Some of the fun stuff

I could complain (and often do) about some of the stuff that happens here. For instance~ the last time I blogged, I commented that Zach and I were getting ready to take off for a day of skiing. We dropped off Sam at preschool and got started on our 25 mile drive. Part way up, I received a phone call from the school nurse that Taylor had an earache. He asked if he could give him a dose of Tylenol. I happily agreed and asked if he was okay. The nurse said it was a little bit red, but after some Tylenol, he'd be able to go back to class.

Zach and I parked, got all of our gear on, took the bus to the village to get on the lift, and then the phone rang again. This time it was the student teacher in the first grade. She told me that Taylor was in so much pain that he wouldn't be able to make it through the day and he was crying and so sad. I called a couple of friends, but with no luck. I told Zach that we weren't leaving without doing one run, so we did. One run. Let me also say that Taylor is a known faker and a dramatic exaggerator. I didn't want to think that he'd intentionally ruin our day, but I confess, that's exactly what I thought. I picked up Taylor, Zach put on a pair of jeans and I took him to school, and in the meantime I made an appointment with the pediatrician. Guess what? Taylor actually had his first ever ear infection. I felt a twinge of guilt for being so annoyed all day, but stayed annoyed.

See? I complain. But most of the days are good...

{ Ski racing }

This was a fun one. Ryan's a member of one of the local rotary clubs and every February they have a fundraiser at the ski resort. As part of the fundraising, they recruit kids to race. Taylor scored the gold medal for the under twelve division, and Zachary came in third in the teenage group. Clay, who is ultra-competitive, didn't get to race this year because he was in his ski class all day, but he did land a couple of 180s and did a front flip (yes, while on skis).

{ Snowdown parade }

Snowdown is one of those funny local things that, to be honest, we don't really partake in. But we do really love going to the parade every year. It starts at dark and the kids always come away with a lot of loot. Beads, candy, local coupons... And I always embarrass my family by asking a random stranger to take a picture of us.

{ Knitting }

I've knitted and/or crocheted a lot over the years. Off and on. I learned in the first grade from my teacher when there were cold days and there were kids who didn't want to go out to play at recess. I knitted and crocheted quite a lot during my last year in Cleveland when some overachieving friend showed off her felted bags and crocheted beanies. I've knitted a couple of scarves since we moved here. But over the past few months, my friend Lucy put together a group at church and found an amazing lady to teach us. I've been on a roll... In the above picture I knitted the hat Zachary is wearing and my scarf, I knitted scarves for Taylor, Sam, Ryan and my sister for Christmas. If anyone wonders why I haven't been blogging, it's because I've been knitting. It makes me happy to actually finish a project once in a while. (Because I'm famous for my unfinished piles of projects.)

So wrong.

Remember that song from the eighties, "Eye of the Tiger"? I do, vividly. Because my high school mascot was the Tigers and the song was played to death. Zach and I are here at home having already sent everyone else to school and getting ready to go skiing for the day. (If you're an advisor at Zach's middle school, just ignore that.) I heard "Eye of the Tiger" come pouring out of Zach's room at full volume. You can't miss the beginning of the song. But then the voice... It just wasn't right. I asked Zach who was singing on his version. He said, "I know it's not the real singer. It's someone named Gloria Gaynor." I had to laugh. Then he clarified by telling me, "Clay had 99 cents left on his iTunes and wanted the song, so he bought the cheap version."

For future reference - don't allow your kids to waste their iTunes gift cards without pre-approval.

Just today.

It's been so, SO long since I've blog posted that now I'm just kind of ashamed to come back. But then I got this email requesting that I update my blog (is it embarrassing to admit it came from my husband?), and so I just thought I'd start with today.

Clay and Taylor both take ski lessons at Purgatory on Saturdays. Clay's start at 9-ish and Taylor's are in the afternoon. Not really convenient, I know. Lucky for me, I drew the early time slot today and Zachary agreed to come along to snowboard with me (I ski) for the day. This actually worked out well so that Ryan could take Sam and Taylor to sign up for wrestling. (Smile. I am.)

As soon as we drove into the Valley, we saw a hot air balloon up in the sky, and as we drove a few miles farther, we saw a whole bunch of them getting ready to lift. I literally gasped because it was so beautiful to see all of that color lifting out of the snow up against the blue morning sky. It was stunning. Thanks to my almost obnoxious need to have my camera along, Zach and Clay got pictures as I flew down the road.

We dropped off Clay at the ski school meeting area and then Zachary and I headed up. We had a blast. The snow was perfect, the weather was nice, the sky is blue and it seemed to be truly the ideal day. Then we got to the farthest point from the village and Zach's strap broke on his binding. Such a bummer. He patched it together and really still looked amazing as he snowboarded. We stopped and had lunch about halfway back, then went to a snowboard shop and 10 minutes and $8 later, we were back in action.

Ryan had called at some point in here to tell me that Taylor was safely at ski class, but they'd forgotten his pass today. Apparently it all worked out and he was still able to ski. I was anxious to talk with Taylor's instructor to see how he's doing. I met Clay with his teacher at 3:30 (when class is supposed to end) and got the glowing reports about how well "race

day" went and what a fantastic skier Clay is. And then I waited and waited for Taylor to turn up. I had parked where I could see the kids coming down the mountain to the designated pick up area and so afterstanding outside for fifteen minutes, I got cold and sat in the car to watch for him. At 3:55, I was starting to get worried. Zach, Clay and I discussed the possibility of checking ski patrol (because it wouldn't be surprising to find T. there), but then I saw an instructor that strongly resembled Taylor's ski coach. But he was alone, and getting back on the ski lift. I shook off the thought just as Zach said, "I see him!" He pointed to the far left where the tubing hill is. Sure enough, a red coat, blue helmet, black pants and red booted little boy was climbing the hill towing a tube. I grabbed the camera and ran over. Sure enough, there was a

n abandoned set of skis and poles at the bottom of the hill and Taylor at the top ready to come down. When I asked T. how come he hadn't told me he was done with ski class, he said, "I just wanted to have a little fun." It would be frustrating if it weren't also so funny.

This also made me start off late for the next event of the evening. Ryan and I needed to go to an open house for a young lady we know who was just married last month. I quickly showered, changed and we ran out the door. She looked beautiful and her husband seems really perfect for her.

A friend from church had asked me a few days ago to see "When in Rome" with her this evening and was planning to pick me up at 6:40. At 6:33, my cell phone rang and Clay was calling to tell me she was at the house waiting for me. We pulled into the driveway 5 minutes later and it all worked out fine. The movie was cute, silly but cute. Especially if you're looking for a reunion of these two...

That's today. Maybe now I can get back into the groove.

Happy New Year.

We went out of town (for a whopping ten days) for Christmas for the first time in many years and I think I'm just barely starting to recover. I had to finally get around to a couple of things today... taking down the Christmas tree and laundry for starters. But I also realized that I was down to a mere 2 pictures available on my camera because it's been so long since I've been hooked up to my computer. Here are a couple to welcome in the new year. The boys (in case it just looks like chaos to you) are doing 2 0 1 0. After getting my Christmas card in the mail, I had a couple of friends along with my sister telling me how photogenic my boys are. The 2010 picture just goes to show you how much they're not, but how lucky I was to get a great family picture for 2009.

This one is just wishful thinking. I don't mind winter. I enjoy skiing. I love watching the boys ski and snowboard. But it's all about the snow. If it's going to be this cold, I'd prefer the snow come with it. (And I love it when I have a cute bit of preschool art to hang on the refrigerator for a little while.)

We wish you all the best for a happy, healthy, resolution-free 2010.

Merry Christmas to all...

December Events { #8 }

There's nothing quite so fun as the last day. The last day of school. The last day of summer. The last day before winter break.

School's out for a couple of weeks now. The boys finished up 2009 ~ which sounds so crazy. The day started off really great. Taylor's first grade class walked to a nearby assisted living home to put Christmas and winter decorations on the doors of the elderly folks living there. Taylor, Sam and I met them there rather than letting Taylor walk on his freshly freed leg on all of that snow and ice. He was disappointed to not walk until he looked at a couple of his classmates crying about how cold they were after walking in the 5 degree cold morning. It was nice to let the kids visit with some of the people living there, to have the cute first graders sing some songs, and Taylor and his friend Sam even played their songs from last weekend's recital.

Taylor went back to school and met his classmates there. And after lunch, there was a school sing-a-long of the fun Christmas songs. It was a "wear your pajamas to school" day, and it was really sweet to see this room full of 500-ish kids singing fa-la-la-la-la.

Taylor's class had a Christmas around the world theme for the class party and I found someone to make me some really delicious tamales to share. They crafted, shared gifts and ate lots of yummy treats. I really enjoyed the contrast between the first grade party and then walking down the hall to Clay's class wear the fifth graders had on loud music, low lights and a limbo stick. :)

Just in case you don't recognize this kid, it's Taylor. He wasn't happy with last week's haircut and gave himself a bang trim yesterday afternoon which was consequently buzzed after the realization that there was no saving it...

December Events { #7 }

Tonight was Sam's preschool Christmas program. It was so adorable! There's nothing like a bunch of three and four year olds quietly singing along with their teachers, shaking jingle bells and dancing along.

Ryan was out of town for this cute concert and it was up to just the mom to get four boys to this cute concert. After many years of attending concerts, I thought about how much easier it would be for me to leave Zachary home with Clay and Taylor and just attend with Sam. However, I also thought about how many of those concerts have been Zach's over the years and how nice it would be for the older brothers to support the youngest. After attending the concert, I'm still thinking it would have been easier to leave them home, but Sam loved having his family sitting right there on the front row grinning at his every move.

He couldn't keep his halo on (which actually seems very appropriate... not a terribly angelic child), but he sure was cute!