President's Day Weekend 2010

We had a great vacation up north. We originally went to the cabin to be able to attend cousin Cheyenne's baptism that Saturday. We decided to make a weekend of it and took a ski trip to Sunrise on Monday. Jennifer and her kids stayed with us at the ranch, and my parents and Brian and Allison joined us for skiing.



Cheyenne's baptism was so nice. I love that Heath, Cedar and their kids love living up north, but are close enough for us to come for special occasions. We enjoyed visiting with Cedar's family too- they some of the nicest people. Growing up I remember Cedar, but mostly her parents living in the next ward over from us. Her parents were involved with the youth and ususally went to girls camp. At that time my stake went to our families property at the cabin for girls camp. I thought I was pretty cool to sneak up to the cabin for a long, warm shower. I was the YCL for Cedar's ward one year when she was there. Now she's my sis-in-law! Ha!


Anyway.....The snow was perfect for kids to play in around the cabin. I loved watching them from inside!

The kids loved playing on the deck.

They dumped all the snow off the hammock and carried it off for their snow wall. Thomas loved his pink boots!

Snow Angel!

On Sunday for Valentine's Day, my mom made us heart shaped pancakes and sausage. Thank you Mom! Then we went to church, let the kids play, took naps, played Wii, and cards. We loved having Stuart drive over to play games with us Sat and Sun nights!

We cleaned up Sunday night to be ready to go early Monday. I was so glad Jennifer and her kids were there with us. The cousins played so good together. We missed Nate, but hopefully he can join us next time.

We were a little anxious about our skiing adventure. Ben wasn't coming. He was driving Evan, Wade, Ty and Thomas home to be able to get the soil for our garden ready. For some reason he thought going home with the four kids six and under would be more fun than the ski slopes. He sacrificed so we could have fun that day, plus he accomplished so much in the yard!! Thanks Ben!!

So with our borrowed snow clothes we were ready so hit the slopes.

We rented equiptment and put the Preston, Jarom, Camille and Alyssa in ski school.

Go Camille!!

They all did great with their instructors. My mom watched from the lodge, and we got a few runs in before their class ended. Jennifer- should I mention going down getting off the lift, or the accidental blue run that was easier going down without skis? Maybe that is all I'll say.

Look at that snow plow!

We went to the car for lunch

Then it was back to the slopes. We stayed on the bunny hill with the kids for the next few hours.

Camille's day ended when she fell and a snowboarder ran into her head. So sad! It was about 2pm by then and she had had a great day. I am so glad she had a fun experience and wants to go back. By the last two hours Jarom and Alyssa were going down the bunny hill by themselves and doing so well. Preston graduated and went up the big lift with us the last few hours of the day. My dad helped so much with the kids, teaching them and picking them up off the ground. It is so much fun going with all the family. We didn't get to see Brian and Allison much- they went down the bunny hill with us once which was so nice of them.

We stopped on the way home and ate all together. It was a great first time trip for the kids, I would love to go up again next year!

The Best Smiley Face Friends Forever Club

I love it! Evan has been telling me about his new club he started with his friend Reece at school. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that club.....

Also, Evan went with his cousin Wade to climb the rock wall for the first time and was so excited to tell me about it. Good job Evan!

Last weekend Camille had a daddy daughter Activity Days 50's dance.

Cousins, Sage and Cheyenne were spending the night with us so they got to go. Ben said there was a lot of dancing and with three girls to dance with he spent most of his time on the dance floor!

I have been meaning to post about the evolution of our front/backyards. They are completely different than when we moved to our house, hopefully I'll get to that. The other night was significant because Ben planted our first trees in the backyard.

After digging and messing with the drip line in the planter all evening, Ben enjoyed some time with his boys.

Super Mario Bros!

Thomas is getting good at stringing whole sentences together to tell a story or string of events. The other day he was pulling on the hood string on my jacket I was wearing. I could tell he was thinking as he was talking- he said "I'll get some scissors and cut your string then you'll take the scissors away and I'll go to time out in the chair then the timer will ring and I'll say sorry and give you a kiss." Thank goodness he thought that through before acting on it! Now to get my older kids to think through things before they do it......

Also, Thomas's favorite stories are the mouse books- If you Take a Mouse to School, or If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. He brought the book to me the other morning after he finished his breakfast including chocolate milk. I read to the part about the mouse finishing his milk and going to look in the mirror for his milk moustache. He stopped me and told me he had a milk moustache- here is the picture to prove it!

New Glasses

Camille failed her eye exam the school gave her at the beginning of the year. She hadn't complained to me about not being able to see until January, so when she said she couldn't see the board I finally took her in. We picked them up last Friday and she kept saying- "It's a whole new world!" So we are 4 out of 6 in our family for bad eye sight. Ben first got glasses on his mission, I got glasses when I was 14, and Jarom when he was in second grade.

Camille insisted on a picture of us together. Glasses are okay for an hour or two, but they drive me crazy! My eyes are so used to contacts, they get dry without them in. I had to wait for high school to get contacts, but Camille can get them whenever she is ready for them.

One of the kids favorite things to do...... no injuries yet.

Cute picture taken during Family Home Evening, the only time Thomas sat still for more then wo minutes.

Christmas 2009

Just a few Christmas pictures so I can feel caught up!

December Pics

Camille's picture after her dance recital

We celebrated Camille and Ellie's birthdays going out to Pei Wei, Kirkland's and Ocean Blue. These girls were so silly and hyper- or maybe that was us moms....

Camille had a Christmas chorus concert attended by her grandparents

Thomas was helping me put the frozen chicken on the pan to bake. I love how in his mind, bordering the pan with the chicken before putting them in the middle was the way to do it.

We have seen at least 50 of these "DSi 's" made at home and school in the past month. Evan draws all the buttons and will pretend he is playing. His wish is to get one for Christmas.

(Keep wishing son...)