Claire and Hudson completed their ski school this past week and they both did an awesome job! Claire enjoyed going really fast and felt no need to learn to stop, while Hudson felt that he could be doing more and could go bigger:-) It was not always the easiest to get them to ski school,(especially when it was -9 out and even I stopped snowboarding,), or when Claire didn't want to wear the green vest, and Hudson didn't want to wear his boots, but we did it, they did it and I am so PROUD of them for completing this class and Dan and I look forward to sharing this sport with them for hopefully, the rest of our lives!
This week we were also able to have fun at Winter Carnival and send off 15 athletes to Vancouver, Canada for the 2010 Olympics. Steamboat has been known for producing the most Olympians (86 to be exact) than any other place in America. Watching the community celebrate these athletes achievements, made me proud to live in such a supportive community and proud to be an American! Go team USA!!
Cooper and Tucker are 19 months now, not so much babies anymore, but still such bundles of joy and energy!
Tucker is the sweetest, with all his kisses and hugs and how he has to wave Hi and Bye to everyone he sees, even photos of all our relatives. He is the soft spoken comedian of the family, but he is loudest if he doesn't like what is going on.
Cooper is sweet as well, just a little rougher with his head bumps and run right into you hugs and kisses, he has a mischievous laugh and a confident can do anything attitude!
Dan & I have had the joy of some time with just the boys this week, and it has been very special to see these two and the individuals they are becoming and the relationship they are building with each other.
I love peering through their door and listening to them talk to each other and laughing at each other back and forth from their cribs. I have also enjoyed some not so precious moments as I walked in on them throwing everything from the trash in to the toilet and then pulling it back out, ( and them acting like they the were helping me by getting it out) or pulling all the food out of the pantry and emptying the Costco size bag of Crasins. All of these things make me laugh... now, and I am truly blessed they make me smile everyday.
The kiddos and I were able to head down to AZ for a few weeks, to enjoy Christmas with the family, play in the sun, hang with the girlies and meet our newest member of the Slusher crew, Zane. Even though the kids were sick for most of it, Hudson wrote H's on the carpet in their room, Claire had her first hair cut from Hudson, and Cooper and Tucker would not stay in their beds, we had so much fun! There is just something about getting away from below freezing weather that puts a smile on your face. We missed Dan, but he was able to come out for a few days and enjoy as well! And we are already thinking about the next trip down!
December 28th, at 7:13pm 8lbs 7oz 21 inches Welcome baby Zane, we're looking forward to sharing in your journey of life! And Congrats Scott, Lisa and Hazel!!
We get to celebrate Christmas twice this year, and let me tell you, the kiddos are stoked! We decided that the the kids and I would go down to AZ to see Scott & Lisa's new baby...who is not here yet:-) and celebrate with everyone down there. So we had our Christmas early, as Dan would not be able to come down since it is the busy season and he would be working all throughout Christmas and the week thereafter.
So on Friday, "Christmas eve", we baked cookies, went looking at Christmas lights and read the Night before Christmas. Then Saturday, was the big day. The kiddos let us sleep in luckily and then we had our Christmas, which was like a whirl wind, I didn't even get out from the tree. After the kiddos enjoyed playing with their toys for a while, we took our traditional dip in the hot tub... And then we had a wonderful dinner with everyone all dressed up... This was a really fun Christmas, and it did not matter to anyone that it was not the 25th.
What a wonderful and beautiful thanksgiving we had this year. Scott, Lisa, Hazel, Mary Jo, Rick, Bryan & Calyn all came up from AZ for a week to celebrate. We had a lot of fun cutting down Christmas trees,(http://adventuresofthechurchhouse.blogspot.com/), playing and just being together. We are so thankful for the time we got to spend with everyone and thankful they were able to make it up for the first Thanksgiving of many at the Church house!
The snow if finally here to stay, and after our first foot of snow fell, Hudson said "go skiing mommy?" and Claire said "Is it ski school day" And then continued to get dressed... I remember the excitement of the first snow when I was a kid, and even though I know how tough the winters can be, I too feel the excitement of the first snow and thinking of all the fun to be had in the fluffy, cold, sparkly, white stuff and all the wonders of it!
snow angels are always a favorite."What is this stuff on my mittens?"
"This stuff taste good" I think this year we may be able to recruit some help shoveling 300+ inches of snow!
