Pinewood Derby

A lot has been going on here. A LOT. But I can't really post much about it just yet...so let's just say John has officially resigned from his job, effective the beginning of May. Big changes are going on in our household! 

In the midst of the changes, life carries on. We are going on vacation SOON! My brother & his family are coming to visit even sooner! The boys have their last swimming lesson (for now) on Saturday. They will be starting parkour in a few weeks after a very successful trial class. 

The boys at parkour

And then the ever-present cub scouts. The #1 favorite activity for the big kid. Kid #2 is ecstatic to start next year. Last night was pinewood derby. Preston designed and did most of his car by himself. John helped with the logistics, but I was so proud of Preston for how hard he worked on it. He made it to the finals for his pack! I think he ended up somewhere around 6-7th place or so? Either way, he was pumped to make it to the finals! He's a pretty competitive kid so I was hoping he would understand that he did WELL to make it so far, and I was glad that he was excited about it. He also earned his wolf badge last night, so he'll be moving up to bears next year. Good job, Preston! 

And he's already begun planning out his car for next year!

(His car is in the lane closest to him)

There it goes! 

So Little Time

So many things going on, so little time to blog about them!

Where to even start...

We re-sided our house! We are still waiting on one window, and we need to paint the trim, but that is obviously not happening since the weather outside is very un-Spring-like. 

And on that note, we just spontaneously booked a vacation! We were planning to go next Fall, but for various reasons that is probably not going to happen, so we're going on a cruise! We went last March and had an amazing time...hopefully we will repeat that. I can't wait. And every day, I have to give the countdown to the boys who are bouncing off the walls excited. They had so much fun in the kid's club last time that they can't wait to go back. Sadly, I think they are counting on their favorite person working there and they might be a bit disappointed when they realize new boat = new kid's club employees. 

Otherwise, birthday parties:

Lost teeth...

A little dental work...

Lots of time in the snow...

And rainbow loom messes...

John was gone this weekend (working in Boise), so I've been trying to keep the boys busy which is difficult considering it "feels like -6" according to my phone. And I would agree - it's COLD. The snow is currently falling, and blowing horizontal as it does. Good thing I have a warm weather vacation to look forward to!

Is it Spring yet?

No. No it's not. 

Instead it's currently dumping snow on us. I thought things were taking a turn for the better after our negative temperatures/highs in the single digits, but instead we have low 20's and snow. Ugh. Not sure which I'd prefer, but I'm definitely not a fan of either one! Give me 80 degrees and sunny all year round please! Or at least above freezing. I'd take that at this point.

6 weeks until Spring, right? I can make it!

Oregon just had a huge snow storm (well huge for Oregon), and I was reminded of why I used to like snow and now despise it. In Oregon, everything shuts down. People enjoy the snow because it comes maybe once a year (maybe!), and only lasts for a few days. Here? School and work go on like normal, even with 3 feet of snow on the ground. Ice? Deal with it. Temperatures that feel like -30 with windchill? It's okay, just keep the kids inside during recess (yes, this happened all last week...I felt so sorry for the teachers!).

But enough complaining. For now. And a few pictures to liven things up!

Monster jam!

Swimming lessons...B has now learned to take breaths while swimming, and Arch can swim the width of the pool (no breaths yet). Preston is working on perfecting a few different strokes. I'm so proud of them & impressed at the crazy progress they have made since we started in September!

Under the Weather

My poor littlest boy has been under the weather today. I feel fortunate that we haven't had much sickness in our family this winter (or really, any winter), but occasionally a boy (or two or three) gets a little run-down, and that was Arch today. He's been running a fever and his little body aches. He has been voluntarily relaxing on the couch which is completely unheard of for him! He even took a few little naps! 

Ender was pretty concerned about him. She couldn't figure out why he wasn't playing with her, and she ended up resigning herself to napping on the floor next to him. Really, I think she was probably just irritated at the lack of attention! 

Ski Day

The snow has finally arrived. It showed up Tuesday night and has been dumping constantly ever since. Obviously I am not a snow girl, but my boys have been beyond excited. John happened to have today off work, so we decided to let the boys skip school for a ski day. 

They woke up ridiculously early (before 6!) so we got an early start. I made it up the "big lift" (and back down obviously!) twice, which was a big accomplishment for me. B & Arch did a kids program for a few hours, and P took a lesson with me while John got some skiing time in. Overall, a good day! I still panic occasionally, but I'm having fun surprisingly. 

Yay! Excited for a family day!

Lunch break

Cutie boy ready to go back out!

School

I can't believe it's already the end of January! Before I know it, the school year will be over. P & B are both loving school this year which helps it feel like it's flying by. I am so thankful that both of their teachers have been amazing, and Preston's teacher especially seems to "get" him. 

I intended to blog about their school stuff occasionally, but I've been pretty lax about it. Well, today they both did some pretty fantastic schoolwork that I thought was blog worthy! 

Here is Preston's...all about the color cerulean!

And B's homework assignment was to research a country & write a few sentences about it. I helped a bit with the spelling (I mean really, what kindergartener can spell Lithuania??), but otherwise he chose what to write and draw.

And sort of related to schoolwork...here is the cute little pup in the spot she has claimed for school drop off & pick up.

I tried to keep her off the seat, but she would have none of it!

The Bunny Hill

I conquered the bunny hill yesterday skiing. It has been over 12 years since I have attempted to ski. John was just teaching me to ski when he blew out his knee for the first time, and when I finally got up the guts to go again after his recovery, I got hit by a snowboarder who was totally out of control. So needless to say, I have avoided it. I said I was never going to ski again, but I was wrong. I did it! 

John talked me into taking a lesson, and after the morning "beginner lesson" with 14+ other people and only one instructor, I had basically learned to put my skis on. Thankfully John asked why there were so many students, and they said there shouldn't be that many in a class and offered an afternoon class to me. I was hesitant (didn't want to waste more time!), but I ended up being the only student in the class! I was cruising down the bunny hill in no time. :)

The boys were my little cheerleaders. They were cruising up and down the hill (lapping me of course) and cheering me on every time they saw me. The instructor (who has grandkids) loved it and gave me lots of advice about parenting as well as skiing. Two for one deal!

I have 2 lessons left to go, and while I don't think skiing will ever be my "thing" like it is for John & at least some of the boys, I am hoping that I'll be able to keep up with them (for the next couple of years anyway)!

Me waving to a boy on the lift

John & the little guys on the lift

Arch after a wipe out!

And when we got home we were all EXHAUSTED! We crashed out on the couch & headed to bed super early!