Needed This!!

There it was the perfect Saturday that we were not planning on doing anything. Scott had been gone for work, and I was so ready to get caught up on house work and household projects...but really was that what I really wanted to do on such a beautiful winter day? NO! So instead, we left the messy house, grabbed some lunch snacks and headed up the canyon wich is only a 1 1/2 miles from our house. We had no destination to make it to, no time frame to move on, and no one else but our family. All we wanted to do was to get out, enjoy the beautiful weather, have fun in the snow, and explore! It was such a well needed day. We hiked, introduced snowshoes to the kids, climbed the steep mountain slopes, made a fire, threw rocks in the river, sledded, looked at the beautiful mountains, and enjoyed each others company.

Afton's Performance

Scott was working from home one morning and I brought Afton to visit after she had just woken up. He was playing with her and getting her to smile and coo and even laugh. She is almost three months old already. Time goes so quickly.

Cade

 

 

 

I loved these pictures of Cade in the DEEP snow.

Shoveling

 

 

 

 

Scott has been out of town for 4 days and I have had a sick baby. We woke up this morning to a whole lot of snow. Avery and Cade offered to go out and shovel the driveway. I got a few pictures of them working hard. They have been so sweet to help out their Mom. Crew and Avery even surprised me by cleaning the whole kitchen and making my bed one morning. I have such wonderful kids, and am so thankful for all that they do for me.

Window Cleaning

 

 

 

 

The kids were out back playing in the snow and Cade came to the back door. I thought that he wanted to come in, but instead he decided to eat the snow off the window. I thought is was so funny. I like the shots of his tongue licking the snow and probably cleaning off the window grime.

Running

 

Avery is just like her Dad. She loves a challenge, and she loves to exercise. Scott has just started to train for a triathlon, and I have attempted to get into shape, so we have been using the treadmill. Avery is always asking if she can run on it, and we have let her a few times. She does so good. She will stay on for a while, and will run at least a mile each time. Her most favorite way to run though is if Dad is in the room giving her endless amounts of praise. She looks up to him so much and loves to do what he does. We finally remembered to get a picture this time and as you can see she is just beaming.

Invention

I was doing my thing, while the kids were doing theirs. I came upstairs upon Crew's request and found that Avery had created and invention for making Afton happy. Here is what she did.


It didn't quite work out as she planned. The swing didn't swing hard enough to pull the rope so it would move the bouncy seat and the music toy...but I thought is was so cute that she thought of that. I love seeing little minds working.

Whitney's Senior Pictures

My sister Whitney is a senior this year and she had my other sister take her pictures for her. I thought they turned out so good. Whitney is just beautiful, and Summer did a great job taking her pictures. I thought some of you may remember Whitney as a toddler. It is crazy to think of her as a senior...I still feel like I just got out of High School. I am getting so old!!!!

Dimple

 

 

I was trying to get a picture of Afton smiling to show my sister her cute dimple, but as soon as I brought the camera out she just starred at it. Unfortunately she is not smiling, but I thought it was still a sweet picture of her.

Up you go!

 

 

 

 

Scott is always holding Afton this way. I will walk into a room, and it seems that this is his special Dad technique of making her happy. I'm still not convinced that she likes it, but he seems to think she does. It's their special thing and I love that!

Funny Poses

 

 

Scott and I were in the kitchen and I looked down to see Afton posing in this position. I thought it was cute, so I had to grab the camera. It is funny sometimes how they seem to pose themselves for a picture.

Backyard Fun

We made a sledding hill in the backyard, and pull the kids around on the 4-wheeler. Here are some pictures we got. We also had some of our friends over so they are in the pictures too! I am still loving the snow...or at least my kids are!

Pajama Switch

We asked our kids to go and get changed into their pajamas. Avery and Cade decided they wanted to switch. I was laughing because Cade looks so pretty in pink, and Avery loved the TIGHT feeling of Cade's pajamas. So whatever works, right?

Packaging Peanuts

Scott got some boxes from UPS that were full of packaging peanuts. The kids were right there when he was opening his stuff and immediately starting grabbing the peanuts. As a Mom not wanting to pick up the mess and forever little pieces that would be scattered in every room in less then 10 seconds, I halted the fun.....then...As a Dad who reminds his wife that they just want to have fun and play with them.... pours the peanuts in the bathtub, and says..Have fun! As you can see they did have fun, and it was an easy clean-up. Win, Win!