French fries! Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!

Since China Peak is so close to us, and since Sho and I (used to) snowboard, we figured it was time to get the older kids on skis.  We were a little worried about how they'd do... but for several days leading up to the trip, they would talk about how excited they were to ski and how much fun it would be.

We signed them up for a two hour lesson and crossed our fingers...

The instructors explained that when they said "french fries", their skis should be straight, like fries and when they said "pizza", they should make a triangle shape with their skis.  So you can imagine how many parents are yelling "pizza, pizza" on the mountain!

Both of the kids did great... they were able to ski down the bunny hill and were very proud of themselves.

On the day of the lesson, we stayed for a few minutes, then did a couple of runs and came back to check on the kids.  Ben said, "I was crying because I didn't know when you'd come back, but then I said to myself, 'you can't give up' so I kept going."  By the end of our second day, thanks to Daddy, Ben was able to do turns down the little mountain.

I consider this a very successful trip since both the kids had fun and Sho and I suffered no broken bones, just a few nasty bruises for me.

While we were away, Jason spent the weekend with Grandma and Pampa.  Grandma sent us this picture of Jason who apparently has moved on from his little toy trucks! 

So we all had a great weekend... but it sure is nice to all be together at home again.

Happy Valentine's!

We prepared for Kara's Valentine's Day party by making a little marshmallow goody-bag for each of the kids in Kara's class... Kara had fun decorating each one and writing all of her friends' names.

And she had so much fun going through all of the Valentines that she received.  Kara said, "Valentine's Day is for being friends.  I have two Valentine's... you and Daddy."

We were so glad that Ben was finally feeling better and could go to school to have his own Valentine's Day party with his class.  After several days of only feeling "medium", he knew that today was a do-not-miss school day.  Ben said Valentine's Day is "for giving love."

Even Jason got to have a little treat... and he was all smiles!  This day is all Jason - he is so friendly, waving to everyone he sees and he loves to give big, wet kisses, which only a Mommy loves.  I'll take 'em!

Hope you enjoy a day of friendship and love...