Montana, Big Sky

We went on a skiing trip. We got to ski for THREE whole days! It was awesome and great that it took us so long to get down the mountain. We were able to ski Big Sky and Moonlight Basin. Big Sky has the biggest skiing in America, and I know exactly why. Poor Thing 1 was definitely tired by the end of his runs. Every night he went into the hot tub and wore himself out even more. Thing 1 is also the reason for this title. Every time he talks about our trip it's not "Big Sky, Montana", nope this little boy proudly says "Montana, Big Sky." Yes, we have tried to correct him, but he says it with such gusto, that I don't want to correct him. This was our last trip of the season. We did more than just ski though.

This was the view we had from the deck and hot tub.

 

 

Aunt D and Uncle J. I was excited to get a shot of the two of them together. 

Daddy! He's improved so much since he first started skiing. Not only that he truly enjoys going, which for me was a huge plus!

I told you that skiing wasn't the only thing that we did. We had a snow ball fight too!

Uncle J didn't want to miss out on this opportunity, and I don't blame him. Thing 1 came up shortly thereafter and for the rest of his runs he was throwing snowballs at one person or another. 

Thing 1 at the terrain park. The terrain park was perfect for Thing 1, very mild and no worries about him falling back after going off a box that was too big for him. 

The time we spend with Thing 2 out in the snow just outside the condo was mostly spent sledding. 

It rained on this particular day so the snow was soaking wet. There was so much snow that Thing 2 mostly crawled around while Mommy laughed. He was giggling the whole time and we had a blast. 

There were ski bridges used to go over the roads to get to different runs. The condo we stayed in was classified as a ski-in-ski-out condo because you put your skis on as soon as you got outside and went to the chair lifts. Well these little bridges made for a great sledding hill for our boys.

This is how they rode down. Thing 2 on top of Thing 1. They laughed the whole way down once we got the snow compacted a little bit. 

Daddy hauling Thing 2 up the bridge because it was hard work.

The one time we made the boys come up on their own and push up the tube. Thing 1 took quite a few breaks towards the top. 

The beautiful condominium we were able to stay in. 

And of course there was finally a shot of Mommy skiing down the hill too. On this day there was three fresh inches of powder. The only problem was that it was icy underneath after the rain the day before. We had a blast!

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!