Merry Christmas!

It’s been a wonderful Christmas with my family.  I’m sure I gained a few extra pounds, was busier then I wanted to be, but really tried to keep Christ in Christmas.  I love this time of year!

Our highlight of Christmas was this cold night...  Before seeing the lights at Temple Square, we prepared a bunch of hot cocoa and Christmas cookies for the homeless downtown . Such a neat and humbling opportunity to reach out to those in need, one we’ll never forget.  Seeing my kids interact and show a deep love and empathy towards strangers was heartwarming.  We had many special moments, seeing Josh help wherever needed, helping a lady fill her plastic cup to the rim with cake to take with her, meeting “Lois the Most”, as he said we are safe around him at his post and he will protect us there in “the mix”, seeing Paul listen to a man for a good 20-25 minutes as he told him about his family and asked about ours, and seeing Trevor and the girls make sure everyone had marshmallows in their hot cocoa, serving so cheerfully and visiting those around them.  I was touched when a lady came to me saying some very special things.  My kids loved it and want to do it every year now. I normally don’t post about service experiences, but wanted my family to never forget this night.

Beautiful night!

Took these cuties to see Frozen.  Our new favorite Disney show.  They quoted the show all evening over dinner.

Even Ellie the Elf liked it

December wouldn’t be the same without spending some time here… a peaceful morning with my sweetie away from the hustle and bustle.  don’t mind the steeple coming out of Paul’s head.

With many hands, a few of us met at my place to put together these nice homemade bread and freezer jam gifts for the singles, over 30 were delivered by the youth. 

Since Josh had to head back to school the day after Christmas (he starts his new mgr. job), we gave them an early Christmas present, a ski / snow board package for the day. 

They were thrilled!  S & S love going with their brothers, they show them the ropes.  They take them on some pretty advanced runs, but the girls try hard and keep up.  The girls love to ski and the boys snowboarding.

 

While they were gone, Paul and I got some wrapping in, then actually had time for a real date.  What?  An enjoyable dinner and movie, “Saving Mr. Banks”

Yummy crepes for Christmas Eve breakfast, full of bananas, strawberries, and Nutella,

Christmas Eve was magical- enjoying homemade Chicken Noodle soup and rolls, writing some special letters, reading “A Family Christmas Eve” with Luke 2, and singing Christmas songs.  Josh playing the chords on guitar was a nice addition.

I may have exceeded my 4 gift limit / person, but not by much, we have a decent size family.  It was nice to be in bed by midnight for a change on Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas to all!

 

What to do with all this white stuff…

Wear layers, warm gloves, fuzzy boots (or flip flops if your name is Trevor) and enjoy

 ‘n the great snow we’ve received this year (it was well needed), except when I have to clear it off my car, or see the many accidents on the slick roads (I saw six Sat morning)

Rink Time VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Sage (left) and Sophie (right) have really taken to the ice.  I used to be good, but that was then, I’m a bit rusty

 

If your name is Josh, you get to the slopes every chance you have (he’s busy working and senior in high school, glad he enjoys this on the side)  He’s usually snowboarding with his buddies, but he ditched them and took the girls up twice during Christmas break, taught them a lot (and I got some Christmas stuff done).  What a great big brother! 

 

Sophie and Sage ready for their after school ski program (Merry Christmas!)  They’re going down some pretty big slopes, and train tracks, not pizza :)

With their BFF’s, excited for the days powder!  And of course they like riding in LeBus (with a bathroom & TV)

 

If your name is Trevor (green on the right), you play hockey.

Trevor’s biggest fans!

We went to a fight and a hockey game broke out…  ha, ha, it wasn’t too bad, except for the loud (vulgar) people behind us, yelling through the whole game.  Anyway, it was a fun night and Trevor really enjoyed it. 

Sledding has also been a popular week-end pastime, can’t beat this snow.  The bigger the hill the better, according to my kiddos (good thing they have helmets)

Indoor Soccer VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

and of course, Soccer practice moves indoor.  Have you ever played crab soccer?  Me either.  They’re training hard.

 

Made scarfs with my cute Activity Day girls, they wore them proudly!

 

And, although we’ve started working out again, gotta have French Toast on a chilled Saturday morning, then cuddle up to a good book.

 

What are some of your favorite winter activities?

Spring Skiing

Chips Run @ Snowbird

Scary thing was, I was right behind him and had to do the same thing only on ski’s.  My first big run in years, a little scary but so much fun!

Big Emma, second time

A few spills from the girls on this one, Josh took a detour to go get the car and met us at the bottom

We closed the place down

Sophie & Sage took to it fast although they scared me at times, it’s steeper then it looks (next time helmets for them for sure, we thought we’d be staying on the kiddie slopes, ya right).  But wow, I haven’t found a sport yet that the they don’t excel in, such athletes!  And way to go Josh & Trevor, you’re great snowboarders & instructors!

Hitting the Slopes

Last day of Spring Break, Saturday- Skiing / Snowboarding

It’s beautiful here in the snow covered mountains!  Snowbird Ski Resort

Trevor (13) started Snowboarding this year, he’s picked it up quick.  Josh (17) is a pro, he has a season pass and goes often with his buddies, black diamond trails.  But first time skiing for the girls, and  I haven’t been skiing in about 20 years.  Yikes!  So glad the boys were here to show us the ropes, Sophie & Sage had their own private instructors, big brothers are the best!

Didn’t take long for the girls to feel comfortable on the chair lift.  Sage (blue) and Trevor & Sophie (pink) in back.

Born to ski!

Funny to see Sophie and Sage with totally different styles as they started skiing.  Josh helped Sage, she was very careful and good, she learned the technique fast and she hardly fell.  Trevor helped Sophie, she took off, she was fast and fell... a lot (that’s how she stopped since she was going so fast, made me nervous but was funny to watch).  I had to keep reminding her “Pizza Sophie Pizza” (snowplow to stop).  Then they found the jumps.  I went on it once (that was good for the day, the year, but at least I landed it :), Sophie landed it every time (I’m sure her speed helped) and Sage took a few spills before landing it.  They loved every minute of it.  

Josh took me on some steep terrain (Chips Run, blue trail). Nerve wracking, but fun.  It was all coming back to me, and I reached my goal- not to fall!!  Such a good work-out, I would love to get a family pass next year. 

We were all  hungry, so some tasty pizza at the resort was perfect.  Veggie for me, the kids like pepperoni & cheese.

After lunch, when my legs felt like they could move again, the girls were ready for some more advanced slopes with bigger, faster, higher chair lift, yikes.  So we took them on Big Emma (green trail, easier then the one Josh took me  on, but much harder then Chickadee).  I’ll post some video soon, I have to say- S & S can ski!

Best day of Spring Break, Snowbird, we’ll be back.