Snowy Weekend

We spent the first weekend of February with Creed's family in Canaan Valley, West Virginia, and took the boys skiing. While Caleb has been once a year since he was three, this was the first time that we were able to talk Luke into going. 

We left Friday afternoon after I got off work and the boys kept busy with Wii Mario Kart

and games on the Kindle.

Around 9pm I turned around and saw that Luke had put himself to sleep by covering his whole body with a blanket. The funny this is...he did this when he was a baby too! It's the only way he has ever slept in the car.

Saturday was a beautiful day and we lucked out with the best skiing conditions at Timberline that they have had this season. Caleb made a few runs with us while Luke did an hour private lesson. We figured it would take an instructor to get him out there and not let him quit. ;)

After we got Luke he was ready to hit the bunny slope with us, and thankfully, he had a good experience with his instructor, so he was happy. We lost his goggles during the ski rental process so sunglasses had to do. (His goggles turned up at the lost and found around lunchtime, which was great!)

Cousin Ava did an all day lesson, but we ran into her a few times. She had a blast and LOVED skiing, saying it was the best day ever.  She is also already planning another trip next winter.

Caleb & Ava

Caleb loves lunch in the lodge. :)

Caleb used poles for the first time this year and did great. Creed kept the reins on Luke and skied behind him, which gave Caleb and I time to really ski together. We worked on his turns and he improved more this year than ever. By the end of the day, I didn't have to stay right behind him but could give him space and just let him ski. It was awesome to watch his progression. 

With a 6+ hour drive home Sunday, we decided not to ski a second day but spend a few hours at a snow tubing park. It was SO SO much fun. We all had so much fun and laughed so hard. It was way more fun that any of us imagined.

Ava, Luke, & Caleb

I Got the Hook Ups

We will be so sad when he learns that they are really hiccups. :)

The Rest of January

January seemed to fly by this year, while normally it seems to drag. (Maybe the unseasonably warm weather helped?!!)

Earlier this month we had our foyer, hallways, and living room painted, so we had to say out of the house for a couple of days. I had a super cute lunch date both days! We sure love half-day kindergarten and our afternoons together!

Their school had a Fine Arts Showcase and all elementary students had their artwork displayed.

The boys started Upward basketball this month too. They are in different leagues, which means we spend hours at the gym Friday nights and Saturday mornings. :)

We took advantage of the warmer temperatures and walked across the Big Four Bridge one day.

The playground in Jeffersonville is always a hit.

Luke and Colin played school one afternoon. 

For his 100th day of school, Luke decorated his cape with 100 (green and orange- his favorite!) pom poms. He decided how he wanted it to look and told me where to squirt the glue!

He was begging to get the guinea pig for his birthday...um, No! We are at Feeder's Supply every single week as it is buying crickets for our anoles. No more pets in this house!

"Hi furry little dude!"

Shorts and sandbox play in January...yes!

Caleb's class led chapel on the 26th and he was the shepherd. He spent so much time memorizing his lines and he nailed them. His love of public speaking always amazes me. One kid was sick and Caleb even had so change up his lines the morning of!

I love Amazon Prime and my ability to not have to drive around and get things for a costume. And, something tells me this won't be the last time the boys need a costume like that for school. 

BrickUniverse

On January 7th, the boys and I spent all afternoon at BrickUniverse, a Lego fan convention. We walked around and saw incredible Lego displays, took part in Lego challenges, and did a bit of shopping. The boys just had to score some of the exclusive minifigs. ;)

One area was dedicated to World War II and the displays were incredible...

The challenges were fun too. We were given a theme and had to build something to represent that theme in five minutes. While our creations never won, we still had a blast!

Snow Day!

January 5th was our first snow day this school year!

 It was one of those days that they call school off before there was even a single snow flake...but by late morning, we had an inch or two.

That afternoon we took the boys outside to sled and play in the snow and they were crazy!

Little brother called it quits when he got too cold so we had some snuggle time warming up.

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas break and have all been a little sad to say goodbye to Betty, our elf, and see the tree and Christmas lights come down. (Setting our alarm clocks tonight will be the worse, though!)

Over break the boys decorated gingerbread houses

and made sugar cookies.

On the 22nd, we celebrated at Grandma Kathy's house. The boys had fun with their cousins Ava and baby Claire. 

On Christmas Eve-Eve we celebrated at Grandma and Grandaddy's house. One of the highlights of the night was everyone playing Caleb's "Pie Face" game. :)

On Christmas Eve we made two stops to celebrate with two sets of extended family, but I didn't take many pictures...which apparently was a theme for this Christmas. :(

The Hume cousins showed up with their ugly Christmas sweaters!

The family pictures are always a little awkward, as there are usually about 20 or so people watching in the foyer. 

Christmas morning came and the boys' smiles were priceless.

That evening we went to Daddy Joe's house to celebrate with the Fowler cousins. Luke and Reed had the best time playing together!

The next day we stayed home ALL DAY (except for a quick trip to Game Stop!) and the boys played. Since it was so nice they started on the mining sets they got in their stockings. 

The boys love having dinner and a movie in the playroom so they asked for TV trays for Christmas. They were so, so happy with such a simple, low key evening!

The next day PeePaw, Grandma Beth, Uncle Matt, and Hallie Girl came to town. We had two more Christmas celebrations, but I failed in taking anymore pictures.

We did go to Bardstown one afternoon to have lunch and shop, and Caleb decided to go with us. I had to take this picture, as he was just looking so grown up that day!

Our last celebration came on New Year's Day as we had the privileged of seeing our sweet cousin Caroline get baptized. We are so proud of her!