Post Christmas Bowling

We found our kids love bowling as much as anyone. So, we hit the lanes with Scott and Shelbi on Friday. It was a blast. Jensen got a little frustrated because he's used to beating us all on the Wii-- the real thing is a little different. After two games, $10 worth of fries and $8 worth of soda, we called it a success.

Seriously, this much snow

Proof that there was more snow than extended family at our house this Christmas.

Annie-- I'll be heading down your way if this doesn't let up!

Mamam Mia! All the talk at church...

Rich has it in his mind that he MUST surprise me with one totally unexpected gift each Christmas. The surprises have ranged from diamonds to phones to furniture. But this year, he really out did himself. Two weeks ago he planned a party at our house for my friends the Saturday after Christmas. Not one person gave it away! I didn't know about it until Christmas morning when I opened my invitation inviting me to my own Mamma Mia! sing along party. We had a blast and those of us who were brave and dressed up even posed for a picture. We did sing--very loudly. Talk about a gift to remember. Ten-want-to-be-singers belting out Broadway songs (and one very little Anja who loves an audience). Thanks Rich-- you did it again.

Christmas at the Coombs!

Talk about a rush! It's all about hurrying to get ready for the big day and then-bam- it's here and then it is over. This year, thanks to mother nature and the 3 (yes, that is a 3) feet of snow that fell between Christmas Eve and Christmas day, we didn't go anywhere. We finally peeled the pj's off our kids on Christmas Day night and made them get in the tub.



Scott and Jensen doing their usual rough housing. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt!

Santa brought Carter a this huge Star Wars lego ship.

Three hours later (and a massive headache) Carter and Dad finished it on Christmas Day.

Anja got her first American Girl doll--Bitty Baby--which she loves to death. Santa brought all the accessories for her to become a little mommy.

The boys both got many Wii games but Jensen got this DS system and couldn't have been happier.

Our Neighbor Gift

No cookies no candy-- just this note. It was one of the best teaching moments I've had with my children this year. Here's the letter we left on our neighbor's doorsteps. Merry Christmas to all our friends-- even those we don't get to see much.

December 2008
On Christmas Eve each year, Rich and I talk with our children about the Saviors’ birth and the many miracles he performed on earth. This year, we will focus on God’s love and the power of prayer as our family experienced our own little miracle this month.

On December 16, 2008 Anja fell against the glass on our fireplace. It instantly burned her little hand. In less than a minute it was covered in blisters and started swelling. It was a long and horrible day as I held my baby screaming in pain with first and second degree burns and wanting nothing more than to take it all away. Then it happened, the teaching moment came.

Despite her current pain, she would heal. The scars on her hand would fade until they were nothing more than a memory of a childhood accident. But, most important, she was coming home from the doctor’s office and we needed to be grateful for this blessing, not focused on the injury.

There are many parents who can’t take their burned children home. There are mothers who hold their children in pain day after day without seeing relief. There are children who are reminded every time they look into a mirror of their accident.

This is why there is no plate of cookies or box of candies on your doorstep from our family. Instead, we took the money we were planning to use for neighbor gifts and donated it to Camp Nah-Nah-Mah (camp friendship) that is held every year at Camp Tracy for young burn survivors. The camp offers 6 to 12 year olds the chance to interact with other victims, find strength in numbers and feel normal in a crowd.

The donation was made on behalf of the Oquirrh Highland Estates neighborhood. We hope this donation will help a child feel joy in being just a kid at camp this summer, not another patient at the University of Utah burn unit. It’s a small gift that we hope will make an impact on a stranger we’ll never meet.

We have been so touched this year by the many talks we’ve heard while sitting in our church congregation. The message we hear over and over is to simplify and enjoy this season. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have but celebrate what you do have. We are celebrating our own miracle and are grateful our little one is home with us.

We are so grateful for you—our neighbors and friends who help us see the light at the end of the tunnel, the power in prayer and the joy in a bag of chocolates when it’s been a really bad day.

Thank you for your love and support. Life really is a journey that is more enjoyable when traveled with friends. Merry Christmas and may you see the little miracles happening around you every day.

Love, the Coombs Family

No news

Rich got his test results back. No news is good new in this case, I guess. Everything came back normal. The doc's he works with have a theory for the pain and he talked to his doc about it. So for now, we are treating it with diet and prayer. Maybe it was a fluke. I'm just glad it wasn't something life threatening. The stress was enough to kill me.

Sunday Best

We try it every year; the Sunday before Christmas we get all dress up.. and take a million pictures hoping to get one where everyone is smiling, looking at the camera and genuinely looks angelic.

We didn't get an award winner again this year-- but we got some fun memories. Note to grandmothers: Yes, the boys do have suites, but I forgot to iron the shirts (really I didn't get them to the cleaners this week) so we went with something else. We'll redo this picture shoot next Sunday with their Christmas ties.