My parents live only a couple blocks away from a big Provincial Park. I love this park and I wish I lived so close to something similar. We went one morning with the girls to an art installation featuring Canadian art. It was really beautiful and fun to stomp through the snow until our toes became too cold!

Conor's grandparents organized a hayride out in the country for all the children and grandchildren who were in town. We've heard wonderful things about this annual hayride and were excited to attend this year. Our girls were thrilled with the sleigh pulled by a team of horses. Our route took us through a field filled with about a hundred horses. The driver stopped the sleigh so that we could pet the friendly horses. It was a real treat! Holly asked which ones were girls, and insisted we call her, "cowgirl." Greta was giddy and giggled when a friendly horse nuzzled her chest. We had a lovely time!

We went to an Endowment session at the Calgary temple with Catherine, Jim, Nicole and Bjorn. This was my first time inside this temple and it was beautiful! This visit wrapped up my 2013 year of temple attendance. It has been a wonderful year of learning for me as I've attended the temple faithfully, according to the goal I set for myself. I've experienced multiple precious and sacred moments in the holy temples. It has been a complete joy. My belief in temple attendance is stronger than ever. And my desire to always be worthy to enter remains firm. I am grateful to be able to go and be a recipient of the gifts found therein. It truly is a joy and a blessing!

Conor's brother-in-law does snow removal, and in their cul-de-sac, Kent plowed a huge pile of snow for the kids to play in. Holly thought it was fantastic and was very happy to play with her cousins on it (after she played in the fresh snow in the backyard). She especially loved pretending to be a polar bear. It's cute seeing my daughters play so well with their cousins.

On Christmas Eve day, some of my family members went tobogganing. Holly was continually going down the hill with whomever was on the way down, and then freeloading rides on the way up. Greta spent most of the time watching and laughing from the top of the hill. Alanna coaxed her down with a ride on her back, such a sweet thing for her to do. I wanted her to have a full ride or two, so I took her down without permission and she laughed the whole way! It was a gorgeous sledding day! And an absolute dream to spend it with my three siblings.