New Family Pics

We took more family pictures. We Got a couple of pretty good ones. It is always hard to get all the kids to smile in the same picture. I really like the black that we were in. i love my family!

Climbing and Hiking

We had a great time at Estes Park. Travis, Jen and kids came back to our house. On the way we made sure to pick up Crispy Cream Donuts in Denver. Yum! We had our Ward Christmas party that night and took Sierra, Caroline, and Sunny with us. Jen and Travis went out to dinner to celebrate their 17th anniversary. We had a good time at the party. Monday we took the kids hiking. We were going to hike the Seven Bridges but when we got out of the cars the wind almost blew us over so we went down to Helen Hunt Falls. Their was a lot of ice and Travis and Todd taught Caroline and Katie how to ice climb at the bottom of the falls. They both liked it! We hiked the trail and then headed back home play some games. Travis and Jen then headed out to stay with Jen's Dad for a couple of nights.
Tuesday Todd and went and ran errands (it was mostly shopping). He finally bought some new ice axes and got to try them out on Wednesday when he met up with Travis to go ice climbing again. When he got home he and I went to the new Harry Potter Movie. I am glad we got to go see it together. Just one more to go:) On Thursday Todd worked a little on his jeep, then we took the kids climbing at Peterson. It is one of Billy's favorite things to do with daddy. Katie likes it too and is getting pretty good. It is fun to watch them. Todd and I went on a date that night. We went to Texas Road House. the food was great and it was so nice to spend the time with Todd. We were going to go dancing after but we were pretty tired and decided to go home and watch a movie instead. We are getting so old!

Vacation Day Five

Our last full day at the cabin! Todd and Travis went ice climbing all day so Jen and I had fun hanging out at the cabin with the kids. The kids played outside and I borrowed some games form the lending library here at the resort to play. We had fun playing all sorts of games. We played Life: Pirates of the Carribean (a really fun game:), Scrabble Junior (Billy really liked playing this, Candy Land, and Twister. The kids had fun playing Twister. They were cute to watch. The boys got back pretty early and they took the kids into the hot tub. Here is a picture of all of them in the hot tub. Daddy's are so much fun! Now we are playing Pinochle and all the kidos are in bed. Love vacation. I don't want it to end.

Vacation Day Four

Travis and Todd got up early to go and do a short ice climb. They got back around lunch time. The rest of us had a relaxing morning. The kids played on the playground until they were too cold to play anymore. The high today was 26 degrees. There wasn't any wind though so it was nice and didn't feel any colder. When the boys got back Jen and I ran to Safeway to pick up a few groceries. Then we all loaded in the cars and went to Lumpy Ridge to hike. It was a pretty hike but oh so cold! My face felt like it was freezing. We hiked about 1 1/2 miles. The cousins had fun hiking together. Johnny held Sierra's hand (he calls her Cinderella) and Katie and Caroline were inseparable. Billy still does his own thing. He likes Forrest alot and was excited when I told him he was coming for a visit. We were all happy to be back in the cars. We drove back to the cabin and everyone changed into their swimming suits and went into the hot tub. It was nice! Then the boys went to pick up the pizza. It was a yummy easy dinner. The kids watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas while Jen, Travis, Todd and I played pinochle. It has been a while since we played so it was a lot of fun! Another good vacation day.

Vacation Day Three

We had a nice lazy morning. We made sausages, eggs and toast for breakfast. It started snowing as we left for our hike. We hiked to Gem Lake. It was about a 3 1/2 mile round trip. We were all getting tired and cold by the time we reached Gem Lake but the kids wanted to make it. The view was really cool. It must be even more beautiful when there isn't fog. It is a hike I would definitely like to do again in warmer weather. We got some great pictures with the snow coming down and the kids had fun trying to scare us on the trail. They are so cute. Even Ellie hiked the first almost half mile. She is going to be such a good little hiker. Days like this makes being a mom even more worth it. Especially when we Todd is home with us as we are together as a family:) Jen and Travis made it in the evening and the kids has so much fun playing with their cousins. We should have a great last few days of vacation!

Vacation Day Two

Todd took Katie and Billy skiing today. Katie has been skiing pretty well for the last couple of years so this time she just needed to warm up. Billy has never been so this was his first time. He was too nervous to try skiing by himself so he ended up holding Todd most of the day. He loved it though which is nice to know. We figured he would either love it of not like it at all. Johnny got to try it a couple of runs at the end and had fun (cause dad held him all the way down). Ellie, Johnny and I hung out in the car for most of it but we were able to park right by the run so I got to take some pictures. I took the kids into town for lunch so Todd could go do some black runs. We found a nice cafe and enjoyed our lunch. When we were looking for a place to eat I saw some crystals in a store so we picked some up for Todd's mom. I have been looking for some for the longest time. It was a fun day and I am glad that Todd got to take the kids skiing. On the way back to the cabin Ellie threw up all over her blanket so I washed it when we got back. We think she was just car sick.

Christmas Tree

We decorated the Christmas Tree on Saturday after Todd got home. Billy was especially excited to decorate it. He helped Daddy put the lights on and then the kids put on the ornaments. Even Ellie wanted to participate. It was fun because it is something that we haven't done in a few years as we usually travel to Utah or my sister's house and so we don't have a tree at our house. The kids helped put the presents under the tree and are now even more excited for Christmas. It love that Todd is home! I am just trying not to think about him leaving again. It is great to see him with the kids cause he is such a good dad and very helpful. I am a lucky girl!

Todd's Here:)

Todd arrived three hours early. Katie missed her last dance performance but her teacher understood. The kids were so excited that he was coming home for two weeks. They have been counting down the days all week. We went to the airport and had to wait about 20 minuted but it was worth it! Even Ellie wanted him to pick her up. They were all cute and I am sure glad that he is here. I have never looked forward to seeing him more. It had been a rough and emotional 5 months. The one thing I miss most is talking with him. You only get a few minutes at a time to talk on the phone and email just doesn't do it. So I hope to have a good two weeks with my best friend and to catch up on the last 5 months:)