of dough, but she kept begging. I told her we don't eat cookies for breakfast, and we were going to give the cookies away. Then while she wasn't watching, I shoved a cookie in my mouth. Bad Mommy.

Ever actually sat on Santa's lap this year at the ward party, which completely shocked me. She refused to say a word to him, though, despite his best efforts:

On her birthday on Wednesday (can't believe she's three!), I made her chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream. That night we opened presents quickly before Jim left for his appointments. Thursday she went to Karen and Carl's shortly before noon. They brought her back at dinnertime and joined us for tacos. Then Trisha and the three younger kids came for ice cream cake (crushed Oreos, ice cream, and homemade chocolate sauce) and a pinata. (The Trishas had an event at Gavin's school that made them late.) Ever has been to two parties with pinatas. At the first, she got to take one swing. She didn't really know what was going on or how to hit it. At the second party, she didn't even get to take a whack. So we got her a pinata and let her hit it as many times as she wanted. She couldn't hit it hard enough to really make any progress, so eventually she let each of the Wilson kids take a whack. Cali brought it down. Ever, with blurry Brody Wilson in the foreground (yes, we hung the pinata in the garage):

It was a mellow birthday. The Wilsons are really nice for adopting Ever and making an effort to come for birthday festivities. 

Attempt at Family Photos

Back in February the Young Women hosted a fundraiser that included a silent auction for various goods and services. A few lady photographers in the ward auctioned family photo sessions. One got no bids. I felt bad, so I bought it for cheap.

Jim and I both hate pictures. That is why we have no real family photos. Karen Wilson had requested a photo of Ever for Christmas, however, so I figured this was our chance. I told Crystal-lynn, the photographer, that we were most interested in photos of Ever but could try to take a few of the family, too. We didn't get around to setting up the photo session until this fall - and only then because of Cystal-lynn's prodding. I had already gained a bunch of pregnancy weight, and getting dressed was difficult for me. Jim didn't want to take the pictures at all. Everything was hard. In any case, Ever didn't last very long, so what was supposed to be a two-hour session lasted about 30 minutes.

We didn't give Crystal-lynn much to work with, but here's what we got:

Probably my fave:

This angle wasn't working for me. I don't think all my pregnancy pounds have gone to my thighs and hips. Jim doesn't have a problem, though. Hmm...

Mount Woodson

Last month we hiked up Mount Woodson. We took the shorter but steeper way up a paved road so we (Jim) could push Ever in the stroller. It was steep the entire way. Jim was a little bit dying. I said I could take a turn at pushing the stroller, but it was incredibly hard. My thighs starting hurting immediately, and I lasted about a minute.

As we neared the top, we let Dolly out of the stroller. We climbed around on some boulders near/at the summit and enjoyed the view. It was nice to get outside. It's been too long.

Jim figured out the panaroma shots on his camera halfway through so eventually got rid of the black corners that appear in some of the pictures:

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We stopped for smoothies on the way home. The smoothie shop was closed for a minute, so we checked out the adjacent doughnut store. The selection was minuscule, and nothing looked good. Jim felt obligated to buy something because of the hovering and eager owner, so he picked something that looked disgusting. Fortunately Ever is not picky about sweets and polished it off while we selected and waited for our smoothies.

The floor of the smoothie place was made of rubber wood chips. I was confused about how the floor is ever cleaned. I also found the pictures on the wall fascinating: