Mother's Day 2013

Oh, I just don't know if I can handle this cuteness!

After church on Mother's Day, we went home for naps (we are still at the age where going out to eat lunch is not really possible, or without tears... ).  Who needs a bed.  See above picture.  

Later that absolutely beautiful afternoon, Bruce, Silas, Avery, and I met Grace and Eleanor at the reservoir for a picnic!  We had so much fun and will certainly do that again soon!!  I can't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day:-)  (BIG SMILE.)

Avery: "Nel-nor... watch me land this tumbling pass!!"  Eleanor:  "Nah, catch ya next time..."

Avery:  "Ta-Da!!"     Eleanor:  "THIS way..."

Okay, hold your breath.  This is a framer. 

Sweet ladies.  Or, princesses, as Avery says.  (and she's right!)

 Eleanor was not afraid to lead the pack.  But Avery wasn't far behind...

Nor was Silas...

So sweet... (poor Eleanor!)  She is such a good sport!

Wow, we are blessed.  (I may or may not be holding/pulling one of mine close for the picture.)  Best Mother's Day yet!

This is May?!

The first week of May surprised us with quite the cold snap!  Silas and Avery loved one more hoorah with their warm sweatshirts and jackets... lest anyone keep them from playing outside!  

On another note, May surprised us again with these two - growing up WAY. TOO. QUICKLY.  Their first "program" was Thursday at their Mother's Day Out.  Just a minute, let me get a kleenex. (sniffle). 

"The wheels on the wagon go round and round..."   "Yee.....haw!"

"This is the way we pull up our boots, pull up our boots, pull up our boots...."

Poor little one in the middle was not a fan of the whole shebang.

They were all so cute... the older three-year-olds of course 'carried' the program and actually sang and danced while the older two year olds stood and marveled at parents smiling and dancing like idiots in the chairs in the audience.... too funny.  I wouldn't have missed out for the world.  

Recent Pictures

Last weekend, Silas, Avery, and I loaded up and spent Friday night and Saturday in Grenada with Mimi and Papaw (while Bruce was home in bed with the stomach virus... bleh).  Silas and Avery might have as well been in Disney World... enjoying every second planting flowers, spreading gravel, cleaning the lake house, you name it!  Here they are with Papaw on the tractor:

And rowing the boat.... (with beverages, of course)

What's better than a bicycle built for two??

My new favorite picture.  This. Is. Love.

So is this, of course.

Fun Weekend

Last weekend, we began the daunting task of "tidying up the yard" (much overdue...sorry neighbors).  Silas and Avery loved helping with the weeds:

Oh, and we began filling in the holes dug by bored Millie last year... with a little help:

There's no need for our alarm system at the moment... any intruder will certainly break their ankle before making it to our back door...

Ridgeland had their annual KidFest - how much fun!  We met some friends there and Silas and Avery loved all the animals, trains, carousel, sharks, you name it!  Here is the little cowgirl herself:

Cool Dude:

Oh, and Avery looked adorable in her mom's old Sunday dress!!  They just don't make them like Ancie K used to 30 years ago...  (props to Mimi on her preservation skills!)

The "Make You Smile" Video of the Day

Whistler 2013

Whistler, BC has been one of my wish lists for skiing for awhile.... and we finally planned a trip this year!  The week after Easter, 7 of us took off to Canada, Eh, and I, for one, am hooked on the VAST expanse of terrain and awesome ski village.  (for reference, I did a cross comparison with our fav spots in Colorado and Utah:  Park City/Deer Valley had 15 out of 16 lifts open, Winter Park had 19 lifts open, Alta/Snowbird had 13 lifts open, Whistler/Blackcomb had 36 of 37 lifts open... HUGE)  The other difference is the base elevation:  whereas the Rockies in the USA are about 7,000 feet above sea level at the base of the mountains and 15,000 feet at the peaks... Whistler Village is a mere 2,000 feet at the base and 7,800 at the highest peak... so basically I can fasten my ski boots without panting or gasping for air... well, sometimes.  

Here is our 2013 group (minus Brian Fugler, who would join us the next day): 

This was the top of the "7th Heaven"... and on this particular day, from the base of the mountain and even mid-mountain, conditions looked to be cloudy and dreary - but halfway up this lift, skies opened up and it really was as if we had entered the heavens - God's handiwork and illustrations are truly awe-inspiring... which is one of the reasons my absolute favorite place on earth is on top of the mountains...  

On the Peak 2 Peak Gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains:

T-bar background story:  Those who have skied with me know that I absolutely love to ski - most of the mountain... but there is something I've never been able to do (which has haunted me for years...):  the T-bar lift. For some reason, I just could never get the hang of it (just ask John Cofer or Josh Daly) - it's really pretty comical.  I think it's Copper Mountain or Winter Park - I would try the dang thing three or four times then fall off to the side every time then ski away in frustration... every year.  I'm not going to tell a story - I was really nervous when I saw Whistler has 4 t-bar lifts at the peaks. My heart was racing while waiting in the short lines (with everyone watching) and I tried to be brave... Bruce was giggling as we hobbled to the loading line as I was telling him my t-bar history ... the bar came up behind us quickly and as I was falling off (again), the liftie was yelling "stand up!, stand up!"... I stood up and it was like magic - we were riding!  Too funny.  I was really nervous the whole ride up while Kathryn captured the moments on camera: 

A little Apres Ski ...

Meanwhile, Silas and Avery were staying with Mimi most of the week and Mop and Gay Gay too... they were soooo kind to stay with them.  Bruce and I missed them terribly... Silas and Avery had so much fun, I wonder if they missed us?!

Somebody wants to go next year... !!