So long winter!

The weather here in Southeast Idaho has been very mild this winter. It's been really surprising to us. Of course we went skiing this year as family, and I haven't shared a picture from this season, so I have a few pictures and a couple of videos. 

This was the last day that Kelly Canyon was open for the season. It has gotten very warm (50 degrees Fahrenheit) and has been melting the snow like crazy. It was slushy at first, but towards the end of the night it became icy. I grew up on those kind of conditions, so it didn't bother me at all. It was a beautiful night to go skiing and we had a ton of fun. 

I think this picture is kind of cool, I think it shows just how fast Thing 1 is going. Do you know how hard it is to keep up with him going backwards and getting a picture of him with a camera your not familiar with? You try it sometime!!! :)

There were a couple of times that he decided he needed a rest and would just collapse and lie down on his back. What the really funny part was when he would roll onto his belly and slide down like a penguin giggling and laughing all the way. He did it long enough at the end that some people on the chair lifts were laughing because he was being so goofy.

Thing 1 no longer skis with an edgie wedgie (basically a tether that ties the tips of the skis together to force a snow plow), and he does awesome. He really wanted to use his poles this year, but he wasn't quite ready for them. I think next will be his year for poles. Here is some video of him skiing. This first run was at the beginning of the evening skiing and obviously he was still warming up. I'm proud to say that sometimes and of course unknowingly Thing 1 does parallel turns. It's so exciting! He also took The Face on again this year. Without his harness or edgie wedgie, and he did fantastic! My little man is going to be an amazing skier. 

I know this video is dark, but it is of one of his best runs of the night. Love it!

 

We have one more ski trip planned with Daddy's family for the end of March, and we are VERY excited about it. I will post more pictures after we come back from it.

Valentine's fun

In preparation for some Valentine's Day cards from Things 1 and 2 I set up two different backdrops that I used for their pictures which you can see at my photo site. The day that I set up for Thing 2's pictures was the day that I drove for preschool and I hadn't torn down yet. Thing 1 and his friend wanted their pictures taken and I let them set up pretty much any way they wanted because I wanted them to be themselves. These are the pictures I got. 

Thing 2 had so much more fun with his big brother and friend. Thing 1 loved having Thing 2 on his back for the pictures. I think we'll have to try it again sometime. 

More pictures to come on my photo blog of Thing 2's Valentine shoot.

The new year

I'm going to do better about this, just be patient with me. At least I'm posting once a month. Having Thing 1 attend preschool is making a little easier to post, but at the same time I think of things that need to be done while he's gone. And Thing 2 is of course very demanding. So here's some fun stuff from January. 

Things 1 and 2 are awesome friends. Thing 1 was making his bed and laid down on it and Thing 2 decided to join him. They adore each other. Yes, they get frustrated, upset and angry at each other, but you can see how much fun they have together. 

Thing 2 copycat's Thing 1 regularly, and Thing 1 loves it. Especially when they sit back against a wall. 

 Thing 2 is even worse with technology than his big brother. I had left my laptop on the table and he climbed right up to it and started punching buttons. I know you can't see it in this picture, but he was even kicking and swinging his little legs just having a ball.

I didn't quite get into the bathroom in time, but originally his chin was down on his hands on the side of the tub. He's pretty cute.

Thing 1 has a really good friend in the neighborhood and they are at one house of the other at least twice a week for a good portion of the day. As their moms we really enjoy it because they entertain each other and we're able to get a few things done.  One day I went in the basement and I couldn't find them at first sight. I found them covered in stuffed animals (or "pets" as they call them) on a big bean bag.

Until they poked their heads out, they weren't visible. The little hams!

Thanksgiving

I skipped a few months I know. I figured I would get some semi-recent pictures of my Things up. I'm going to be back-posting here in the next little while. So, here we go.

We've been carrying on a tradition with Daddy's family that we really enjoy. Even Thing 1likes it. We go shooting. I'm not talking about photo shooting, I'm talking the the big bang with rifles, shotguns, and handguns (can't forget the BB gun either). A good portion of Daddy's family likes to go shooting, so before the big meal, we shoot in the morning. It was actually nice and we didn't freeze.

Grandpa was shooting the .22 pistol with Thing 1. Don't worry he had earplugs, and we are very safe with the guns. We believe in teaching our children about guns because we have and use them. Regardless of gender, all of our children will be taught to handle a gun.

This little BB was a bit better in size for Thing 1. It funny shooting in comparison to the big guns. 

Thing 1 ended up being the "Thrower", or as he calls it the "button guy". He sat down and pulled the lever to the clay pigeon thrower while either Daddy, Uncle J or I loaded it. He pulled the lever a few times for all of the shooters. This is Uncle R, he's an awesome shot.

Daddy with Thing 1 as the Thrower.

Thing 1 throwing for me.

He did it for Uncle J too.

This was at the end of the shooting. He was getting bored and needed some active play. Thing 1 missed Thing 2 as well, because he was with Grandma. Thing 1 will start coming when he's between three and four. Thing 1's nose wasn't even red, I was so happy with how warm it was.

After the big Thanksgiving meal; the Things and I went out with Aunt D and cousin S to play on the swing set.

Thing 1 loves getting height on this one!

Aunt D helped Thing 2 off the slide. It was awfully fast, but he loved it!

He loves the swing too, if that wasn't a look of joy, I don't know what is.