i am lucky

I just received a call from a good friend who told me he and his wife both lost their jobs a few weeks ago. They are working to figure out what the next steps are, living day to day. He is such a genuinely good person and his attitude is so incredibly positive. I don't wonder for a second why he's my friend.

I am lucky to have a good job in this unstable economy, to have healthy, happy kids, a great family, a supportive husband and to have such great friends like him to remind me to enjoy the little things and take it one day at a time.

Best of luck to my friend...my thoughts are with you during what must be an incredibly difficult time.

what's been going on

Here' s what we've been up to!

Skiing! We all love to ski. All of us downhill ski. Gabe is in his 3rd year and Ava her 2nd. I still pause for a moment when I watch them go up the lift on their own...wow they've grown up. They really are great little skiers. We are lucky to have such an awesome program here for them to learn and so many ski hills close by. They've both completed two races. Ava took 3rd place on the last one. I think their favorite part of ski races is the hot dog lunch and hanging out with their friends. They're creating great memories.

Ava getting mentally prepped for the big race

Only about 3 ski lift mishaps this year

Ava and her classmate, Elena, having fun at lunch after they took 2nd and 3rd in their race

Gabe has a hard time getting excited for 7th place...it was a close race, Gabe!

The kids and I also partake in cross country skiing. They are really starting to get the hang of it. Joe grooms a half mile loop on our property, and I coax them out every now and then. Ava took her first trek to the Korkki Nordic with me a couple weeks ago. I fully intended to just do the 1K loop, but it was a gorgeous day...30+ degrees and sunny ( I should have had my camera!). I figured why not do 2, she's tough. Well, I somehow missed the 2K cutoff and we went 4. She totally stuck it out and was a trooper. She proudly announces to anyone who may care that she's skied the 4K at Korkki.

Super Bowl! We hung out at the Yesberger's for some great eats and good company on Super Bowl. I'm not a huge football fan, but it was fun to get together. The kids and guys did some pre-game snowmobiling. It was good to see everyone.

Sophia! We trekked to my brother's to give my mom and dad a hand with the kids while Trevor and Cathy were on vacation. I love all my nieces and nephews, but Sophia has a little piece of my heart right now. Even though I got the nastiest diapers of the weekend, I love spending time with her. I enjoy bath time and nap time and all her little particular ways of doing things. It was good to spend time with my sweet girl.

Say CHEESE!

Ava and Grandpa

Grandma and Ava

CCP Play! Ava's pre-school program was last weekend. She was Mary, in Mary Had a Little Lamb. She took center stage and patted lamb Zack's head, just as instructed. Future actress...? We all know she's got the drama part down.

The best dresses are the ones that twirl!

Mary and her little lamb

We got a lot of rain here last week. The snow got pretty crappy and now temperatures are hovering in the 10 degree range. It's hard to get motivated when winter sports are pulled out from under you. We'll use this time to try to catch up on the things we let go while playing the last month, and hopefully we don't kill each other with this shack happieness in the meantime.

Even on his bad hair days, Gabe gets my vote for most photogenic