Hi all you fantastic DeLaMares!

Amy here. I just wanted to say THANKS Meredith for starting this. Rich and I have wanted to get more in touch with all of you, and this will be a perfect way. We hope everyone will take time to share thoughts and updates on their lives at least once a month! Come on everybody, we can do this!

So, for a little glimpse of life in snowy Bountiful... At the moment we've got 1/2 the neighborhood (including Sage, Luke, and Ava) outside sledding in our yard. It is such fun to have a home that everyone congregates in. It is absolute chaos at times, and we go through a ton of food feeding everyone, but I truly love having a home full of kids having fun.

Rich is finishing up a talk he has to give tomorrow in Sacrament Meeting. Seth, who has had a digestive problem that we can't seem to whip is hanging out on the couch while watching Goofy. Elsa is sweetly sleeping. And I've been up to my eyebrows working on Primary projects. I'm the 1st counselor, and LOVE it! Our President is the neatest lady on the planet, and I feel so grateful to learn from her.

This winter has been a complete party for us. The best so far in our marriage (I just asked Rich if that was an exaggeration, and he agreed that it's been among the top). We kicked it off with a 12 day trip to Florida (over Thanksgiving). The highlight was 3 days on Sanibel Island, aka heaven. We were home 2 weeks to blitz on Christmas before Rich and I went to Spain for a week. He had to go inspect the stone that they are using for the current project he's on. He worked for the first half, and the rest of the time was ours to explore Barcelona. We ate the best food imaginable, walked our legs OFF, and had so much fun together without the kids. What a fabulous trip!!

Christmas break was lovely. Filled with skiing, sledding, indoor soccer tournaments, ping pong, air hockey, board games and lots of sleeping in. It was brutal going back to school and reality. But here we are in the thick of it all again. And we are actually surviving it much better than past winters. The thing that is keeping us sane is our frequent ski trips. My friend Jodi and I take our kids every Wednesday to Alta. They get out of school at 1pm. So we pick them up and head straight for the canyon. We also go every Saturday Rich is available. We just can't get enough. Even Elsa is zooming down the hill. I have a little backpack that she wears with straps. It's like a leash! And on the really steep areas she skis between my legs. It's so cute watching her. One of these days I'll remember to take my camera and snap some photos. But pictures or not, it's going to be a winter that we all remember with great fondness.

My dad tells me every time I'm with him to remember that "these are the days." I do believe that I will look back on these years with Rich and our young adorable kids as being the best days of my life. I love being the mom and I'm trying to cherish the time that Rich and I have with them. They are growing up soooo fast that it's scary.

Okay, I've got to sign off and start making hot chocolate for the snow bunnies trailing in. Love to all! We're looking forward to hearing from all of you. Thanks Daina for the update. You are in our prayers as you move and start your schooling. Accounting!!!! Hats off to you my dear talented lady. That is something my brain just doesn't do. We love you and can't wait to hear more!