Family Ski Day!

We had the best ski day as a family up at Big Sky the day after Christmas!  Livvy got to have a fun day with the Johnsons (thanks, guys!) and we hit the slopes & Brady showed off his skills & got a private lesson from Papa. :)  Here are fun pictures of our day, as well as another day of skiing with Dusty & Gina!

Everybody but EJ who's taking the picture

Everybody!

Daddy got Brady a spiffy new helmet cover!  You can also see his little harness which makes it a lot easier on the adult!

His progress was amazing!  He went on 8 runs with us & by the end was knowing when to turn on his own & come to a stop.

We all kind of took turns going with him--here he is with his Daddy

Brady & I taking a rest in the deep snow!

He loves the chairlift!  Especially the "high speed quads!" :)

Nana & Brady

This is on the way up the mountain--enjoying a hot chocolate!

Lots of apres ski pictures!

Tough guys

Daws Boys

Mom & Jenee

These are after we skied with Dusty & Gina

Brady & I skiing together after his 2nd lesson

Brady & Daddy skiing the day after Christmas

Skiing with Papa

Skiing with Mommy

Arts and Crafts Time!

Fingerpainting is one of those fun ways to pass a cold, wintery day!  My kids love it! :)

Bowling!

We took the kids bowling when Lez, Bryce & Jane were here over New Years & the kiddos loved it!  They loved cheering each other on as seen in the picture below.  Poor little Jane dropped the ball on her foot so she sat out the 2nd game & this is the only picture with her in it! :( 

They really liked waiting for the ball to come up through the chute! :)

Livvy feelin' the groove! :)

My Little Skier!!

Ok, so honestly one of the things I was most looking forward to when I was pregnant with my little boy was teaching him how to ski!  I grew up skiing & it's one of my favorite things to do.  Anyways, Jeff, Papa & I took him up early December for his first lesson & HE LOVED IT!!! I can't explain how much fun it was to experience this great sport through a 4 yr old's eyes...Here are some pictures & video of Brady's First Time Skiing!!

 Signing him up for the lesson at Big Sky--even though it was a further drive than Bridger Bowl it was a better deal...we are soooo lucky to live in a skiing mecca!

Fortunately for the youngsters nowadays, instead of rope tows or T bars they have the "magic carpet rides!"  They are basically a moving walkway up the bunny hill & are brilliant!  Brady was really excited about riding it.

Since it was early December, it was basically a private lesson (just him and another little girl)  Here he is with his instructor practicing moving around on skis...which is a challenge in itself!

 His first run!!!!

After his lesson, we came in and had some hot chocolate & lunch! 

After lunch we decided to test our luck & take him up the beginner's chairlift & run!  Papa is the best skier I know...that is a fact!  He even used to ski race as a young boy & was in the Junior Olympics.  He taught all of us to ski & Jeff & I knew Brady was in good hands, needless to say!

Here is a picture of Brady & Papa on his first chairlift--sidenote: Mommy is literally panicked taking this picture but have since relaxed with her little boy on the chairlift! :)

Papa & Brady on an actual run!  This is how I learned to ski...in between Dad's skis, holding onto the poles.

Two really good pals-apres ski!

Yes....this is where we live!! :)

Little buddy after his big day...he was really proud of himself & just smiled ear to ear.

Very, very proud Mama.

Big News!

We got wonderful news on Christmas that Aunt Lez & Bryce are engaged!!!  We honestly couldn't be happier for them & are so excited to welcome Bryce & Jane to the family!  We love Bryce & love how happy he makes Lez & Jane is such a little sweetheart.  Brady & Liv will now have a cousin!

We threw an impromtu New Years Eve/Engagement party with a few friends for them when they were here last weekend-I went a little overboard on the amount of food but we had plenty of leftovers!  Funny...there weren't any leftovers on the champagne! :)

The cute couple (sans the "justache") in Vegas a year ago for my 30th

Bryce & the kids having fun in the snow

These two have been acting like cousins from the day they met!

This was taken while they were getting ready for EJ's wedding

Winter Fun with Friends!

Here are some fun pictures from the last couple months--the museum has redone their children's section and it's set up like Yellowstone Park--complete with geysers & all! :)  Needless to say we've had lots of playdates there!

Livvy & Maddy playing house!

 The kids can even pretend to catch fish off the Fishing Bridge with their own fishing poles!

 Yes, this is Liv in her bald eagle mask

Maddy & Brady catching some lunkers!

The kids with Maddy in November building snow forts in their cute little snowsuits