A little bit of summer

Tuesday we decided to have hamburgers for dinner. Tom was kind enough to grill them outside for us... in the snow. We both agreed that they tasted like summer, but we think they taste even better in the winter than they do in the summer. Figure that one out.

Snowed out

On Monday we had quite the storm. It was predicted to be a bad one, so I had planned to stay in. The only thing I had to go out for was to pick up Bentley from school. The wind had been blowing really hard, but we made it to the school as the snow was beginning to fall. We picked up Bentley just fine, but then on the way back the storm had hit. We were ok driving through Kamas, but as we left town, the lack of any wind break made it so I couldn't see a thing. I've driven in storms before where you had to watch the lines or the little posts on the side of the road in order to stay on the road, and in Logan we had some pretty bad fog where it was difficult to see the road, but this was the worst I've even driven in! I don't know if I just hit a bad spot at the wrong time, but like I said before I couldn't see a thing! I slowed way down, but I wasn't sure if I should stop for fear that someone in back of me would hit me from behind. Well, my dilemma was soon over because I ran off the road. The kids were pretty upset, but amazingly I was somewhat calm. I got out my cell phone to call Tom just as a police officer pulled up. I saw what I thought were lights in the front, and then I couldn't see them anymore. Then I could barely make them out in back of us. The storm was seriously that bad. I couldn't even tell if there were two police vehicles. Well, the nice officer pulled me out, and then when he found out where we were going, he recommended that we stay in Kamas until the storm passed. We took his advice. We went back into Kamas were we had lunch at the Summit Inn.
















They were so nice there. The kids said they didn't want pizza as we were ordering, so the lady made peanut butter and honey sandwiches for them even though they don't have them on their menu. Then after we were finished she gave them each a scoop of ice cream. Sometimes a little kindness goes a long way. After lunch we went over to the fitness center where we hung out until Tom got off work. He came over and we climbed the rock wall before we all went home. It was quite the day!

Ali hasn't been the best of eaters; however, as of late she's figured out that feeding herself makes things taste oh so much better. Here she is mastering the spoon for what I thought was the first time. (Tom came home later and informed me that she'd actually done it before for him.) The clip is from Wednesday, January 23. Tonight while Tom was feeding her, she got ticked when he wouldn't let her do it. I've found the best method is when we both have a spoon.

My Sunbeam

Emma has been so excited to finally be in Primary! The other day while the girls were dressing up she exemplified what it means to be a sunbeam... or not.

Good Times

Last Tuesday or Wednesday we headed out for another sledding adventure, but after only one run (and a lot of powdery snow in Emma's face) we came back in because it was too cold. As we were warming up, I got on the computer and found that the temp. was -6 degrees! Needless to say we spent a lot of time indoors last week.


However, that was not the case this weekend. The weather warmed up a bit, and we were able to sled once more. Sharon, Seth and the boys, Seth's brother's family, and Grandma Christy and Grandpa Chuck all came up on Saturday for the fun. Here we are enjoying "hot cocoa" and some of Christy's delicious sloppy joe's after sledding.






The girls had fun dressing up.











Then on Sunday after church we went to West Valley for the monthly family dinner.

After the dinner we went to Nora and James' house for some excellent homemade ice cream which I thought was just out of this world;) (I had mine in a fancy glass cup with a silver spoon.) The kids said it was pretty good too;) (They had theirs in paper cups.) Then we tried out their Wii which is something I'd better not play too often, because I'd probably get hooked. (I'm just way too competitive. Distancing myself is usually best.) Anyway, it was definitely a fun weekend.

Sledding with ... goats?

Occasionally while Ali naps in the afternoon, Bentley, Emma and I take advantage and go out on the sledding hill for a couple of runs.
(These first few pics are from Fridays adventures.)
















Then today while out on the sledding hill, we had a couple of uninvited guests. On about our third or fourth run we noticed that the neighbor goats where out of their cage roaming around their yard. Emma was a little concerned but was OK because they were inside their fence. However, by the time we were about to the top of the sledding hill the goats had found their way to the top of their yard where the fence is shorter and were able to come over to our yard. They traipsed across the middle of the mountain until they made it to the sledding hill. With such a nice path before them, they couldn't resist and started up. They made it to the top, much to Emma's dismay. The goats were a little hesitant to come close to us at first, so we had to move back a little so they would move out of the way and over to the right of the starting line to go down the hill. Once they were clear of the run, I gave Bentley the OK and he took off down the sledding hill. Emma and I followed close behind on our sleds. The plan was to take off down the hill, be far away from the goats, and then head back to the cabin to check on Ali. Well, the plan didn't go like we'd hoped. As we headed down the hill, the goats apparently thought it looked like fun and followed at full speed right behind; then they followed us over to the cabin. We thought we'd be nice and lead them home, so they followed us down the driveway, up the road and into their own yard. We knocked on the door but no one was home, so we headed back to the cabin and the goats kept following. We made it inside, but the goats wanted in as well. For the next hour or two (until Tom got home) the goats held us at bay. They'd go from the back door to the front, right up on the deck, then over to the side of the house where the rock wall is and then back to the back. Bentley thought this was all great fun; Emma and Ali were not so sure. Finally Tom came home and walked the goats back home at about the same time Dave, the owner, returned. Good times at the cabin.
Then tonight during bedtime prayers, Emma still had the goats on her mind. She usually says really cute thoughtful prayers blessing each member of our family etc. Tonight her prayer was especially short. All she said was, "Heavenly Father, thank you for this nice day, thank you the goats went back home", and then ended her prayer. I couldn't help but smile.

Transformers... More than meets the eye.

We have some new occupants living in the cabin. As of a few days ago, we've welcomed in Bumblebee (Bentley), Arcee (Emma), Baby Bumblebee (Ali), Optimus Prime (Kim), and Megatron (Tom, who denies he's a bad guy and claims he's Ironhide:) Currently the Allspark is being safely guarded, and there is peace "until next time".














When kids are around there is never a dull moment.
...then again, maybe there is.









Three cute kids (if I do say so myself).
Sorting through pictures makes me itchin' to get scrapbookin'.
Here the kids are all decked out for bedtime in their Christmas PJs.
(The PJs that were cute enough to replace the first set of Christmas PJs I bought.)












Picking up Bentley from kindergarten.











Ali is happy just hangin' out and loves being one of the kids.
Currently her three favorite words are "mama", "dad", and "go". Ready, set, "go"!











Emma! Need I say more.

Baking Success

After several attempts, I finally found some sweet success. On Tuesday I made some french bread, and then today I tried yet another online white bread recipe.







Both are definitely worth making again.

Just a bunch of sickies...

We have finally acquired a cold here at the cabin that has run or is running its course with everyone involved. It is ranging in severity from a mere sore throat to ear aches and sinus infections (poor Tom). Anyway, being sick makes a person thankful for good health, but having sick children makes a person plead for good health. I'd much rather be sick than have to watch my children suffer any day! Still amid all the runny noses and coughs... we managed to take a few cute picks. Check 'um out.

Whenever we break out the camera, Ali cheeses it up with her "scrunchy nose".








Poor Bentley has been left out of many a picture lately while he is off enjoying kindergarten.

One more thing... Cute Emma got into Donna's make-up tonight. She came down the stairs covering her face, and then burst into tears when we saw. With everyone around, she was so embarrassed.

Kim learns to blog

It's a very exciting day for all of us here in Woodland. Today Kim is learning how to blog. After much effort we now have two users on our blog. Any post from me will have my name at the end of it. Any post from Kim will have Kim's name at the end. Isn't that great!!!! This is a picture from Photo Booth. Just to report on the weather. It has been very cold here the past week. However today is was warmer in Woodland (40)than it was in Heber. We must be having an inversion or something.

Happy New Years Resolutions!

Happy 2008! As one of my New Years Resolutions I've decided to stop free-loading and start contributing to the online world. I don't have a picture to post, but if I don't post now, I'll continue to put off the initial post for who knows how long. Its now or never.
Today was a sad day. I finally took down the Christmas decor. (however limited it was this year). We did have a tree, so I've been humming the song "I cry the day that I take the tree down" all day. Other than that, we just had a relaxing day at the cabin. After Bentley's second day back to school after the Christmas break, I started in on another New Years goal of baking my own bread. I've been experimenting with recipes I find online, and I'm still hunting for one I like. The bread has not yet been a complete success, but I have discovered I really like a basic baking powder biscuit recipe that I've been using as a pizza crust. Bentley gave his stamp of approval, so its definitely a go.
I've been thinking a lot about things I'd like to improve on this year. My list of New Years Resolutions is rather lengthy. Along with blogging and baking bread I've decided to start running again. (Anyone training for any fun races coming up? I'm looking for some motivation.) The beginning of a New Year is so fun to have the feeling of starting new, doing better, and accomplishing... something. No wonder the gyms are packed this time of year.