Powder skiing, skating and art table

My little extreme skier!! You may have to zoom in to see him, but I thought the entire shot showed how steep it was. He takes these great lines out of Lower Enchanted Forest and drops down a pretty steep face onto Double Cabin. He is fearless and has skills! So fun to watch.

Kitchen table has become the art table and we have found that the only way paint and markers are truly washable is if it is on skin and that skin can be put directly into the bathtub. Indoor winter fun! Next up is "sir Bob Thomas the Brave Knight" His favorite costume is a great combination, can't see the sword on the couch though.

Colter is a Lego-maniac. He spends hours with Daddy and Tim building all kinds of wonderful toys. Next is ice skating on the outdoor pond at Town Park. These type of days include most of the kids around us going sledding, cross country skiing and skating and are referred to by the neighbors as "the triathalon for ADD Telluride kids who can't sit still". We are all worn out by the end!

My little Valentines! They decided to dress up for the occasion. Note the missing front tooth. Colter was so excited about the Tooth Fairy and the entire experience.

Colter informed us that we need to "simplify our lives" and "rethink how we are doing things" We should live more like the Native Americans, "mom, do you want a tent or a teepee?", no school- they learn just by living, growing our own food and living on land that doesn't belong to any man, just the Great Spirit. I love this kid!!! I said we could join a CSA (community supported ag. farm). take out the broken hot tub and put in a small greenhouse and if I had to choose- teepee. He said that would do for now. Also wants to join a "meat farm" and help kill the animals for us to eat, use the bones for tools and skin for clothes. He is excited to be 12 so that he can hunt with Uncle Rob and Pappy, bow and arrow of course. That is only the beginning of this story I'm sure. For Valentines Day he bought me Organic Cucumber seeds for our greenhouse. Colter has such a beautiful combination of deep thinking, intensity, resourcefullness and creativity-to name a few. And then he can turn it all off and just be a 5 yr old! He is a little sponge, as all kids are, and has an amazing memory for the tiniest details- we have become very aware and cautious about what he is exposed to as he is very sensitive to emotions, energy and situations even on radio or TV. While watching the Olympics the other day at a neighbors house, a McDonald's commercial came on and he was upset because they said the athletes all eat there and that the food was healthy. He turned to me and said "Mom, why do the commercials lie to us? Do they think we are stupid?" (of course he is always looking for a way to use "stupid" in a sentence correctly). Colter loves to cook and is coming up his own recipes. He made a milk shake for Eli, Gideon, Dylan and himself with Almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon and ice- it was really good. Hockey is almost over, school for one more month and skiing for another month as well. He is getting excited for kindergarten in the fall and riding the school bus.

Dylan is quite the story teller these days, even mocking himself in parts. Seriously, I have never met a 2 yr old that imitates himself to make the story work. He is growing so fast and loves to laugh. He is our big helper with shovelling, cooking and cleaning up. Things in their place around this little guy! Still loves school, knows all of his teachers names and tells them when they are having "nice havior"(nice behavior). He is looking forward to seeing "Big Thomas" (the train) this summer is Durango, after seeing a pic of Colter with the train, and planning his birthday party, so far either Thomas or Dora again. 3 is sounding pretty big boy to him right now. He thinks he is going to play soccer this spring, with the "big boys". He told me this morning that he is 5 and Colter is 2, so he can play soccer right now!

Trevor is feeling better and back on the slopes, good timing as we just had a HUGE storm and some of the best powder skiing in recent memory.

Hydro plant is working reasonably well, and other than alot of hiking in deep snow, we haven't had too many headaches. I have been getting in better shape from my snow trudging adventures, so that's a bonus.

Loose teeth and dance parties

Yes, that is a porcupine. Her name is Stickers and she is the "most famous porcupine in America" She has been featured on YouTube, has her own Facebook page......She has been relocated to a more private home and we were lucky the kids got to see her first. Unfortunately there are lots of people that still think it is ok to feed wild animals and she became VERY friendly in hopes of some curly fries and granola bars. We had a great visit from cousin Michael a week or so ago and a super fun day on the slopes with Tim, Eli, Colter, Michael and I. Trevor and Dylan had fun around the house since Trevor is still recovering from his sledding adventure in Keystone.

Colter just finished Comets, had his first hockey games and YES---has his first loose tooth! He is so excited he is telling everyone all about it. He runs around and says "Mom, when I run my tooth jiggles in my head!" Oh the excitement-------I am in shock that I have a child big enough to have a loose tooth.

Colter is skiing so good these days. His Comets teacher (and our neighbor) described him this way "he rips", meaning he can carve turns and control his speed on steep slopes and was right on her heels down the entire run. He did the NASTAR race course and the adult terrain park. His new favorite run is a double blue bump run called Humbolt Draw. We have been having so much fun skiing this year.

Hockey was so cute. I know I should pick a different word like "tough", "aggressive", "fast", but seriously it was adorable!!! Colter did a good job of paying attention, which is all the coaches really ask of the first year players and he had a shot on goal. So fun.

Dylan is telling great stories these days and gave us a great dance party tonight, including a little booty shakin'. He is so funny! He is full of opinions and is already pretty sure he can do it all. He likes to pick out his clothes and showed up at school the other day in his Thomas the Train underwear, lunchbox and hat, Bob the Builder shirt and tool vest and red pants and socks because "dey match, mama", finished off with his "pider" boots. I loved Colter's costume/imaginary years and hope that Dylan gets into them as well. His current favorite things are his giant animal puzzle, which after being assembled is followed with endless verses to Ei-ei-0, The Very Hungry Catapillar, Winnie the Pooh book, Opposites book, music "mu-mik", "excababer" and taking his little hockey stick and ball to practice outside while Colter is on the ice. Dylan is ice skating already and I'm sure will be amazing by age 5! He cheers Colter on with a loud "GO DOLDAH, PAY HOCKEY!!" Much video has been taken lately.

Winter wonderland.....

New Year's sledding party at Mom and Dad's new neighborhood. These people take their sledding very seriously- they are pros! It was so much fun and mildly dangerous. We probably made 20 or more laps with the truck and others had been going for hours when we showed up. Fun new tradition on a HUGE hill. The pic thing is screwing up on my blog today, so the other pic of sledding is at the bottom.


So cute---

Quick trip to Keystone to visit our friends the Noldes, Adam's parents, and Trevor's parents Fun trip with lots of sledding, swimming and playing. The kids were awesome and we love travelling with those guys (they went to Mexico with us a couple of years ago). Both Colter and Dylan are swimming great these days. I wish we had more access to pools- one drawback of mountain living. Dylan was even sticking his head underwater, blowing bubbles and swimming to me.

More Keystone fun with Legos. We went to the Ouray Ice Festival this year and Colter had his first Ice Climbing lesson. He loved it and was so excited because they gave him TWO ice axes and "spikes" (crampons) for his boots. He now takes screw drivers out to the snow banks near our house so that he can climb with his "picks"

Dylan received this cute Curious George tea set for Christmas and the boys love pouring all of their drinks with it. Very cute. All friends that have come over have enjoyed it too, hours of entertainment so far. The boys make honey lemon water for people with sore throats and bubble tea (emaergen-C) for tired mornings, they understand that herbs and teas can help heal. I love it!

The next one is my boys sledding down the giant hill on New Year's.

Life is good, we are having fun and laughing alot. The other day, in a moment of frustration, Colter asked me "when exactly did you lose your mind" It made me think......"not sure honey, I'll have to get back to you." Dylan is continuing his rampage on the English language. He tells little stories now and is starting to make little jokes. He loves to sing and dance. Ei-ei-o is a current favorite and the entire reggae kids cd. I wish I had a mental tape recorder for these moments. I'm sure I will miss them as the boys grow. Colter has his first hockey games tomorrow. I can't wait to see these little guys racing all over the ice! Definately a video camera moment! Speaking of, time to go get boys for hockey practice......

Christmas love and joy

Colter was so excited to get his real snowboard. We went out in the 10 degree weather and tore it up! He did really well and always has such a good attitude about learning new things. Next photo is for Daddy- he loves to dress the boys up in motorcross gear.

More snowboard smiles.He has already decided that he will snowboard most of the time and ski sometimes. Dylan wakes up more like Mommy- Colter was ready to get to the presents.

All dressed up for Christmas Eve service. Aunt Ruth sent that sweater from Europe, so cute.

Colter asked for a Nutcracker that cracks real nuts. Grandma and Mac-Mac came through and he was thrilled. We quickly found out that it can crack pecans, but not almonds- oops. Thanks to Gorrilla Glue, we are back in the pecan cracking business. Our wonderful library had a cute little Holiday PJ party for the kids. Behind Colter and Dylan are friends Finn and Rocky.

There is now an obsticle course with jumps and sleds to pull, the snowbiling keeps progressing.

Ahhhhh.......

Brrr...

Cute new Christmas jammies and tree decorating-yeah!

More sand dune time in Moab, chillier this time but still fun. Daddy "dog pile".

A little Santa time, Colter wants a real snowboard, legos and tools. Dylan wants the "boo shoful" and toys. Skiing on Thanksgiving, it was sunny and warm!

This is Colter's first snowmobile. Yes it is real, but it has a thing that doesn't let it go very fast. He and Eli love it and rip around the pasture at Rob and Sheila's going about 8 mph. So funny to watch. This snowboard is more like a sled and although all of the neighborhood kids have fun going down the slide on it- Colter still wants a real one!

It has been cold here. Like below freezing for days with lots of snow and wind cold---yuck! The good news is that the hydroplant has decided to run for days through these crazy temps and that means no hiking up to the intake! We have spent alot of time working on it this fall and are hoping that it will run smooth from here on out. Ski season started and we have already been out a good bit. Colter is skiing well, still jumping off everything, and Dylan is on the harness and yelling "go faster Daddy!" Dylan is such a happy little guy and he can talk- alot! This week he has added "nuffin","everyfin","somefin else", and "miss you mommy" (even if I'm just across the room) among many other sayings. He tells great stories, usually about Colter or school. He loves to help me shovel snow and I hope he doesn't lose that desire anytime soon. He can sing most of his ABC's, eieio, spider, paddie take and twinkle- atleast he can sing enough to get someone else to sing it to him. Dylan is a dancing fool and loves to "me play hockey, Colter too". School has been going great for both of them. I am so happy about that- they are both very happy and the teachers are very nice. With two weeks till the "holidays", things are ramping up and the energy is increasing. I understand why parents use Santa to bribe some good behavior----I'm tempted sometimes! It looks like another incredibly busy year for the property management crew as more people are choosing to come to homes they already own instead of other more expensive options. Trevor, as always, is a rock star and is getting it all done. We have no major plans for the near future and just hope to ski, snowboard, play hockey, work and enjoy the winter!

Warm weekend in Moab, in November?

This giant sand dune north of Moab was incredible! We had so much fun and got some dry land training for skiing. This thing is so steep and HUGE, but the kids kept running up and down. Colter went all the way bottom to top twice and then up and down the lower half for over an hour! Dylan made it to the top as well and giggled the entire way down. We will definately be visiting this more often, we were exhausted.

Dylan starts the "Daddy, moped" chant as soon as we enter Moab. He loves that thing. The next pic is Dylan riding his little bike on Fins'n'things. He and Colter did really well for their first official Moab mountain biking adventure.

Yes, mud pies in November! Lilly is in the dress and Kendahl is in the blue tank top. I love the one where Colter is about to get splashed--he didn't mind at all! Do you like how Dylan is pushing up the legs on the already soaked sweats?

This was our November 8th rafting kids crew. Lilly, Dylan, Colter, Katie and Lucia in front. We had all five kids plus four adults on the boat. Again, super fun day! The kids and weather were on great behavior and we enjoyed the changing fall colors. The kids got in the water--not warm, but they are crazy children of the mountains.

Loved it- great time! Now it is snowing outside and it is time to change gears for ski season. Moab, we will return in the spring.