A Night Out...

See. This is what my daughter really looks like when she is trying to use it to her advantage...(she was trying to earn brownie points with me and with the babysitter before we left!)
There is this new restaurant/ice cream shop that just opened right around the corner that is also owned by a friend of ours. We heard that the food was really good and that the ambiance was even better so we had to go and give some support. Too funny that the name of it is "Spanky's"...

I always get a hard time about the way that I "tilt" my head whenever I am taking a picture. I don't mean to. It just happens. It has always been that way. This is my "straightest head" pose and it was definately a concious effort! :) Sorry. I like the "tilt"...

...my sis in law Ashlee (who is pregnant by the way...CONGRATS! it's their first) & my sis Jenny...

Ok drumroll!...There is a funny story behind these pictures. I am having the cement worked on in the back where the ramp is and it was drying so we needed to go in and out through the front door. As I was being wheeled backwards up the steps and through the front door, my boot started to come off my foot. I knew what was happening...not a big deal but right at that moment Jenny, who was ahead of me, noticed what had happened and yelled in pure panic at the top of her lungs. I knew why she was screaming but I was laughing too hard to de-freak her out! She was 110% sure that my ankle and foot had been broken in half!

I'm sorry but way too funny. I was laughing so, so hard and she was FREAKING OUT!!! We couldn't even say one word to calm her down. It was all perfect timing and a perfect ending to "one of those" nights!

The Park City Ice Arena

Because of my dealings with The National Ability Center, I found out about a tournament that they were holding up at the Park City Ice Arena for The Utah Sled Hockey team. I thought that it would be a fun activity for the kids to see so we headed up...

It was really interesting to watch. The way that they block and play defense is similar to that of Wheelchair Basketball. You would think that I would be a Hockey fan having grown up in Canada but NOPE. Not at all. I'm glad that we went and that the kids were able to see it but I'm not a fan. Sorry....

I had to put this picture in because look at my sister Jenny and her flighty obnoxious photo poses when she was a child...(notice the camera that was constantly at my side!?!)

...and then look at my daughter! It kills me! She thinks that she is so funny...and it is but come on. Really? Every picture? Too "I don't know what" but something! :)

Some Of Our January So Far....

Growing up, our family was big into "game nights" but as we got older, the tradition slowly faded away. Why I don't know seeing how competitive our family is. So we were all surprised when the boys brought out the "Bop It" game idea at Christmas. It got even more old school after that! Two of our favorite strategic games were "Risk" and "Crokinole" so we decided to pull those out as well. We've had a few family game nights since and boy do they get CLASSIC! There have been some pretty tense games that include "the pout in the corner", "the slamming of the fist down on the table","the alliance", "the trying to manipulate the numbers to win", etc.etc. Like I said...CLASSIC and hilariously awkward at times.....
You can't expect Carter to let the neighbors ride by without conniving a way to get on as well...

He had so much fun...

Kindra and Carter had this "PLAN" to build a snow fort. But this was not to be just any snow fort. It was going to be an IGLOO snow fort. Poor Michael got suckered in to coming down to help them. I tried to warn them that it was not cold enough to build an igloo but there was no stopping them :)

Yes. This is Michael attacking the fort with shovels full of snow...

This is as good as they got but thankfully they were still happy...

Remember "The Secret Garden"? If not. Look here, here, and here....

Carter was bound and determined that he was going to use this small hill as his snowboarding "practice hill". It was so funny watching him as I sat in the car. Not so funny when it took me 20 minutes to get out of the driveway that had never been plowed or shoveled. Yeah you know I had my phone in hand, 10 seconds away from dialing AAA Road Services to come and get me out! :) I'm serious!

Oh yeah. Notice that Kindra is nowhere to be found? Uh huh. She was sitting beside me in the WARM car. She was so over it!

Now to the massive hill at Evergreen Park

Carter begged Kindra to take a run with him and she finally gave in...

Kindra got stuck riding the crap sled so it was no surprise when after she "almost hit the tree", she gave up, and came back to the WARM car...

See that big group of "big kids" and see my Carter. They were trying to tell him that he was not big enough to sled there and that they were not going to let him go down. Well...he did anyway and then made his way back to the car and then burst into tears. I was furious! Those are the times when I get pissed that I need a wheelchair to get around because I would have gone right over there and yelled! I know. I know. It's bound to happen but as a parent you never really WANT it to happen. I was so proud of Carter though that he completely ignored their obnoxiousness and just did it anyway. We had to have a talk about WHO it is that can really tell you what to do or what not to do. We had to talk about being smart about who it is that you listen to and about not easily giving in when people tell you to give up or that you can't do it. Still. It broke my heart to see him so upset. Then we talked about being kind, friendly, loving, honest...you know...all of those things that "bullies" are obviously ignoring or that they are not learning! BOOOOOOO to them :)

I swear that if a perfect stranger looked in to the activities that Carter chooses to do, they would report me and accuse me of breaking the child labor laws!

Carter wanted to go out and shovel the walk. When he was gone longer than 10 minutes, I looked outside and this is what I found....Carter slowly breaking and chipping away the ice. Are you serious? Where did he come from???

I love this kid! :) Just as much as I love my Kindra who sits in the WARM car with me! :)

Creepity Creep.......

It's OFFICIAL! I was just informed from my good virtual friend J, that today (ok. i'm a few days late!) is "De-Lurker Day"! So come on. Spare me the excuses of why it is that you don't say hi. It's always nice to know and to meet who's out there...right?!? Like I said. Come on. Just for funny?

Either way if you choose to or don't, (which I hope that you do) atleast I now know that there is an actual day to meet you lurkers! hehehe :)

Another Movie Night...

GO SEE THIS MOVIE...and make sure to laugh again for me at the bachelorette/stripper dance scene! So perfect...We just got back from an all girls sister retreat to the opening night and had a blast and what a perfect way to let the guys do their own thing since a "bride" movie is the last thing that they want to sit thru so?...we're all happy!

It did bring out some good points about relationships whether they are marriage/friendships that endure the trials, hardships, misunderstandings, and confusions of life. It caused me to reflect hard on those that I have kept strong as well as those that I have pride-fully let get away from me...and those?...I do wish that I could bring a few of them back but maybe there's still hope. We'll see? Who knows.

Anyway girls...mark this on your calendar because it's one that I would see again and it's one that I would definitely NOT miss! :)

Such a good time!

Con-chu-la???

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine about the "horrors" of marriage so when I found these, I could not pass up posting them! My friend (no names on this one) is still in her first year of marriage so the bumps have not yet passed. Soon my friend......soon? To all of those that are in the same boat? Remember that the grass IS NOT any greener on the other side! :) We ALL have issues whether we are married or not! But still. Relationships? Way too awesome and fun to pass up, huh?!?

Thanks to Annabelle who introduced me to these over at "someecards.com". There are some pretty good ones! :)