I grew up in Colorado, which is famous for it's winters and winter sports.

I live in Utah, which is famous for IT'S winters and winter sports.  Famous enough that the Winter Olympics was even hosted here the year we got married.

But over the years, I have not done a whole lot of enjoying winter or winter sports.

Mostly because A) I really, really dislike being cold, and growing up I always felt cold, and B) Since moving to Utah I have had little babies who would get sick during the winter and we would be homebound.

It got to the point where I would literally shiver thinking about the long, dreary winter ahead, and feeling I would be resigned to the inside of my house during those months. 

But this year, I realized perhaps I wouldn't dislike winter as much if I would just get out and enjoy the fun to be had during it.  After all, there is sledding, snowman-making, hot cocoa, and for heaven's sake, we live 20 minutes from a bunch of ski resorts!  So many fun, active things for our family to enjoy.  Trev and I decided it was time to start making enjoying (as opposed to enduring) winter a priority.

So we started out sledding and playing in the snow A LOT.











We tried lots of different sledding hills and there became a constant pile of wet snow gear constantly drying by my fireplace.

Hot cocoa mugs were in constant rotation through my dishwasher.  



Morgan even decided to go here to ice skate for her birthday party:  (more on that later)



But the biggest leap we took to enjoy winter this year was to get our kids learning how to ski!

We haven't done this in the past because it was so expensive, but in Utah, January is Learn to Ski month.  So all the resorts have great deals for kids to come and learn.  We signed up, took M&J out of school, and Trev took the day off of work to stay home with our little girls.  It was seriously the best day ever!  I took a snowboarding class and the M&J did ski school up at the Canyons Resort in Park City.









It was super sunny and warm out that day...just the way I like it!  For a girl who hates the cold, this was excellent.

M&J picked up skiing so fast I was amazed!  I already knew how to snowboard but gleaned a bunch of helpful tips that made me so much better.

Maybe now I can actually keep up with Trev when we go.  Which we plan to do a lot more of. :)





I even made a few new friends in my class!  



I got to check in with Morgan and Jake at lunch and make sure they were having as much fun as I was.  They were. :)




After lunch, I decided to split from my class and go put my new found knowledge to good use.  Plus I was able to get a bird's eye view of my kids really hitting the slopes.

The other day, M&J came home and informed me it was the 100th day of school.  I thought, "wow, seriously?!"  How can we already be that far into the school year???

It has been nothing but nuts around since it started...maybe that is why I hadn't noticed it flying by so fast.  

They also told me it was also Red Ribbon week, which used to be a Drug Awareness program, but is now a Anti-Bullying campaign.  Both are great causes, and both have the same fun themed days.  I remember this as a kid and I love seeing my littles enjoying it as well - along with learning some great principles.

Here they are a few years ago on Crazy Hair day:




 Here they are this year dressed in digs from decades past:




I even sported a sweet new-do of my own:



Although this one I think I will have to do more. :)  LOVED it!

As I was reflecting on these fun school things I realized I never even posted the pictures from kids first day of school this year.  Woops. :)

So here they are, all gussied up and ready for the first day of school and showing what grade they are in.








Trev takes them on First Day of School breakfast dates to Kneaders and then brings them back home so they can walk with their crew.  Until we went and switched them to Early Birds after couple weeks and now they walk alone.  Sad?




Man I adore these neighbor kids!

Here is Abby trying to charm Trev into taking her to breakfast too.  She gets her way with him a lot so I was a bit surprised she didn't this time.



As for Abby and Claire, I decided to do their preschool myself this year.  I was nervous but I am so glad I did.  We are doing more of a Joy School (www.valuesparenting.com) than preschool, but I am also trying to get them Kindergarten ready...which starts in August.  Holy Smokes!



We have had plenty of adventures together.  Such precious time with them.


























What a great school year it has been already for these guys.

Lucky kids. :)