Trees and More Trees

I know...that's an odd title for a blog post.  It's the best I could come up with at 5:45 p.m. on a Friday evening after a long and tiring week.  I've got to learn to say "no" more often but I just can't.  There has to be someone out there who is with me and understands my problem.  My teaching partner, Joanna, and I are leading 4 professional development meetings on Friday afternoons.  On top of that, I offered to be the 2nd grade rep. for our Literacy Night this past Monday night so I put together a presentation for that.  I didn't think this through well enough...  It is what it is and I would be lying if I said I didn't like to be busy.  I seem to be more productive the busier I am, though.

Last Saturday, I had the great pleasure of skiing with Emma for "Ski with Parents" day for her ski lessons.  This girl amazes me!  I really didn't even ski with her.  The kids followed their instructor and the parents followed behind the kids.  These kids know the routine and skiing with their parents did not change what they have been doing for 6 weeks.  Even though I didn't get any pictures, I think I can say that I skied more trees last Saturday than I have since I started skiing 14 years ago.  This mama was exhausted after following those little 5-year olds through the trees!  

Emma is in the turquoise helmet, getting ready to go down the mini halfpipe.  

There she goes....

 It was a beautiful day of skiing with my beautiful Emma.

After ski lessons, we watched the concert at Canyons Resort.  

 Emma and Abby found some friends to play with while Andy and I relaxed and listened to the music.

This past Wednesday we dressed as a book character at school (or the kids could wear their pajamas).  I dressed as The Giving Tree.  

 The beautiful weather has been taking us outside quite a bit lately.  We got the girls back on their bikes!

We have been taking walks around the neighborhood.

This is their silly pose.

It's amazing how entertaining a giant pine cone can be.

Emma is a big help in the kitchen.

Winter Break #2

We are very fortunate to have the week of President's Day off each year.  We were extra fortunate, this year, because my mom came out to visit for the week.  We had a lot of fun!

These two little cuties loved having Grandma here.  They sure kept her busy.

They did a lot of crafts.

Check out these dusty boots!  I am embarrassed to say that Valentine's Day was our first day back on our cross-country skis since we left Alaska 8 years ago.  

We went to see some amazing ice castles!  

At least it looks like mom and dad are having fun.

crawling through an ice tunnel

Yep, that's Andy crawling through the same ice tunnel.

going down an ice slide

playing in the backyard

This is how the girls have had to talk to their dad, two nights a week, for the past year and a half.  Have I mentioned how excited we are for graduation?!  May 6th!

We took Grandma to the slopes to watch the girls ski.

We had Emma's friends, Katharine and Barbara, over for sledding and tacos one night.

We went to the Discovery Gateway Museum one day.  What a fun place for kids (and adults)! 

Aunt Kristin was in town from Roatan so we had a family get-together at Uncle Jim and Aunt Robin's.

Paia, Emma, Anne, Abby

with Aunt Kristin

Abby was enthralled by a fly that ended up by the bathtub one night.