Winter Fun

This has been a very strange winter around here with not much snow at home, and the last few days have been like spring. Regardless of the weather we have been having fun. We did lots of skiing during January, and I was terrible about taking pictures. We took a few weeks off, but when we get back up there I'm going to get some good shots. Luke is a good little skier this year, and it has been lots of fun to go with him. We had a great afternoon when both of his grandpas came up and skied with him. We also went up for a night party with our ward and took Seth out on the slopes. He had a blast and did great for a three-year-old. He's definitely still getting the hang of it, but he did awesome. These sad pictures are the only ones I've taken so far. Luke loves it that he uses poles this year. The first week he had them I about demoted him from pole use because I ended up juggling them along with everything else while we got on the lift but now he's a pro at handling them himself. He has also learned to ski backwards which he thinks is great.

We headed up to Preston this past Saturday to sled with Jer's family.  It was a beautiful, sunny day and we all had a lot of fun.  I know the Razor ride doesn't look too safe but we just went on a short trail up the mountain behind Jer's parent's house.  Jer's parents and the little ones were in front, so it was a crowded ride.  Jer and I and TJ and Amy rode the snowmobiles up while bringing all sorts of tubes and sleds. 

Everyone loaded up and on the move.

Ian has had a miserable cold and cough all week and was less than thrilled with the whole thing.  He usually loves to play outside, but neither he or Tucker were too fired up.  They ended up going back down with grandma pretty soon after this and fell asleep on the few minute ride home.

In a side note about Cindy....she has lost almost 100 pounds this past year.  Amazing I know!  She is such a great mother-in-law, grandma, and person and she looks and feels so awesome now.  We are all so happy for her, and I think she's quite the inspiration.  Go grandma!

Addison did not like sledding, but she sure is cute.

It makes for pretty easy sledding when you can get a ride to the top.  Our very first run Amy and I started at the very top and with the fast snow we went super fast and far.  We didn't start the kids quite that high although they still got a good run.  Seth loved sledding the most of everyone and made run after run.  It looks like he's terrified but really he just laid back and went for it.  One of his runs he really got going and flew past our stopping point....Luke chased after him and jumped on him but fell off and Seth kept going...he ended up getting chased down and stopped by Uncle TJ on the snowmobile before he headed for the highway.  It was quite the ride, and he said it was fun!

It was super hot and we were all shedding layers.  Eventually sledding was abandoned for snow sculpting and a big snow fight between the boys and grandpa.

I think Seth was enjoying himself!

Jer had fun playing with (and lusting after) his dad's new snowmobile.  That's the view from just above their house.  It was our own little winter playground...good times!