Skating behind the Malt Shoppe

Tanner being a cool dude in his X Games sweatshirt!
Lauren performing a balancing act! - When we were skating she told me "I have to go potty BAD!" I took her over to the edge(there are no bathrooms around), pulled down her pants and made her pee on the ice. She thought it was really cool to make yellow ice, and had to pee "really BAD" two more times while we were there!
Maddie, our future ballerina on ice!

What would winter be without a day spent on the pond - ice skating! Kristin and I took the kids to the pond behind the Malt Shoppe to go skating. Tanner spent most of his time on his knees and behind, but he did really good. He even started skating backwards. (Not bad for his second time on skates.) Maddie did awesome. She gets so frustrated with herself when she can't get it perfect. Kristin told her it is like ballet on the ice and it seemed to click with her. Lauren had double bladed skates and it really helped her. She was a little scared at first, but by the end she was doing it by herself.

After skating we went to the Malt Shoppe for a snack and, of course, ICE CREAM!

Ballet

Maddie and Lauren have ballet on Thursday's after school. They both have so much fun with their teacher, Miss Stephanie. Lauren concentrates so much, she even sticks her tounge out! Maddie is so graceful with her long lean legs, and Lauren is doing so good, especially for only being 2 1/2! Tanner loves to go into the aerobics room and play with the balls while the girls are in class.

The Polar Express

Lauren doing the actions to the 12 Days of Christmas

Just after Christmas we were able to take Santa back to the North Pole on the "Polar Express". We drove to Durango and climbed aboard the Polar Express - The Historic Durango Silverton Narrow Guage Train. We were in our PJ's, just like in the movie. We even had dancing waiters dressed in real chef's outfits who sang songs with us and served us hot chocolate. Santa even came to say good bye to us, but left each of the kids with a special souvenier - a beautiful bell off his sleigh. When we reached the North Pole Santa got off and waved goodbye to us, at least until next year!

Christmas 2006

Tanner Christmas morning
Lauren with her babies

Getting our 14' Christmas tree.
The kids with Mr. and Mrs. Clause

Maddie's Kindergarten Christmas Program
Maddie on her Ready Bed

Christmas was great! Here are a few pics.

The Ski Bums

On Saturday I did the unthinkable - took all 3 kids skiing by myself! The hardest part was getting the kids and 4 pairs of skis and 3 sets of poles from the car to the lift. The lady at the ticket office was watching me and daid I looked like a mother hen carring all the skis to one area, going back for the kids, then carrying the skis again, then going back for the kids again. Lauren is really starting to catch on on is doing wedges really good. Tanner took off through the trees and skies by himself for awhile - we were holding him back. Madison skied by herself for a while then decided to wait up for me and Lauren. It was a fun day, but a lot of work!!!
What a stud!!!
And my little snow bunnies!

Our family's favorite pasttime is skiing. In fact, we have so much fun while we are skiing that we don't have time to take out our camera. But, I vow that the next time we go up, I WILL TAKE PICTURES!!!

Rodney and I just got home from a 4 day trip to Taos, NM. With our Wolf Creek season passes we get 3 free days of skiing at Taos. It was fun to get away, but I could have stayed for a few more days. The snow was great, and the steep terrain was awesome.

Rodney is in Aspen right now with the boys (4 guys from Durango) skiing and enjoying the X-Games. I was trying to everything possible to go, but in the end I'm staying at home. By the end of this trip Rodney will have over 30 days of skiing in this season. (What did I say, we're bums! - I will have just under 20)

In April we are looking forward to a week in Snowbird with the family!

Watch for pics of Tanner, Maddie, and Lauren on the slopes!

Temple Grounds in the Spring

These pictures were taken at the Jordan River Temple two years ago, how time flies! THe Temple grounds are so pretty in the spring. I'm hoping that when we are at Snowbird in April we will be able to go to Temple Square ae take some more pictures.

Calendar of Events

January
23-28 Rodney in Aspen with the boys (Jessica is jealous!)
29 Kristin's B-day

Febuary
1 Logan's B-Day
7 Mom's flight arrives in Durango
8-11 Jessica, Mom, and Kristin in Colorado Springs for the One World Aerobics Convention
14 Valentine's Day
Mom flies home so she can go to Mexico
19 President's Day - kids don't have school
24-25 Stake Conference
28 No School for Parent Teacher Conference

March
3 MADDIE'S 6th BIRTHDAY
29 Mom's B-Day THE BIG 50

April
7-14 Snowbird, UT for our Family Ski Trip
8 Easter Sunday
17 Brittany's Birthday
30 LAUREN'S 3rd BIRTHDAY

May
13 Cord's Birthday
28 RODNEY'S 31st BIRTHDAY
Memorial Day

June
14 RODNEY & JESSICA'S 10th ANNIVERSARY
20-23 Girl's Camp
23 Kristin's Birthday

July
1 Canada Day
4 Independence Day
21-22 Fairfield Arts & Crafts Festival
23 JESSICA'S 31st BIRTHDAY
24 Mom & Dad's Anniversary
27 Russ' Birthday
30 Brooklyn's Birthday

Motorcycle Mania

Madison's first face

Ty, Tanner, Brandon, and Nash

This is the first of the Bull Hollow Races in Monticello, UT. After building our own track on our land, Rodney decided to really get into racing. Every few weeks we pack our bags and bikes and head for UT. With all the practice on our track, Rodney really improved his riding and was always in the top 4 in his classes.

Tanner got a new bike this year, a KTM 50. He has had fun racing on a bigger bike. He has 3 friends, Nash, Ty, and Brandon who also race. There is a lot of competition in his age group, but he took a trophy home every time.

Madison got her chance to race this year too. She looks so little out there, and ever smaller when she has to go on the "big track". (It really scared her but she did awesome.) Because of her age and being almost the only girl, they created a new class of racing for her, Powder Puff. By the end of the year she placed 1st overall in her class.

It has been fun to see Rodney, Tanner and Maddie bring home trophies. The trophy shelves are getting so full we will have to add more shelves for next year!