Valentine's party

On Thursday February 13th the third grade had a valentine's party.  For some reason I was volunteerd to put on this party.  I am not sure how I became in charge of it, but I was.  So it wasn't just a short party, it was a 2 1/2 hour party.

So my friend and I came up with quite a few crafts for the kids to do.  AJ is making the heart dog.  I thought this one was really cute!!

This one ended up being harder than I thought  it was.  It took AJ a few times to get it right.  All the kids seemed to have a great time with all the crafts.

Then AJ's teacher took over for the aerobics part.  We wanted to play relay games, but she decided it would be more fun to teach them the Happy dance.  AJ wasn't too thrilled because he said she was teaching it wrong.

He had a good time in the back just dancing how he wanted to.  Then the teacher decided to do some zumba and run them a 1/2 mile.

After that they were finally able to eat.  It was a good spread for the kids, some healthy and some not so healthy.  All the kids seemed to have a good time at the party.  AJ said he did minus the aerobics.

One of the many things that I LOVE about AJ is how helpful he always is!  He helped take stuff back up to the room after it was over.  I have to say I was exhausted at the end because of all the last minute changes, etc.  But it is always worth it when it comes to the kids!!!

Day with the kids

So on Saturday February 7th, we decided to each take a son and spend some quality time with them.  Whatever they wanted to do.  They were able to plan the whole morning.  So David took AJ and he wanted to go to a movie, so off they went.  Michael wanted to play board games.  So we played for awhile.  Then he decided to play hide and seek in the backyard with bubble blowing after that.  Michael decided he wanted to head to the "Duck Park."  So off we went.

Michael attracted a lot of ducks.  I don't think they are fed as much during the winter.  Michael actually was a little nervous because they were coming right up to him and were getting aggressive.

There were some beautiful swans out there as well.  We steered clear of them, they are meaner than the ducks.  Did I mention that it is snowing out here and it was COLD!!!!  

One of our favorite toys at the park.  Do you notice that NO ONE else was there.  I think we saw maybe 6 other people and they were all walking dogs.  We were the only crazy ones out there playing.

Hamster wheel - Michael made me get on it and try it.  I love the dirt that goes over you and onto your head.

Michael grooving to his own music!!  I love it!!!  After the duck park we headed to get some lunch.  Michael wanted to play some cards while we were there - it was Trash this time.  Great game!!!  Then David and AJ met up with us and the boys headed over to karate practice for three hours.  They are getting ready for the tournament at the end of February.  After all the exercise that they did they still wanted to go to the gym with Daddy and work out.

So David took them to the gym and took them through a crossfit kids WOD (workout of the day).  Here they are doing box jumps.

Here they are working on their sit-ups and burpees.   They did this rotation for eight minutes "straight" as AJ puts it!!  They had heard their dad talk about it for so long they wanted to try.  They did a great job too!!!  You would think after all the activity they would be tired out, but not our kids.

Mom didn't want to cook that night, so out to dinner we went.  The boys weren't upset at all about this.  :-)  And of course a family game of Swap!

My precious boys!!!  They really love each other and take care of each other.  There are times they get on each other's nerves, but all in all they are wonderful brothers!!!  I am so proud to call them my sons!!  It was a great day and the boys said they would love to do it again!

Pinewood Derby Time!!!

On Saturday, January 24th, we had our annual pinewood derby.  This is the first one that Michael has raced as a scout.  

The boys designed their own cars and did everything except the initial cutting of the cars.  They decided what shape, what paint, stickers, etc.  Both boys wanted to do a Seahawk theme for their cars.  Of course we said yes!!!

The cars all checked in and ready to go.  Pinewood derby is very specific on the dimensions, weight, etc.  If you are off on anything your car is disqualified.

The Bears had opening ceremony duties bringing in the flag and saying the pledge, etc.

Michael and I ready to get the race started.  So they had a little hiccup with the computer program.  It didn't work at all.  So David and I ended up running the show.  Which ended up really well for us because instead of being there till 6 pm like always it was over by 2:30 pm.  Everybody was excited about that!!

Michael wasn't feeling real well on Saturday, so he wasn't his normal happy self.  The next day he was running a temp of 102.8, so I can understand why he wasn't up to par.

Michael's car heading down the track way in the lead!!!

AJ's car getting ready to head down the track!!!

He was getting interviewed about his car and also was able to start the race.

Both boys did excellent!!!  AJ took 2nd place in his den by .0005 of a second.  It was really, really close.  By being 2nd in his den he is able to go to districts and go against all the scouts in the area.  AJ wants to supe up his car for the district race in March.

Skiing - day 2

Since everybody wanted to go skiing we were up early and packed up the whole car since we were heading home that afternoon so we could watch the Seahawks in the NFC championship game.  We woke up to a beautiful sunrise and blue sky!!!

I couldn't help but take some pictures as we headed up to the ski area.  This is before the sun was really up, but I do love snow on the trees!!!

You can see the sun peaking out on the top of the mountain over there.

I was getting really excited with the weather the way it was.  Yesterday was great, but really foggy and this day looked to be epic!!!

As we were heading up to the ski area the boys looked at the snow and saw it sparkling!!  They were sooooooo excited!!!  They were almost giddy,  I was smiling from ear to ear!!!

Look at that big smile and the blue sky behind Michael.  He was ready to go and went to the top of the drag lift no problem!!!!

My boys so happy to be up on the slopes!!!!

You can see the snow blowers were still going full force, but it wasn't as bad today since there wasn't other snow fall and fog.  They are beginning to look like pros!!!

They are ready to take on the drag lift again!!!  Michael wasn't even flinching about going up to the top of the drag lift today!

David is doing really well on the snowboard!!

Off the boys go into the sun!!!!

They decided it was time for a rest!!  :-)  Either that or they were just waiting for their dad to get up the lift.  :-)

AJ and I at the top of the drag lift!!!  Look at that vitamin D coming down on our face!!!!

Today you can see all across the valley, it was a beautiful sight!!!!

David getting the drag lift and the snowboarding!!!!

David and I - so much fun skiing!!!  It was great!!!  There were no stops this morning, Michael skied the whole time like the rest of us!!!

It was time for lunch, by 11:30 we were all hungry and wanted to beat the ski school crowd.  We were lucky today and were able to get a table all our own.  David and AJ - aren't they so handsome?!?  I think so!!!

Me with my Michael!!!!  We enjoyed our lunch and AJ was the first one done and wanted to get back on the slopes fast!

I had to get a picture of me going up the drag lift!  :-)

David wanted to go up the chair lift to take a run once, so up we went!!!

At the top was a tower we could climb if we wanted, but we were more into the skiing!!!

Over on the next hill top so some para-skiers.  It looked pretty fun!

So Michael said he was done skiing and ready to sled and that was totally fine.  But AJ wanted to ski one last time with me and David mentioned me taking him up the chair lift.  Michael said he was afraid, but he would like to try.  Unfortunately David wanted to be done. I can't take up two beginning skiers so he had to come with me.  Michael and Daddy on the chair lift to the top of the mountain!!!

AJ and myself heading up the lift!!!

The boys at the top of the hill!!!!  They both did great getting on and off the chair lift!!!  I was so proud of them!!!  Everybody made it down the hill in one piece!!  Then Michael decided he was still a little scared but wanted to do it one more time.  So up the chair lift we went again.   

Then we headed over to the sledding hill, we took off ski boots and put on snow boots.

This gives you a little idea of the ski area, we are over on the sledding hill and the ski area is beyond the orange fence.  You can see the fog was starting to roll in again.

Michael at the top of the hill starting his slide!

AJ's turn on the blue sled - it was much, much, much faster than the other one!

Michael coming down on the other sled, it wasn't as fast, but still fun.  They had a great time sledding as well!!  We were all pretty tired at the end of the day and headed back home.  It was a much quicker ride home and we were able to get everything unpacked and settled before the game started.  It was another wonderful weekend and everybody is ready to go back on the slopes!!!!