First Day of Kayaking 2008

It was 55 degrees and sunny today in Boise - the perfect day for kayaking! Jeff took the kids out to the pond by the Boise River and they practiced their paddling. Good thing they got new wetsuits and life jackets for Christmas! That Santa is a thinker...

Skiing at Bogus Basin

Winter's almost over so we thought we'd try to get one last ski day in. Jenny decided to get back on alpine skis for the first time in 15 years--Peyton was her instructor, although he had a hard time slowing down for her. Ashley went on the big hill for the first time between Daddy's legs. After warming up the girls, the guys headed off for the Really Big Hills and Jenny and Ashley had fun on their own. It was so sunny and beautiful - a perfect day for skiing at Bogus Basin!

Kayak Sledding

Leave it to Jeff to find a way to kayak in the snow. A few weeks ago he took the kids sledding - and who needs a sled when you have a garage full of kayaks? This one is actually Peyton's kayak.

Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana

Hannah Montana, or as Ashley says, "Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana!" is Ashley's latest "favorite." She got a Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana! guitar for Christmas and plays "Best of Both Worlds" over and over and over and over and over and over and well, you get the idea. When we told Ashley about the Hannah Montana concert "now in theaters" it was all she could talk about. She ADORES Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana! The show is in 3-D so during the movie she kept reaching out her arms and trying to touch Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana! During the dance songs she would bounce up and down on her chair so fiercely I was afraid it was bothering the other theater-goers. When I asked her to settle down she said, "but Mom, I'm dancin'!" in a very teenager-like-voice. She was not happy when it ended after only 1 hour and 15 minutes - neither was I - for $15 it should've lasted at least 4-5 hours! Oh well, it's cheaper than any other concert these days. I'm turning her into a concert-goer early - when I was 8 months pregnant we went to a Barenaked Ladies concert together and sat on the 13th row! Our little Ashley is growing up so fast! Ashley Banks! Ashley Banks! We love you!

McCall, Idaho

We spent Saturday in McCall to take in the Winter Carnival--basically a bunch of very cool snow sculptures. There was so much snow! Peyton and Ashley loved running through the "maze" of plowed snow. Did we take pictures of all the cool snow sculptures? Of course not, we left the camera in the car, but here's a picture of how much freakin' snow there was! Thank goodness Jeff drove. You know what all this snow means, don't you? Big-a** rivers in the spring!

Peyton's 1st Sleepover!

So Jeff had this "great" idea to let Peyton have a sleepover and invite 3 friends! Isaac was sick so it was Matthew, Tenje, and Peyton from 6:00 pm Friday until 10:00 am Saturday morning. Ashley and I snuck out to see a girl movie ("27 Dresses" which was very cute and I'm sure Ashley would agree that you must go see it), so Jeff was left to entertain the 1st graders. Luckily, the Playstation did a good job of entertaining them. Jeff's hut-building-ability, popcorn-popping, and storytelling entertained them as well. Unfortunately, Peyton didn't like the idea of Mom taking pictures at his sleepover so you may notice that he's missing from one of the pictures and looking a little grumpy in the second one. Ashley had no problem getting in on the pictures!

Cross Country Skiing at Bogus Basin

The kids are in ski lessons for 1/2 day each weekend so last weekend Jeff and I took the opportunity to go cross country skiing together while they were busy on the downhill slopes.






Two hours of quality "us" time. It was so beautiful up in the mountains, above the inversion. Yes, we get inversions in Boise but luckily they don't stink like they did in Layton & Farmington! Hopefully you can see by these pictures why we are in love with Idaho and why you should all come here! I hate snow and still had a wonderful day.

Peyton lost his 2nd tooth!

Peyton lost his 1st tooth!

Yay! Peyton lost one of his teeth on the bottom row - I'll post pictures soon - we're so excited we can hardly stand it! The 2nd one is already loose...

Did you know the tooth fairy has raised her prices for teeth? Kids these days are getting paid in dollars instead of cents. I remember when I was happy to get silver instead of copper... (just kidding, Mom)

Ashley and Great Grandpa Bob O.

Since her Great Grandpa Bob O. passed away almost a month ago Ashley has been full of questions. We tried to explain to her that Grandpa's spirit is up in heaven now even though his body is buried at the cemetery. Here is a list that should make you smile.

• "When is Grandpa Bob O. going to wake up?"
• "Is Grandpa Bob O. going to be cold at the cemetery?"
• "Oh, so Grandpa Bob O.'s up in heaven with Jesus?"
• "Why is Grandma Margaret on her own?"
• (After we're back in Idaho) "When are we going to Grandpa Bob O.'s funeral again?"
• (And every time I look the least bit sad) "Are you sad about Grandpa Bob O.?"

Every night when we say prayers she remembers to tell God to take care of Bob O. and have him watch over us. And we've always told Ashley that Jesus's spirit is inside church so every time we drive past a church, it doesn't matter which one (Ashley knows Jesus is nondenominational), she exclaims with glee -- "Bob O. 's in there with Jesus!"