Love

We babysat Cooper Kirby for a week.  Our kids love dogs.  They are starting to do a really nice job of helping out with Kessler.  They let her out and in to go to the bathroom, they can feed her, and they make sure she gets lots of attention...which is good because she has been missing it since Ruby and Owen have arrived.  They love our friend's dogs, like they are their own.  Copper slept in both Ruby and Owen's bedrooms at night and got lots of love while his family was gone.

Speaking of love, we have been loving our backyard.  In fact, it is the only place we get out for backcountry skiing anymore.  And, it is fantastic for sledding too.  Above is Rowland gettin after it.  :)

We have also been loving our season passes at the Canyons.  We have mostly been with the kids, but Chip has managed to get over there for a few-kid free-half day jaunts.  And, he loves to log his stats.  It is really amazing what you can accomplish in a few hours with a few snow bunnies to motivate around the mountain.

Seriously, check this sky out.  No editing folks.  Incredible.  This is one of my favorite runs to do with the kids- Snowdancer.  There are a few tough spots, but mostly it is wide open, perfect pitch, and nice and long.  Above is Owen and I making our way down.

Ruby waiting for us with dad at the bottom.  She is very confident on the skis and can power wedge down a lot of runs. In fact, we have had to back off of doing just that, just because she can.  Owen, when he is interested enough to stay focused on getting down the hill, is also quite confident and actually is getting some technique.  I think lessons are on the docket for next year.  Having been a former ski instructor, it kills me to have to do that.  But, as we have learned with swim lessons also, they are just different listeners and people with mom and dad than a teacher or coach.  I guess there is a reason I was one of those for so many years to so many other kids.  It is such a unique and special relationship to have with kids- not just someone "the parents who can't hack it" pay to be with their kids.  Although it is tough sometimes to let go of the idea of being everything to your kids, I look forward to our kids having many mentors and teachers in their lives.  

And Chip's new skis.  He loves them too.  He helped make them with a friend in the neighborhood- Jay Hill, who makes Dirty Bird skis and surf boards.  

This, I love.  It was snowing a few days ago, and we decided to do an afternoon sledding run in the back yard.  Neither Ruby nor Owen are napping any more...unless they find themselves in the car, or sled at the right time of day.  It takes about 15 minutes to walk all the way up the hill, in which time they both fell asleep while Chip and I pulled.  Luckiest kids ever- get to wake up to a soft and exciting ride down the mountain.

Chip helped organize a reunion of a bunch of the old ski patrol guys.  They met at our local watering hole, caught up, and reminisced. Good times. :) 

Random.  Apparently Ruby is not the only one who loves her Hello Kitty backpack.

Valentines Day! There was a lot of loot that came home from school.  And, AWESOME cards and packages in the mail from Omas, Nana's and Papas, Aunt Mindy, and family in Germany!  It was really fun and Owen and Ruby loved every minute of it.  Thanks everyone!  We love you!

I wish I could say we loved baths, and sometimes we do, but a lot of times we don't.  But, I do love this picture Chip got.  Do not overlook the bum. :)

We all loved some warm weather the other day.  A Spring teaser.  We all got bikes out in the driveway and pretended it was April or May for a few hours.

Sillies.  More than anything, I LOVE these three. :)