Snow and the Flying Tomato

Friday David and I decided that we were tired of being in the valley and wanted to do something. We hooked up the camper (yes, we realize it is winter), dropped Lyra and Pyper off at Grandma and Grandpa Gordon's, and headed out to see the... ...at the Park City Mountain Resort. This was the last stop on the tour, and the Olympic team was announced Saturday.

On Friday we bundled up and headed up to the resort.

It was cold and snowy, but we were all pretty excited to be there. The half pipe was HUGE!! It looks big on TV, but it is even bigger in person! We saw some of this...

...by a bunch of different people. It was amazing to see how much air they caught!

And then came...

...HIM! The Flying Tomato, Strawberry Candy, my kids' HERO....Shawn White.

He had an amazing ride! Hannah and Seth were so excited to see him board. Oh yeah, and they got to meet him....they were walking about 5 feet off the ground on the way to the camper!

Saturday, David and the kids went boarding. Evona and I stayed in the toasty warm camper an whipped up a mean spaghetti dinner for them. After dinner, we went to the second day of the Grand Prix. That night I learned that metal bleachers plus below freezing temps equal one frozen rear end!

We all agreed that it was a fun way to spend a weekend!

Lyra's Baptism

On Saturday, Lyra was baptised. It was a wonderful day filled with lots of family and friends. She looked beautiful in her white dress. She was so funny when we went shopping to pick one. She fell in love with this particular one because it made her "look like a grown-up." And since you can't have Lyra without a little but of sass, she got sparkly zebra print shoes!

Grandma-Great made her a special baptism outfit and she was so excited to wear it!

After her baptism, we had dinner. Lots of people came to enjoy the time with her...

I think one of the cutest parts of the day was when Bryli loved on Laura's twins.

Lyra, I am so proud of you and the choices you have made. You are such a beautiful girl and I know that our Heavenly Father is very proud of you!

Magic Carpet Ride

We went skiing this past week. I had so much fun cheering the kiddies on! They have been a couple of times already, but once I was sick and once I was helping out Mrs. Claus with Christmas preparations....so this was the first time I have been this year. Beaver Mountain got a new "lift" of sorts. It's called the "Magic Carpet" and it's like a moving sidewalk. Pyper LOVES it! She can get off and on all by herself. She spent most of the morning riding it, and then they went to "the big mountain." I got some pics of her and the kids before they left for the bigger slopes for your enjoyment. I think the only thing different from the skiing pics from last year are some of the ski clothes. :)

This was Pyper going down the little hill. She didn't even crash and make a "puffball".

Getting off the "Magic Carpet."

Riding up the hill.

Bugga on the ride up.

Christmas

I will admit that I had a really hard time getting in the Christmas spirit this year. I had a big case of "Scrooge-itis". After all is said and done though, it was a wonderful holiday! On Sunday we had a fun party at my parents house with my family. We had a good dinner complete with a birthday cake for Jesus! It was my mom's idea and the kids had so much fun lighting the candles and blowing them out. After dinner we opened our presents and Santa stopped by for a visit. He tested our knowledge to see if we remembered all the words to "Oh Christmas Tree" that he taught us last year...we did! It was good to visit with the family and see the kids play.

Christmas day was particularly odd this year! The kids didn't wake up until 7:30, and that was only because I couldn't stand it any longer and started to be really loud! I think them sleeping in may have had something to do with them getting up at 2 and peeking! Grandma Charlene and Grandpa Brent came to see them open their presents.

This is what Bugga was doing after the others had woken up. She isn't a morning person, but one would thinks she could make an exception for Christmas!

Hannah got a snowboard and bindings from Santa and snow clothes from David and I. She was pretty excited!

Seth got this awesome soldier guy in his stocking...he also got an Eye Clops mini projector, snowboard bindings, and a video game.

Bug got a DSi and a cake maker. She made a pretty tasty cake for us to eat!

Pyper got a trunk of REAL princess clothes, made by the Queen of England's seamstress! Now she can be a true princess!

I just have to brag a bit here...I have the awesomest husband and most generous sis and brother in law that a girl could ask for! Thanks to Laura and Dustin, David gave me a laptop and wireless router. I have had so much fun relaxing on the couch and Facebooking, and right this minute I am tucked under the covers in my bed all nice and cozy while blogging...ahhh, this is the life! :o)

We actually ventured out on Christmas this year. We usually just stay home and play. We went to Grandma and Grandpa Sue's house for dinner. It was a good time visiting and playing with cousins that we haven't seen for a while.

On Saturday we went up to Grandma and Grandpa Schvaneveldt's house. again, we had yummy dinner, and presents. The kids broke a pinata and then the grownups played a fun game. David and I rock at opening small presents with gloves on and won a cute lamp! It was a nice day to visit and have some good laughs!

My Lyra....

Little did I know on this day eight years ago that my "bouncing baby girl" would be quite literally...true! Lyra is a delightful, lively, bubbly, impish free spirit! She never ceases to amaze me! If someone thinks she isn't able to do something, she sets her mind to it and does! She is one persistent gal!

She is just as tenderhearted as she is crazy. She loves to help and surprise us by making our beds or cleaning the bathroom sink. She likes to cook, and I very much enjoy the time we spend together in the kitchen.

She gets more and more striking every day. It has been so fun to watch her grow and change into an effervescent young girl! Lyra, I love you more than you will ever know. I am so very grateful that I was chosen to be your mom. I love the fun and "kicks and giggles" that come along with you. Happy Birthday Lyra! I love you!

Time sure flies...

It seems like just last month that I would go to get Seth up from a nap, and he had swapped binkies. The orange ones always seemed to taste better than any other color! And then just last week, I'm pretty sure he was driving around Tonka trucks and watching Bob the Builder. Now he is a skateboarding, snowboarding, video game playing, rock and roll listening 10 year old! Where does all the time go?

Seth is such an amazing kid! He keeps us all entertained with his silly renditions of songs and stories of "What would happen if..." He isn't afraid to be who he is. I love the random hugs and kisses from him, he seems to know when I really need them. Life would definitely be not as much fun if he wasn't around, and we sure do love him!

Happy Birthday Dude! I love you!

My new "boyfriend"

This morning as I was dropping Pyper off at school, my sis in law Laura called. She asked if I had any plans for the morning. I had just taken Pyper to school, and David is in Arizona for the weekend, so I am a free woman! She had a Dr. appointment for her babies and was wondering if I would be willing to be an extra pair of hands. (Two babies requires a TON of crap!) She came and picked me up and off we went. At the Dr's, I got Jonathan. He is quite a somber little fellow, his parents call him "Mr. Serious." But today, he was nothing but smiles....for me.....not his mom....He just smiled and grinned at me! It was so cute! He loves me!

*I caught half a smile on my cellphone at the store after the Dr.*