Winter Fun

On your marks

Oh boy...time is indeed flying by. We are squeezing in fun and work and school and more fun.  Here are some snip-its of our life the last few months...

We have put the boys new sleds to use on many of the Fridays that they don't have school.  The sledding hill was a bit sparse at times, but that didn't stop us from having a good time.  What a difference from last year when Calvin and Jett were so much more helpless in the snow and all their snow gear.  This year they can march right to the top of the hill and even drag their own sleds most of the time!

Here is a quick video of me and Calvin ripping down Wanoga Snow park hill:  

Get set.

Goooooooooo!

This particular Friday, there was enough snow for an in-town adventure!  What better place to warm up when we have had enough of the cold?  The Lot of course!  Those heated benches and hot soup for lunch did the trick!

Hide and Seek or Nerf gun battles are the norm for after dinner fun around here.

Yes, these are the three monkeys that light up my world.

Fast and Furious Jett
Silly-Smarty Pants Calvin
In-tune and lovable Piper


















Piper and I have been training for her big event next week!  Her school is putting on a Kid Olympics and Pipers event is the Biathlon!  She has the hang of xc skiing, I am pretty curious how the paintball gun target shooting will go?!  She is excited and so am I.  More to come on that soon...

Here is a video of Piper xc skiing:  

 A highlight of the last few weeks was a 2 night get a way we did to Summer Lake hot springs with some friends.  There were 8 adults, 8 kids and 4 dogs and the group couldn't have meshed any better.  It was a beautiful, rustic, one of a kind spot and we soaked and soaked and soaked in the healing hot pools on the property.  The wind and weather were amazing.  Thankfully, we also got out to explore the lands a bit in between the gusts.  We celebrated Katie's platinum  birthday and had the yummiest of sweets and tons of great food.

Best slumber party ever!  Movies, Movies and more movies!

What a great trip, the kids are already asking when we can go back.

Calvin, our ladies man!

Group shot!

Tough guys.

Loving the hot pools!

We even saw a cattle run with hundreds of cows being lead down the main highway by real cowboys!

Love!

Again, what a great weekend. I feel so lucky to have fun friends to spend good family time with.  And a good family to spend with fun friends!  =-)

And the puppy turned NINE on Super Bowl Sunday!  I know the date of Super Bowl Sunday changes from year to year and so does Mangos bday.  He was born on a Super Bowl and we decided to go with that instead of an actual day!

I took him out for a birthday ski and reflected on what a good dog he is.  Man, I love this dog.  I feel so lucky to have him as part of our family.  Mango showers us with his love and is such a joy to watch run and play and have the puppy crazies.  Thank you Mango for being a great dog!

Buddy boys at school!  They are doing great, having fun and learning lots about kindness!

One of my favorite winter time evening outs is the Luminaria that one of the snow parks puts on. At dusk they light candles in paper bags and line them up along a trail out to the shelter.  

We put the boys in the chariot and Piper was on her own xc skis for most of the way!  The night was perfectly still and not that cold.  The snow was great...it was a beautiful night!  We enjoyed the stars and the friends who gathered at the shelter. I hope to continue this tradition each year as a family.