YSA SNOW DAY

Big C took his ward up Fairview Canyon yesterday to play in the snow. It was kind of a small turn out, but I think everyone had a good time. My kids sure did. 

C Man driving Princess P.

I brought the kids up too and we snowmobiled, ate hamburgers and hot dogs, took the college kids tubing and just enjoyed a lovely, sunny day on the mountain.

Some of the YSA kids.

DON'T LET THE SNOWMOBILE DRIVE YOU

We went up on the mountain today to play in the snow, but it wasn't very cooperative. I took C Man out to do some skiing in the trees (where there would hopefully be some powder), but it was bullet hard. Quote from C Man: "Mom, I didn't even leave any tracks." So that venture was short-lived. We ended up back at the truck and the rest of the snowmobiles and decided to go for a ride.

C Man, Big C, Princess P on top of Skyline Drive.

Bullet hard snow is good for one thing- snowmobiling. Especially if you aren't very good at it -- like me. I really struggle with getting the machine to do what I want it to and not the other way around. I have wrecked and fallen off the things and gotten stuck more times than I can count. It's true- I suck at driving snowmobiles.

C Man, Princess P and ME! On top the world- the view is amazing from up here!

So, back to the bullet hard snow... It's great for me because then I don't get the machine stuck at least. I'm still a chicken about trying to climb super steep hills, but I actually did okay. I only fell off once and I only told Big C I hated him once. Overall, not too bad (in retrospect). I did learn not to follow my husband everywhere he leads. My skills are just not up to it, but I made it back in one piece and lived to tell about it.

Elder D with friends and his uncle up Fairview too.

WINTER SPORTS

Winter in Utah lasts a L O N G time. You've got to have something to do to get out of the house! I don't know what I would do if I didn't get out regularly, probably develop depression. Being outside in the winter helps SO much!

C Man, SIL J, Elder D getting ready to shred 'Walkers' in Fairview Canyon.

My cute niece is learning to snowboard and do great! What a cutie!

KNOTTY BEAR CABIN FOR NEW YEARS

Big C got online one morning a few weeks ago and reserved a cabin at Eagle Point for us for New Year's! It is kind of out of character for him, so I was very proud of him. (He's not one to vacation much and he's definitely opposed to spending money- at all).  We invited all of his family and most of them came. We crammed in and had a great few days together. It was such a fun way to end our Christmas Break.

Big C and our B and SIL.

We got there New Year's Day and spent the first two day skiing at Eagle Point. The snow was great and it wasn't too cold. 

Me and Big C getting ready to go ski.

My boys! C Man, Elder D, Awesome A and Big C.

The girl cousins, skiing! Miss G, Miss A and Princess P.

Lots of the family!

Hot tubbing was a huge hit!

The beautiful cabin we stayed in- Knotty Bear Cabin.

CHRISTMAS DAY- LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR

I struggle with our Christmas Day traditions. The whole day just seems SO LONG! We have to stay up at the Barn with everyone on top of each other and find something to do. After all the stress and lack of sleep from the day before, it would be great to relax, but I just can't do it at the barn with everybody there. I'd much rather be at home, but I'm always out-voted so we stay.

The kids lining up on the stairs.

Girls opening gifts from Santa!

Sister S got some snow pants, a straightener, and a book by Alex Honnold (her latest crush). Princess P got a purple cello!

Boys opening gifts from Santa.

Elder D got a laptop, Awesome A got a digital music mixer, and C Man got new ski clothes.

Everyone playing with their new gifts.

It snowed last night, so the boys went out and enjoyed building jumps and pulling each other behind the snowmobile for speed. They had a good time.

The boys in the field building a jump for their rail so they can snowboard/ski.

The wind was even blowing a little, so Big C was able to kite a little.

Big C laying out his kite so he can get some wind action.

Loading up to finally go home!

THE ELUSIVE TREE

I struggle more and more with trying to go find a Christmas tree every year. I hate it. I don't like the search (especially now that none of the kids ever want to come anymore), I don't like putting the lights on the #@*$ thing either, and I really don't like the arguments that Big C and I have over it every year! I am ready for a fake, pre-lit tree that I can put together in minutes and just decorate. Is that so wrong?

Princess P and me with the tree, such as it is.

This year's tree is just as bad as all of them have been in the past. One sided and scrawny with limp branches that can't hold up ornaments. It is also the prickliest tree I have ever been stabbed by. We keep getting the needles stuck in our feet! Yikes! That's new, even for us.

You can tell with this shot how lopsided the tree is. It is definitely one sided. 

We took the snowmobiles this year since there was lots of snow and only three of us. It worked out alright until Big C wrecked his snowmobile. Oops!

Princess P and her snow angel skills are amazing!

SNOW BOY/ ART BOY

I have a snow-obsessed son in my house. Well, all of them are pretty excited for winter to start, but Elder D is especially excited. He's missed snow and particularly snowboarding for the last two years on his mission in England. He said it never snowed while he was there. It just rained and rained and rained (I think he was there for some record flooding). Anyway, it started to snow this afternoon and he was out there in it between classes. He just couldn't resist! He built a huge snowman and the snow was so heavy and wet that it collapsed, but he was still thrilled! Now it just needs to start piling up in the mountains so he can really put it to good use! haha!

My 21 year old son! Happy as a kid!

He's also an art major at Snow College and I am so impressed with what he is doing. I love that I have children that are artists! Even if they don't end up doing that for their occupations, I just know how much art enriches your life and I am so happy that my children see that too.

A boy and his drawing. (Yes, he does wear flannel everyday).

BOYS WILL SKI

Awesome A took a backcountry ski class this year through Snow College. He had a great time and learned quite a bit too.

Friend C and Awesome A

Friend C and Awesome A.

Awesome A and C-Man both got season passes to Park City this year. The snow was absolutely pathetic this year, but they still had a great time and definitely got their money's worth out of it. 

C-Man

C-Man

FAIRVIEW PLAY DAY

We actually took a half day off yesterday and went up in the mountains to play in the snow. We haven't had any substantial new snow in months, so we knew the conditions wouldn't be great. It was just a chance to get outside and soak in some sunshine. 

Princess P and Little C take a break in the snow.

Princess P and I went for a snowmobile ride over to Huntington Res and then came back to where Sister S and Little C were building a jump.  

Sister S catches some air off their jump.

Princess P and Sister S drive Little C up the hill so he can try it.

Little C takes some of that air for himself.

After a little while, we went to find Big C on his kite. The wind wasn't huge, but he managed to have a good time. He's still feeling the effects of broken ribs, so he hasn't been going much this year.

That's a man and his kite. A love affair to last the years... haha!

Even with broken ribs, he can still pull off some pretty awesome tricks on that kite!

YSA WARD ACTIVITY & FAMILY FUN

Big C's ward had a snow day activity up Fairview yesterday, so we all went up there with them. It was a little chillier than the week before, but still nice. Big C brought the trailer with a heater in it and his first counselor had made soup and there were donuts and hot chocolate. It was pretty plush.

Friends- M, N, Little C.

Bishop Big C was thrilled to teach some of his students to fly his kite and some of them were willing to learn. Only girls showed up, but some of them were very gung ho about it. 

Big C giving instructions to members of his ward. Some of them got dragged through the snow, but they loved it.

Sister S was home again this weekend for a funeral, so we played games tonight and had a good time. We love the game Headbands.

Sister S got Darth Vader and guessed it within 4 or 5 guesses. We are a Star Wars family!

Gotta have treats! Rhode's Rolls rock!

SUNNY FAIRVIEW DAY

 It was a Fairview Day yesterday. We were going to go up to the little resort area, but it was so nice and calm up on top that we stayed up there. There was no wind and the sun was beaming! 

Princess P and me!

 Big C broke some ribs the other day and he's kind of out of commission (for him), so he and I drove snowmobile shuttle for the kids. They got some pretty good powder runs through the tree up there and Big C even had the two older ones dropping cornices! Crazy kids- and Dad!

Sister S and Princess P in the trees.

Princess P, Little C and Sister S

It was so warm that the kids started complaining that they were hot! We have been having some VERY warm January weather lately. I have mixed feelings about it. I know we need the snow and water, but I love the mild temperatures!

Family pic!

My hiking buddy, A, came up and we went snowshoeing out Skyline Drive. It was a beautiful view and a great workout.

Up on top of a huge cornice and you can't even tell.

MAPLE CANYON ICE

Sister S had a visitor from her mission to Florida and he had never seen snow before (he's from Jamaica originally) so we decided to take him to Maple Canyon to see all the ice falls. We wanted to see them too. I'd never been to Maple Canyon in the winter.

Sister S, Me, and Florida S.

We hiked the short little hike up box canyon. It's a fun, short, simple hike and very fun. It was beautiful with the ice and snow.

Nature is amazing!

Ice fall

Car selfie

I got my poor little car stuck. Big C was very unhappy about having to come get us, but we tried to get it out for almost an hour. It was't one of my finest driving moments...

My poor, stuck little car.