Weekend Skiing

We skiied the Porkies today. What an absolutely GORGEOUS winter day!! We had double digit temperatures, bright sun, and great snow. The boys had lessons in the morning, so Rob and I hit the slopes. After lunch, we spent our time with the boys on the bunny hill. I think Colby may actually understand how to slow himself down now (not that he wants to!). Quinn snow-plowed on occasion, but kept informing how hard it was. Yes it is. Maybe we shouldn't plan on the boys making it on the 2016 Winter Olympics ski team. I keep wondering "WHAT is their thing?" You know, that skill that they'll be good at and love their entire life. Thus far, I have only the inkling that it involves SPEED in some form. The last hour of our "ski trip" saw the boys take off their skiis and turn them into race cars. HMMMM. Are they trying to tell me something?

Another Frigid Day

Still single digits out there, but at least the sun is shining. It's a gorgeous day.... that we get to enjoy only from indoors. Figures. It's been such a looonnnnggg winter already, and I know there's a whole lot more to go.

Weekend Getaway

It may not be Malibu... but we NEEDED to get out of Dodge for a little while, so Green Bay, Wisconsin was the next best thing! The winter's just getting too long, and it was starting to feel like "The Shining" here. On spur of the moment, we decided to pack up the family and head to an indoor waterpark on Friday. It was INSANE. Apparently half the families in the midwest with small children had the same inclination. Talk about sensory overload! Oh well. It was something to do that was fun for us all, and we got to enjoy actual sun as soon as we got away from the spectre of Lake Superior. No HEAT with the sun (highs in the single digits), but ulraviolet light nonetheless:)

Look at those curls! See what humidity does???

One Cool Chick

The future's so bright (or the flash from Mommy's camera)... she's gotta wear shades.....

Reagan from All Angles

Almost 10 weeks old and cute as a button. I want to remember every little bit of her, just as she is now!!

Only in the U.P.

At work today, I accidentally left the lights on in the truck. I guess there was a hospital wide email warning about it, but of course I was scheduled solid, and got the message wayyy too late. The hospital doors lock at 8, and I didn't get out of there until 8:30 pm. I went out to the truck, and of course... dead as a doornail. Proceeded to walk around the hospital to the only unlocked doors (Emergency), and page maintenance to give me a jump. Walked back outside, waited in the cold for the maintenance guy to arrive. The truck was so dead, it took nearly a half an hour of charging before it would stay running, and even then it died every time I took my foot off the gas. So, just to recap the scenario: I had just worked a 12 1/2 hour day, hadn't eaten dinner, was sitting out in the snow in a dead truck, and the cheerful and very nice maintenance man makes the following comment as small talk...
"We sure are lucky this happened tonight, and not next week when it's supposed to get REALLY cold." I noticed the temperature on the bank sign on the way home.... 2 below zero. YUP. Only in the U.P. would these die-hard Finlanders consider themselves lucky being stuck outside in two below weather because it could be (and WILL BE) colder. WHYYYY do I not live in Hawaii?????

New Year's Day

The boys and I spent New Year's Day at Chassell Park with the Sommerville's. The plan was to iceskate, but the kids seemed to enjoy playing on the playground more! They utilized the playground structure with 2 1/2 feet of snow on the ground far longer than they ever did in the summer. Funny!



In other news... Reagan is cute. So is her Dad. SHHH, don't tell him, though. He'll get a big head!

Happy New Year!!

In celebration of 2009, and the one-year anniversary of getting DSL (thus the birth of this blog), I am hereby recappping 2008 alphabetically. Bear with me.

Anniversary - our 10th! Rob and I celebrated with a romantic weekend

on Mackinac Island.

Boys boys boys and boys. 'Nuff said.

Colby, our superhero in training, turned 4 this year and started preschool.

He is energetic, sweet (most of the time!) and a joy to us!

Disneyworld! We got to visit The Mouse in February of 2008 with Rob's family. Truly a wonderful time in the sun.

Easter was celebrated at Aunt Andrea and Uncle Allan's house this year. It was also the day we learned we were expecting baby #3!!

Flowers. Picking flowers was a favorite activity for all of us this year.

Girls girls girls - or at least singular "girl". We added one to the family this year, and the "sugar and spice and everything nice" has been very much appreciated.

Haying on Uncle Allan's farm was a family event this year - and a great photo opportunity.

Iceskating - Quinn and Colby got skates for Christmas and are steadily learning how to remain upright on slippery surfaces!

Jumping - on a trampoline, in the inflatable jumphouse, on the bed, or just in general. Seems like we have some bouncing boys on our hands. The energy level is astounding.

Kit Plane. Rob's building one in the garage, and it takes up ALOT of his time!!!

Leaves. Fall is gorgeous here, and this one was no exception!

Model T Ford. The boys and I celebrated the 100th birthday of this American Icon in Indiana with Grandpa Jim, Grandma Betty and Landon!

Natural Resources and Conservation Service. Rob continued to love his job, and completed several big projects, making "headlines" in the local newspaper.

"Oh My Gosh!" Colby's new favorite phrase.

Preschool. Quinn and Colby started school this year, and love it. Mom is learning to love the "quiet time" at home as well!

Quinn - 4 going on 14! He loves school, and anything that goes fast!!

He's a wonderful big brother to his new baby sister.

Reagan, our new, perfect little girl born November 3rd.

Swimming Lessons. Attempted twice this year. First time went great, second time - a bust. We'll see what next year holds.

Trekking. Rob headed to Montana for a week in the mountains fishing! He came back grimy but refreshed.

Underwear. 2008 saw the demise of diapers in the house for about 8 months, as Quinn and Colby became potty trained just in time for the arrival of diaper-dependent Reagan. It was nice while it lasted, life without diapers!

Vasectomy. Guess there won't be any more surprise announcements about new family members.

Water, the boys' favorite environment. Be it mud puddles, the shower, a swimming pool, the lake, or the kitchen sink... we have water boys

Xrays - Rob had a few this year, following several "injuries". No broken bones or serious damage, despite all his trying! Thank goodness!

Yesterday - When this blog SHOULD'VE been posted (New Year's Day), but I was too busy having fun to sit down and do it :)

ZZZZZ's - What mom has NOT had since the birth of Reagan! We have high hopes for 2009!