Ski Utah!

Friday night we left for our Christmas trip to Utah to spend the holidays with my parents and brother.  Grady was just getting over being sick, and we were hoping and praying Cole didn't come down with it on vacation... it was a much needed break!  It ended up being the best Christmas ever!  I have so many pictures to share, I am going to break it up into a couple of posts.  This one is just for our ski fun!

My dad got G a day of ski school this year, and Grady was pumped.  He has been watching the "big" kids in the Reindeer Club for a few years now having fun, and wanted to be a part of it.  We skied with him for about 30 minutes and then dropped him off.  That kid hadn't skied since last March and he picked up right where he left off!         

 

 The views were just breathtaking!  This was the only day it wasn't snowing and was so pretty!

 Proof that I skied too!

 Where I enjoyed the other part of my time... not bad.  

Lodge... fireplace... Kindle... hot chocolate... perfection!

This is Grady's report card.  I LOVE the second page... LOL!!!  The instructor figured him out in one day!  HA!

 

 

 It was super cold the second part of the week and we had to make a few clothing additions including a really cool shark helmet hat! 

My dad, Craig, Richard, Grady and I skied this year.  Mimi and Cole stayed home and snuggled.  We spend most days at Deer Valley and one day at The Canyons -- great skiing every day!  The only day we didn't ski was Christmas day!  G just couldn't get enough...

 Santa on the slopes!

Silly boy...

 Shark by day, ninja by night

 The most perfect background ever!

I love that our family can ski together.  We were laughing about putting Cole on skis next year... with a leash -- ha!  I actually think Mimi won't let us take him.  She seemed to really enjoy her one-on-one time with him every day!  Thanks Mimi!

Here is a video of Grady skiing.  My five year old can ski better than me... I'm a pretty proud Mommy!

The Week Before Christmas...

The week before Christmas was a pretty stinky week for poor G.  He got a fever Saturday night, which then became a cough, weakness, lack of appetite and runny nose... and then by Tuesday he was diagnosed with the Flu, a double ear infection and strep.  So much for the flu shots we all go this year!  Boo... he was super sad to miss what he called, "the best week of school ever"  He also reminded me that last year the only day he missed was his birthday.  Poor guy!  Well, I tried to create some relaxing fun for us at home that week.  We had our own Polar Express Day with hot chocolate and Popsicles.  I also made (green)Grinch milkshakes.  I knew he mustn't have felt very good because he drank about 2 sips and quit.  :(    After a couple of days with lots of snuggles and movie watching, and after antibiotics and Tamiflu, he was fever free and back to school just in time for his party on Thursday!

Grady has a really sweet class, and the party was very fun, but quiet.  I think 6 kids were out with the flu!  They made ornaments, played a game and had a yummy snack.  One of the perks of G being at my school (two doors down) is getting to pop in for his parties.  :)

We also gave Cole's babysitter her Christmas present, and got our annual couch picture with all of the sweet kiddos!  We LOVE Stephie!   

 left to right ... Dex, Drew, Colton, Stephie, Owen, Cole, Kate and Ella

It just also happened to be our 9th Wedding Anniversary!  We plan to celebrate sometime soon once everything has settled down a bit.  I think we should change the date to a half celebration on June 20th, so that we have time to do it up right - ha!  December 20th, 2003 was such a memorable day, and I am truly blessed to share my life with such a loving and thoughtful husband and fantastic Daddy.  Love you babe! 

           

Bass Pro Christmas Fun

Well, we headed to Bass Pro for our annual Christmas picture and fun with the boys!  We had a great time as usual and everything was free... which is the best part!  Grady ended up adding to his already too long list, and even told Santa he wanted an OB1 Kenobi Light Saber.  (Seriously... he has never told us that before, and I don't know if Santa will be granting that wish considering Grady's toys were made by Santa in his workshop on Black Friday...HA!) 

Anyway, the highlight of the trip was Cole looking pleasant for the Santa picture.  I mean, I was prepared to have that picture with one kid screaming and the other smiling, especially after he grouched at Mrs. Claus each time she tried to grab his hand.  I had already decided that would happen and it would be ok... and that in a few years we would laugh about it.  We plopped him in Santa's lap and ran!  He stared us down, but it turned out great -- success! 

Here are a few more pictures of our fun!  

Driving the trains... Cole kept saying "choo-choo!"  

 Riding the reindeer carousel, and on Daddy's shoulders

(Cole refused the carousel ride)

 Letter to Santa - he did great!!!

 Mailing the letter - apparently Bass Pro will send your child an email from Santa responding...

Very cool if it actually happens... we'll see!

I can't wait for more holiday traditions and more Christmas fun with these wild and crazy boys!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house!  Well, actually we bought and put up our tree just before Thanksgiving so we could enjoy it for a looonnng time.  Yes, we are those people.  Well, really I am that person.  Richard just goes along with it because I can be a little bit of a nag... shocking, I know.  Hopefully, the tree will last that long.  I am sweeping up lots and lots of needles.  I mean, lots people.  I'm a little nervous about this tree.  When I was telling my mom about all the needles, she proceeded to tell me about a tree of theirs once that lost every single needle by the time they were back from vacation.  Thanks mom - comforting!  It is beautiful though!

G was super excited to decorate this year, and makes sure to plug it in each day when we get home from school.  He is so proud of his hard work!  

 My cute Santas!

 Our mantle - my favorite thing to do is stay up late (trademark Laura - I am a night owl) and turn off all the lights but the Christmas lights and watch lifetime Christmas movies.  I am a loser, I know.  One of the benefits of being up by myself is that Richard nobody makes fun of the cheesy movies.   

 Our elf, Smitty is back!!!  He is leaving little rhymes for G to read this year, along with his other shenanigans.  

Pretty clever if you ask me...

 This past weekend, Richard put up the outside lights.  They look really good.  We had to retire our snowman that we've had for 8 years or so, and we also dumped the inflatables... they always blew over.  

This is our new addition...

Nothing says Jesus' birth like Yoda.  

Yes, we are those people.  Cool parents, or white trash?  Maybe both. 

Here are some other happenings from the past week or so...

These two are really starting to play together.  G is so good with Cole most of the time.  Pretty rough, but loving.  Cole can hold his own.  I have a little fear that he is going to be the handful...

 This is the most - true - comment - ever.

 Matching winter pajamas!

 Found this message in my classroom yesterday... LOVE this kid!

 Report card comment from this 6 weeks...  LOVE his teacher, and boy does she know him well! 

 G has been picking out ski hats to go on his helmet - he is counting the days until Utah!

 Ice cream at Spring Creek BBQ after some Christmas shopping

 Silly boy...

 Look at that cheesy smile!  He looks really skinny from the camera angle, I promise he is not.  He is made of solid rock though... I swear that kid looks like a muscle-baby! 

This is also a proud parent moment... check out the 10 pound diaper.  At one point crack started to show, so we had to change it.  Cole doesn't care one bit.  He is so rag-a-muffin!     

The Christmas countdown is on... only 13 more days of school and 19 until Christmas!!!!!!!!