January 2020

We waited all Christmas break for some snow so we could go snowboarding and use the kids new gear.  Finally New Years Day the snow came.  I knew the resorts would probably be really busy on a holiday, but I didn't care because I wanted to snowboard in fresh snow! Sadie had just gotten home from Arizona, but she wanted to ski.  Kylee brought Averi and Dylan brought Mitchell.  The snow was AWESOME!  That being said, Dylan didn't love it.  Mitchell was skiing, which makes it easier to go up the bunny hill lift and walk over to the Skier's Lane lift.  Dylan had to work really hard to get through the deep snow, be pulled on the tow rope, and then climb up the hill to the lift.  So he was pretty much sweaty and wiped out before he even went down a hill.  And he didn't really know how to deal with the powder.  He has never boarded in powder before and it can be a lot of work to get yourself up from sitting.  And it throws you around a bit too.  So while the rest of us were loving it, Dylan went down a couple times and decided he was done.  He claimed it was because his board was too big for him (he only got that because he overheard me say I was a little worried it might be big, but it was not. That being said a shorter board may have been easier to use.  But his is the right size for him.)  So Dylan sat in the lodge the rest of the time and Mitchell hung out with Kylee and Averi.  I hung out with Sadie.  The girls took Mitchell up to the top and he did great.  They had fun.  I convinced Sadie to try the other lift and she did really well.  Dylan hung out in the lodge for like four hours waiting for us.  I didn't get too mad because he got in for free with his sixth grade pass. (Technically the pass cost me $18 but he got to use it again too).

He may not have loved snowboarding, but he still had fun in the snow when he got home.  Ryan helped him shovel the snow to make a big fort.  We got a lot of snow!

We are getting Kaden's room put back together since the flood.  We finally got a new bookshelf and a frame for his bed.  He's happy!

He also lost his first tooth!  He was super scared to pull it out.  Because he was worried that it would hurt.  It hurt a lot when he smashed his front teeth on the concrete.  But once we got it out he realized it didn't hurt so he was good.

Still enjoying the snow!  We went sledding with some cousins.  The kids had a blast.  That's hard work climbing up that hill in snowboots over and over again.  Thankfully my kids are all old enough to do it themselves and I just hang out at the top and take pictures.

Dylan received the Aaronic Priesthood in January!  He's 11 but will turn 12 this year so he got it in January.  We were so excited to be there with him and to take him to the temple for his first time. 

I had to snap a quick picture of him passing the Sacrament because he was so cute.  He took it very seriously, but wasn't nervous at all.  He didn't even want Ryan's help.  Ryan had to be in another ward for his calling but Dylan didn't want to wait to start passing it. (We have plenty of Deacons in our ward, they can't all pass it every week).  And Dylan gets mad at everyone in the morning if he thinks we are going to be late because he wants to get there early to help pass.

During the winter months, Kaden and I have a lot of chill time in the house.  Playing board games with him makes him happy, and it's so easy.

Sherri asked Jen and I to come with her to a 50's party to support her neighbor who throws these Girl's Night Out parties every few months.  I was a little skeptical.  I don't love going to parties with a bunch of girls I don't know.  But it turned out really fun.  I kicked my shoes off right away and then we danced and laughed.  Good times!

Holy snow January!  Those snow plow workers kept busy!!

But we were happy because we got to go skiing again!  We left Dylan behind this time.  Me and the girls had fun!  Kylee and Sadie even hung out together a little bit.  We got Sadie all the way to the top and she did great! Besides that one time when we tried to take her over to our favorite little spot and she sort of lost control and sat down and was still heading straight for the trees.  Whoops!  She figured it out.  I didn't have any way to save her.  I'm not that great of a boarder!  We decided that was not the best route for her and we did other stuff instead.  I'm happy she can go to the top because at least I can have a little fun now.  Following her down Skier's Lane all the time is not much fun for me.  

Kylee convinced me that her Old Navy puffy coat (life the one Sadie is wearing) was not an adequate snowboarding coat for her.  So she got a late Christmas present- a really nice, cute purple coat!  And now she's very bright and easy to spot!

If you have to live through winter, at least we can be out enjoying it!