The Place We Live, with a cameo by Rob

More Snow Days - Polar Vortex Edition

I think Mother Nature heard how much we all appreciated the snow day last week, so gave us two more this week!  Blast o' arctic air is keeping us all inside in our jammies for the past two days, and I SO APPRECIATE IT!!  Life needs to slow down every once in awhile, and these days are a blessing, and help us make it through the long trudge.  Plus, now that it isn't blowing so much, it's kinda pretty out there at sunrise!

WAAAAAYYYY Back Flashback

So a friend of a friend on Facebook posted THIS pic from my junior year in high-school jazz band, which I had never seen before.  TOO FUNNY.  I was the pianist for this group, and, if I do say so myself, we were GOOD.  We really were.  We met Lionel Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson... some legends in the Jazz world.  At the time, I had no idea how legendary those performers were, and how amazing it was that we got to meet and be coached by all of them.  I just remember thinking how BIG Dizzy Gillespie's cheeks were ;).  What a blessing to have grown up with such an excellent music program!

Military Ball Winter Dance

I didn't want to take him, as it was a subzero blizzard outside.  Is a dance worth the risk?  I thought not, but Quinn begged and pleaded and pleaded and begged.  He WANTED to go to this dance.  Colby could've cared less, so he stayed home, but Quinn gussied himself, and headed to the car.  I couldn't bring myself to tell him no, when it meant so much to him.   While Mom hung out at McDonald's reading a book and sipping a mocha, Quinn danced his little heart out.  The dance did end early because of the weather, but he was happy.

He's starting to turn into a fine young man - wrinkled shirt and all.

Snow Day!

The winter has been kind to us thus far.  I'm trying not to say that too loudly, because I'll jinx it.  But really, December wasn't too bad.  January is bringing the cold temperatures now.  Today was a snow storm, which led to a day off from school.  I complain a lot about the winters up here (if you read all 10 years of this blog, you would be well aware of this fact!) but the silver lining is undoubtedly the unexpected snow day.  Typically, Quinn and Colby leave the house at 7:35 am, and get home at 9:30 pm, Monday through Friday, due to diving, pep band, and robotics.  They have robotics from 12-6 on Saturdays as well.  Reagan has swimming lessons on Saturday mornings.  Sunday afternoons the boys are usually at the ski hill.  Plus school, and work, and dentist appointments, and orthodontist appointments, and doctors appointments, and on and on.  This leaves us very few waking hours to spend as a family.  Like "I'm actually missing my children while they still live under my roof" type busyness.  But on SNOW DAYS... we have NOTHING.  NADA.  ZILCHO.  A complete day at home, to sleep in, lounge around (clean bedrooms), and bake cupcakes, and read books, and sit by the fire, and watch a movie or two.

Thank you for that, winter.  I'll take it!!

Supporting the Divers

Grandma and Grandpa Aho were able to come to the home meet to watch Quinn and Colby dive tonight.  It's pretty great to have family live close enough to come support the kids!

The Plane and the Paparazzi

Rob flew into a local restaurant for lunch the other day, and there just happened to be a few guys from a media company there, who were wanna-be pilots.  And they thought someone flying in for lunch by landing on a lake with a ski plane was supercool.  So they took a bunch of pictures with their fancy-dancy cameras, and gave them to Rob.  They turned out awesome!!  Rob said it felt like he was walking the red carpet, going back to the plane to fly out.  Like a supermodel.  HA!  Autographs available for a small charge, folks.

Feast Day Fun: Epiphany

The Feast of the Epiphany was celebrated again this year with some good friends.  We read about the coming of the Magi, and said a special epiphany blessing for the meal.  We've been feasting and celebrating the full 12 days of Christmas this year, that's for sure!

Reagan's Favorite Gift

To say that Reagan has been stalking her aunt about teaching her how to make chocolates might be a bit of an overstatement, but not by much.  This girl had been asking for a chocolate making class for well over a year.  And finally, at Christmas...it became a reality.  Aunt Andrea shared her abundant knowledge of all things chocolate with little miss, in a class that lasted over SEVEN HOURS.  Sea salt caramels, white chocolate dragon fruit, pineapple fluff, and raspberry mango - they even did some research and development and came up with some new truffle flavors.  The results were worth it.  The chocolates are beautiful (and delicious).  Now she needs to make these at home, right?

It's 2019! Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year with skiing at our local ski hill.  It was a beautiful day, and since all the college students are still on Christmas break, there was actually ROOM to ski for a change.  We had a great time!