SKI VIDEO

SKIING WITH DADDY

I dropped Joshua and Jeff off at the Gondola that takes you to Peaks 7 and 8 this morning (11:30)...very cold and heavy snow. I have to say I was a little nervous, but knew that Jeff would take care of Joshua. Joshua went to ski school on Peak 9, so this was going to be a new run for him.
I received one update from Jeff while they were skiing..."we just did 3 runs and are going to eat lunch because Joshua's hands are cold." All was well it seemed. Then at about 2:45 I got a call that said they were going to do one more run and then they were coming back down the Gondola. I picked them up and Joshua was non-stop talk about how much fun he had. It was so good to hear. Jeff said that Joshua was fearless. He said that Joshua liked going straight down the mountain at full speed, so that was one thing he kept trying to help him with. Joshua really got the hang of turning today and obviously had no problem stopping.
Jeff took some video. I will add that to the blog once I can save it in a format that I can use.

Getting ready to go skiing.

All ready...

On their way...

Andrew and I went to the grocery store while the boys were skiing, ate lunch, and took a nap.

SKI SCHOOL

Ski school in Breckenridge starts at 3 years old. When Joshua had just turned 3 we put him in ski school and ended up picking him up early...he basically never left the crying room. We were a little sad about this, but did remember that he was young. When he turned 4 we asked if he wanted to go to ski school, "NOPE!" This year, at 5, he did want to go. He said, "I am 5 now, so I think I can be brave and stay in ski school."
Jeff signed him up for 2 days this past week. Joshua was pretty excited, especially when we picked up his ski and helmet (his favorite...I bet he would wear it to bed if we let him) rental.

Day one of ski school he wanted mommy to drop him off. UGH! I knew that he was anxious about going, but was going to be brave and go. His little face showed how nervous he was, but he went...I had to hold back the tears. I know, lame! I am his mother, what can I say. I was more relaxed about the day once I saw his excitement and joy when we picked him up. His instructor told us that he did well. "He does very well stopping with his right, but needed work on his left" (we were able to see what he said when we showed a little early to watch him in the little ski school area).

Going down the kiddie hill with instructor guiding him.

Going up the kiddie hill on the belt...he really liked this.

Day two of ski school was even better. Daddy dropped him off this day, so no tears here. Joshua mastered stopping with both legs, so he got to go up on his first run. We did not get to see him ski at all due to the fact that he came down the wrong side of the run. However, he could not wait to tell us all about how much fun going on the lift and coming down the mountain was. Very exciting! He had a new instructor this day. The instructor told us that Joshua was good on stopping, but if he came back another day they could work on turns...we signed him up for a third day!!!

Day three of ski school mommy and Andrew had to take him in. Again, I was not the best person to do this, but I put on a brave face too. We got to see him ski down off the run this day and he did very well (in our eyes). His instructor said that he was very good at turning when he follwed her turns. He still needed some work making wide turns when on his own, but was good to go on a green. He had a harder time being without us this day, but they start at 8:30 and go until 3:30...a long day without mommy or daddy for 3 days in a row. He was a brave little guy. Maybe he will want to go next week, but if he does not we are fine with that too. He is going to ski with Daddy on Saturday and Sunday. Then ski with Grampie sometime during the week, so he should be good to go.

It was snowing pretty hard and was COLD...he was coming off the run onto the kiddie hill in this picture.

GRANDPARENTS

Joshua and Andrew have some pretty awesome grandparents. There is Grampie and Mimi (Jeff's parents), Great Grammie (Jeff's grandmother), Maammaw and Pawpaw (my parents), Grandpa Terry (My dad), Great Grandma (my dad's mom), and Great Great Grandma (my dad's grandmother). I always took advantage that I knew so many of my grandparents (all of my grandparents were living for many years of my life...3 great grandparents were a big part of my life as well). Now, I see how important this relationship is and will do my best to make sure the boys don't take advantage of it.

Jeff and I took a vacation up to CO without the boys at the beginning of January. They stayed with Grampie and Mimi as well as Maammaw and Pawpaw those 10 days. We called every day to see how everyone was doing and I have to say that the boys had a blast. They were having so much fun that they did not even want to talk to us on the phone...the few times they did I know they were bribed. We know the time was so very special and we are so appreciative of both sets of grandparents.

Now, we are still in CO and the boys are here with us, thanks to Grampie and Mimi. They drove the 13 hours (more with the boys) to Breckenridge, CO from Colleyville, TX so that we could enjoy the snow and skiing much longer. They did stop in Raton, NM (about 9 hours) to stay at a hotel (see picture below) and have a pajama party. Again, the boys had a great time and from what I understand there was not one tear shed during the lengthy drive.

Thank you Grampie and Mimi for everything. You are awesome! I love the memories the boys are building with you both. We ALL love you!

CHRISTMAS W/GRAMPIE, MIMI, & AUNT TRACI

We celebrated Christmas with Grampie, Mimi, and Aunt Traci the Tuesday after Christmas. We were in MI and they were in SC on Christmas day. We called on the way to their house and asked if they had anything for lunch. The boys had not eaten lunch, so we thought they might be hungry. Did you know that food does not matter when there are presents to open? The door was opened, eye contact was made witht he tree and gifts, and off they ran. We all enjoyed watching them boys open their stockings and tear open the gifts. Thank you Mimi and Grampie for all the wonderful gifts and food!

Since my camera is no longer Dave had taken a few pictures of the celebration...Joshua with his new golf clubs and a bag to match Grampie's and Dad's. Andrew and Joshua in Andrew's new toy...it did not take them long to figure out how to make it the most dangerous toy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Jeff, the boys, and I rung in the New Year at home. We made the boys shrimp and homemade macaroni and cheese for dinner at their normal dinner time. Then we gave them a special brownie and ice cream dessert and rushed them off to bed...I love young people that need 12 hours of sleep. Once the boys were in bed asleep Jeff and I started on our romantic dinner at home...filet, shrimp, mushrooms, mashed potatoes, homemade macaroni and cheese, grilled asparagus, and wine by candle light (we forgot the roaring fire until we had dessert). It was a very nice way to bring in 2010.
The first day of the New Year Joshua got up and poured he and Andrew a bowl of cereal, I made it just in time to help Andrew pour his milk. Then Jeff and I laid in bed a bit longer before I got up to make homemade biscuits, sausage links, and fried eggs...Yummo! If the way the boys ate was a sign to the new year we are going to have a large grocery bill. Joshua ate 4 biscuits, 4 sausage links, and one egg (he asked for another and I told him no). Andrew ate 2 biscuits, 3 sausage links, and left his egg along (he is only 2). Being a country girl I like hearty appetites, but all this food just gives them that much more energy and they are tornadoes without food.
Happy New Year to all!