So today as I sat at my computer with the furnace blowing out warm air on my toes I decided it was time for a winter recap...because here in Cache Valley we just can't get enough of winter.
TUBING
YURTING
Uncle Jeff planned a "Man Trip" to the yurt in Green Canyon and somehow my Aidan and Cole were manly enough to be invited to accompany their dad on the journey. They had a great time planning, packing, trekking in the snow, and eating lots of food. And Aidan even got some of those men to play a few hands of "Old Maid" with him.
ICE SKATING AT CENTRAL PARK
I love to skate at Central Park because it's something I did as a kid. I love to seeing the temple in the background. Plus it's a great family activity during a long, cold winter. But I'm sure I've never had as much fun skating as I saw my kids have this winter. Aidan was a little speed skater racing as fast as he could all over the rink...never tiring. And Sadie would twirl and twirl and twirl. Cole loved to run and slide down on his knees and see how far he could glide on the ice. And it was always best when the cousins were there with us.
Jason is a beautiful skater...graceful and smooth. he can skate backwards, he can turn and do tricks and he can skate fast. After about an hour of skating my feet hurt, I'm cold, and I'm done. But not my kids...every time we went skating they were NEVER ready to leave.
Jason is a beautiful skater...graceful and smooth. he can skate backwards, he can turn and do tricks and he can skate fast. After about an hour of skating my feet hurt, I'm cold, and I'm done. But not my kids...every time we went skating they were NEVER ready to leave.
OUR VERY OWN NAPOLEAN...(as in dynamite)
Aidan wore these beauties to school EVERYDAY, so it's a good thing that his Karren cousins passed down not one, not two, but three pairs of Napolean Dynamite boots. In April I told Aidan he couldn't wear his favorite boots to school anymore....at least not until it snows again next year. I hope I'll be ready to pull those things out again because I know Aidan will not forget them!
HOT CHOCOLATE CLUB
Sadie has every other Wednesday off. Many of those Wednesdays were spent with the hot chocolate club. While I pushed little Sammy in the stroller on the ice. Emma and Sadie worked at perfecting their skating skills until it was time to get the yummiest and chocolatiest hot chocolate ever.
AIDAN'S SPECIAL BIRTHDAY
Aidan looked forward to turning eight for a long time. He had prepared and was so excited for the opportunity to be baptized and to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
His baptism was very special. Grandma and Grandpa Karren had just returned from their mission in Chicago and were able to speak at his baptism. Grandma Murray gave the opening prayer and Aidan and his cousins sang together about baptism. After Jason baptized Aidan, Grandpa Murray confirmed him a member of the church. It was a great day for Aidan and for our family. We were so happy that so many people who mean so much to Aidan were able to attend this special event in his life.
BOARDING AT THE BEAV
I learned to ski when I was in middle school when I went up to the mountain on ski day with my school. But I really learned to ski after I married Jason and we moved to Jackson, Wyoming. How can you live in Jackson and not ski? Jason had been skiing his whole life. He took me to the top of the black diamond runs at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort and I tumbled down while he skiied gracefully down the expert shutes. I'm still not a great skiier, but I can get down the mountain without tumbling.
Then one day I tried snowboarding. It was painful. The next day I couldn't walk up or down the stairs. I think these are skills best learned when one is young.
A couple of years ago when we spent the winter in Logan our boys wanted to snowboard. So, at 39, Jason learned to snowboard with Cole and Aidan, while I skiied with Sadie. Jason amazes me. A couple of painful days and he could board....really well I might add. He took Cole and Aidan every weekend and THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN! He asks me all the time if I will try it...but I am too big of a wimp. And I am so glad he can take our kids to do something they love together.... and, of course, that he makes them wear a helmet.
Cole getting big air
Aidan jumping off Ted's Rock
BIRDING
Aidan has a new love....BIRDS. He has learned all about birds from Grandpa Murray. He loves to watch them in Grandpa and Grandma's backyard and talk about them with Grandpa. One of his favorite birds is the pheasant. He wanted very badly to catch one so he could have it's tail feathers.
Jason helped him set up a trap in Grandpa and Grandma's field, but all he caught were cats, magpies, and.....
THIS GUY!