20+ People, Lots of Fresh Snow... Great Way to Ring in the New Year!!!

Tons of snow, lots of food, banangrams/lagreto/monopoly deal, great new BBQ place, track and field Olympics on the Kinect, every spot in the cabin filled with people (and then a day with just Russells and us), sledding... perfect way to bring in the new year!

Mud Bowl 2011 & Other St. George Highlights!

* 2nd Place in the mud fest wasn't too bad... I pretty sure they would have taken first given a normal playing field.

* I have never seen so much mud in my life. The mud fest (AKA soccer tournament) is played on a sod farm and after two straight days of rain mud was everywhere. We banished Kenzi & Cameron from getting out of the car. Pictures don't do the mess justice.

* Good samaritans got extra points for pushing cars out of mud -- have you seen what they look like when the car finally gets out? Kind of odd watching a tractor pull an SUV out of the mud.

* People got very clever... the best was garbage bags tied around their feet... or the barefoot option was good too!

* Loved the patches of mud on the girls' heads after they "headed" the ball... even Lauren who hates dirt didn't stop playing hard.

* I must admit that I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to have a mud fight with Mikelle's dad ... we said we'd mud fight if the girls took 1st place.

* Even though it was sporatic, and a few hours here and there, it was fun to see Dave's mom and Clint and I think the enjoyed the visits despite the mud and kids wrestling.

* Grandma must be mellowing out -- she laughed at the ponytail the girls put in Cam's hair.

* I'm pretty sure Cameron's trip highlight would be the open breakfast bar and our room being very to access from the breakfast. No exaggeration... while I was getting ready for church on Sunday morning Cameron made at least 20 trips for breakfast, drinks, napkins, more food, more cups, more cereal, and on and on and on.

* Despite 2 freezing cold games in the rain on Saturday, somehow the soccer girls had enough energy for a swimming/pizza/game night back at the hotel!

* I love having parents on the team who take each others kids between games, to get drinks, that let my kids hang out in their hotel rooms, and on and on.

* Kenzi, Cam and I got good use of the workout room... they thought that was so cool since they can't go the gym with Lauren and I at home.

* Although the car DVD is banned for use at home, can I say how much I love it on trips?! I love car games but... the time whizzes by!

* Kenzi discovered the joy of hot chocolate with creamer... I'm pretty sure she drank some little cups straight.

* Dave, Lauren and Kenzi highly recommend Tangled. Lauren and I didn't get to see it, but we will for sure be going.

* Snow against red rock is amazing!

* Being the witnesses for a freeway wreck and calling 911 can be considered an aerobic workout. Pretty cool how the GPS on 911 calls on cell phones work though.

* The city park in Green Valley is probably my favorite park anywhere. And the sunning coming up after 2 days of rain made it even better!

Is it bad...

Is it bad to not feel so bad that my son was sick today? And that when Makenzie had this a few weeks ago I was fine to be snuggling with her, watching movies and just spending a lazy day together.

When the Ibuprofen was dulling the fever Cam and I did math games, we read for an hour, we watched movies, I cleaned the freezer while he ate popsicles, and I used him as my blanket as we napped and his fever-ridden body kept me warm.

I hate the fact that my kids have to have a sick day in order for me to just spend a lazy day at home with them... doing nothing but being with them.

I wish each of my kids could have a "vacation" day from school -- when they aren't sick -- when we didn't miss school to go skiing or go on vacation -- a day where it is ok to miss school -- and we only can do just relaxing/fun stuff together at home.

I guess it isn't too bad, to not feel too bad... but Little Man just know I sure hope for your sake you feel better in the morning!

(Another benefit of having a sick little boy is watching the older siblings be sweet and tender. Some pictures of Kenzi making Cameron "breakfast in bed" this morning -- he didn't eat much, but it was a great thought!)

The Color of Skiing

We had a "close to perfection" ski day last week with the family at Snowbird. Lots of powder, sunny skies and no lines!

I just have to laugh at how many times color comes into play while skiing with my kids.

Regardless of the hill, there is just something in their psychie that freaks them out when they change colors. Cam going from a Green to a Blue... and Kenzi seeing a Black is enough to stop her in her tracks.

But fortunately for all of us the kids were brave and Cameron went from Green to Blue and yes Kenzi did a black diamond!!!

Way to go on expanding that color scheme!!