We took a morning excursion to find some sledding hills on the golf course with our neighbor and Elissa's friend, Kendall.
Newman loves the snow!
This was the first time that he got to run outside our backyard w/o a leash. He had so much fun running around and chasing the kids and eating the snow.
Their house under the dock. :-)
Elissa made this big snowball and she just had to bring it back home with us.
We came back home and had hot chocolate and lunch and warmed up for awhile. The girls went back out and then camped out at Kendall's house the rest of the afternoon. Zach, Newman and I went out for another adventure in the afternoon.
First Zach had to go see if the girls were out playing and would let him play with them. No luck.
Zach & Newman are always having some kind of tug-o-war.
A little face time with Darin who had just landed in Virginia for the week.
One bird that didn't fly away for the winter. :-)
It was a fun day, but I'm ready for the snow to go away.
Zach was again excited to go skiing today. Though he was much more interested in rolling around in all the new snow at first. We didn't stick around to watch him this morning. We headed off to do some skiing ourselves. A much colder day then last week.
When we were coming down after our first couple of runs to go into the store to get face guards - because my face felt like it would literally break off - we ran into Zach going down the bunny hill for the first time. Great job!
We left him skiing and we got our items to keep warm and went out for some more skiing. We missed him in the lodge during lunch because we came in a little later. So we ate lunch and I decided to hang out in the lodge for the rest of the afternoon. I had brought my book & comfy slippers to change into and I was ready to hang out with some warm coffee. :-)
Darin went back out and ended up running into Zach.....up on the hill.....ready to go down TINKERBELL. Yes folks, day 2 of skiing and he is going down the Tinkerbell run. This is not a bunny hill.
Here are a few clips that Darin got:
Here he is headed down the mountain for the first time. His instructor had to give him a little coaxing.
Then he was gaining some more confidence.
And now he is a hot rod and getting a high five from his instructor.
I got suited up again and headed out to pick him up at 2:30pm. I saw him hanging out in the pick up area, but he was with a different instructor. I came up to get him and his instructor - an older gentleman, the director of the ski school - tells me that he has been skiing with Zach the last half of the day. Zach was out-skiing the kids in his group, so he took him under his wing. He said, "He hasn't seen a little kid with such natural talent. He has great balance and he is already skating, which is a hard concept for them to get down and I just took him down Tinkerbell and he did fantastic." I'm stunned. He then said, "Zach was a pleasure to be with. He is such a nice boy. I really enjoyed skiing with him." An even more proud Mom is smiling from ear to ear. :-) {Let's just say that the last week has been filled with challenges due to Zach's attitude, so this was an uplifting moment for me.} The director said that he has to figure out an appropriate class to put him in next week and to come see him next Sunday morning.
This year Zach & I are joining Elissa & Darin skiing. I haven't skied in 8 years (before kids) and this is Zach's first time. Due to Elissa not getting cleared until December, we weren't able to get them in Saturday ski school so we made the decision to put them in Sunday's this year. Rest assured we are still participating in church by listening to the sermons online and then going to home group. :-)
Elissa's 2nd Year
Elissa started where she left off last year. No hesitation, just off and skiing right a way. :-) She is in a really good group this year. It seems to be challenging and her instructor is really good with the kids.
Here are a couple of clips of her skiing on this beautiful 1st day:
Zach's First Year
Last year he & I would head down to the YMCA in the morning and I would run, while he was in the play room. Then I would come back and take him to the pool for swim lessons. After that we would go home and just chill out the rest of the day. It was pretty nice. :-) Zach was very excited to get to go skiing this year.
He had no problem with us leaving him with his instructor (which I had no doubt). We stayed around and watched him for awhile. He was just getting in there and learning to get his ski on and then walking around with 1 ski on, getting used to the balance and then finally both skis on. There is a new teaching tool called the merry-go-round. It pulls the kids slowly round and round to get them used to being on their skies.
Here is a video of him skiing down the magic carpet hill at the end of the day. Doing great for his first day!
Darin & Heather
It was a BEAUTIFUL day on the mountain!
It was fun skiing again. I do have to say that I have confirmed that I'm really a sand & surf girl. :-) Cold toes, cold fingers, wind burn, uncomfortable ski boots......not my favorite things. BUT I do have a lot of fun swishing down green runs at full speed!
It looks like the rest of my family LOVES skiing, so I'll go have fun with them.
We spent New Year's weekend with Kirstin and her family. These are the only pictures I took that weekend. I really wanted to at least get a group picture of the kids, but got caught up in relaxing and hanging out. :-)
Elissa loved meeting Braxton and would have loved to hold him and carry him around as her baby if I would have let her.
Do you like the look that Braxton is giving her? LOL!
Elissa had a little accident with rollerblades & a door. Poor lip. :(
Now he wants to talk to her. Sweet boy!
I'll get more pictures when we stay at a cabin together over President's weekend. Can't wait to spend time with them again. Love you guys!
The kids actually slept in until 7am. I was waiting for them to wake up. They were tired kids. Then when they did get up we made them wait for about 20 minutes so that Darin could get the burgundy mushrooms marinating on the stove. They were amazingly patient.
In the afternoon Grandma & Papa came out to bring us Aunt Edie's cinnamon roles and to have dinner with us. Darin made prime rib this year with burgundy mushrooms and roasted potatoes. Yum!
Nana surprised to get a mini Keurig. :-)
Zach loving his camera.
Darin is surprised by the Atari iPad game I got him. He was impressed, but after playing with it a little decided that it wasn't put together very well. I guess it's going back, but I still get props for surprising him. :-)
LOVE these new corning ware dishes I got!
The little bit of sun we got before the storm blew in.
Zach was excited to get this Batman car from Grandpa Frink & Grandma Myrna. Now he has one just like his buddy Brady.
Do you think Elissa is excited?! She loved her horse & Barbie from Grandpa Frink & Grandma Myrna.
This crazy car got the coolest and most annoying toy of the day. Nana got it while she was in Texas. It flips and twists and plays music. A Mexican type music very loud. You can't turn it off. We must find wires to clip!
Probably Elissa's favorite gift. Her previous skates were "Dora". She was definitely due some roller blades. She rode off like a master. :-)
I didn't take another picture.
We had a wonderful day enjoying family and staying in our PJs.
The day started with the annual Girls Christmas Breakfast with Chrissy, Amy & Amy Jo. AJ informs us that this is our 15th year of this tradition. This year Chrissy got to host. So fitting for the new bride in her new home. :-) She put on an elaborate spread of fancy potato cakes, eggs benedict, sausage, muffins and cranberry bread. LOTS of food! She also gave us really cute holiday wine stoppers & charms. It is also great to get time to catch up with these girls!
I'll post a pic once I get it from Amy.
3:30PM
Then that afternoon we had Christmas with my parents and my brother and his family. I always intend to get a family picture, but it just never happens. :( Here are a few of my favorites.
I love the faces of the boys. :-)
Elissa's pregnant Jessica family. All the kids were getting an education. LOL!
The kids had a great time and the grown-ups always enjoy catching up with each other. We left at 8:30pm to make it to our churches Christmas Eve service.
9PM
We went to the LSCC Christmas Eve service. It was surprisingly packed. It was a very nice service and the kids did really well for the time that it was. Poor Zach was so tired, but he was able to make it through.
