Unicycle practice

Skylar got a unicycle for Christmas and she has been dying to learn how to use it.  It is too cold and icy out, but the kitchen has great places to practice balance.

A Wintery Day!

We had a really nice day yesterday (48 F) and all the snow melted!.  The kids were so happy for it to be snowing again today.  Skylar, being the great big sister, dressed Kellen and Charlotta and took them out sledding.  And yes...that is a tail Skylar has!  She found the gag gift that I got for Christmas this year (A Wiley Coyote suit--sorry no photos of me in that!) and fell in love with it.  "Mom, it is so warm and soft!"  She wore it for three days straight!  Mom:  "Skylar, you know you can't wear that to school tomorrow, right?"  Skylar:  "I know, it has chocolate all over it."  (Really, that's the only reason?) Ahhh, youth!

 

Meet, "No ME, I do it myself!"

My New Year's resolution:  to do every little teeny, tiny task myself!

It is a tad bit frustrating to be waiting on your 2 year old all the time!

Phoenix Science Center

On our last day, we decided to head to Phoenix to check out the Science Center.  It was a really great science center and the kids had a great time.  Too bad my battery died!

Digging for Dinosaur bones!

  

We did so many other cool things, so I am really sad they were not captured on camera.

Let's Party!

The kids did a little shopping with Grandma and got all the supplies for a New Year's Eve Party.

Too bad none of them could actually make it to the New Year.

Resting day

After two long days of traveling, the kids needed to have a little down time.  Why not take a swim in the 82 degree pool (air temp 42)?  Way to cold for this mama, but they spent most of the day in the pool!  Except for James.  He learned how to play Alhambra and just fell in love with that game.  That is all he wanted to do for 5 days!

 

 Skylar, as always, taking care of her siblings!

 The view from the pool.

 Brennen is more of a hot tub man!

 "I be on the swim team!"  And away she went!

A day trip to the Grand Canyon

We decided to spend the last few days of Christmas break at Marilyn and Jim's Arizona home,  I checked on-line for the weather and packed our bags.  Unfortunately, I checked the weather in the wrong city.  I packed for high 60's/low 70's.  Well, more like low 40s--we were all a little cold!  Good thing we could wash our one pair of jeans everyday!  On our first day, we headed up to the Grand Canyon because that was the only day that it was not going to snow up there.

 Kellen just can't handle bright light and he could not open his eyes for any picture.  I did get him to at least look up with his eyes closed for one shot.

 Stunning view!  It was well worth the trip-the kids were facinated.

 Skylar very intently listening to the lecture on how the Grand Canyon was formed.

 Brennen loved looking in the binoculars!

 Charlotta also listening to the lecture!  (Not sure she got the same out of it that Skylar did!)

 Spotted a reindeer on our way back to the car.

A great day!