Christmastime Fun!

We all did lots and lots of skiing while we were in Winter Park.  We spent a couple of days at Granby Ranch, a smaller ski area that was perfect for the girls.  Maya took lessons and then spent an afternoon skiing with me.  Gabi is a little ski bum already and just bombs down the mountain.  By the end of the week she was riding the lift by herself and beating Joe and I down the hill.  It is so fun to ski with her!!

We met Santa in the ski lodge as we were meeting for lunch!

Joe and I even had a day to ourselves while my Mom and Dad watched all the kiddos!  This was a rare treat and we took full advantage of it!

Maya and Joe riding the lift.  This picture makes it look like there wasn't much snow, but actually the snow was pretty good!  It snowed a lot while we were there as well.

Ski Buddies!

My Mom, Gabi, and I skied together one afternoon

Nice pizza slice Gabs!!

My Mom and Dad on the bus to Winter Park!

We also went tubing with Tom and Angelene.  The girls had a great time!  It was even more fun when we tied all the tubes together and raced down the hill all at once.

My dad brought these awesome marshmallow guns that he had at his office.  They were super fun and brought lots of laughs one evening after the kids went to bed.  The girls got in on the fun a couple of days later.  We need to figure out how to make these because they are hilarious!

Nice helmet, Joe

Great times were had by all!

Christmas

On Christmas Eve, we went to the base of Winter Park for a lighted skiier parade and fireworks show.  There were lots of carolers, a huge bonfire, and lots of merriment.

With my mom and dad waiting for the show to begin

The parade of skiiers coming down the mountain and the fireworks display set to Christmas carols.

Maya received a huge set of legos!

Both Maya and Gabi received snowshoes from Grammy Mary and Papa Gary

Gabi picked out an Elmo CD player for Jacob from the Christmas Shoppe

Angelene and Tom adopted a seal and sea lion from the Marine Mammal Center near San Francisco for the girls.  They received a picture of their own adopted animal and a special book and stuffed animal.  They love them and have even shared the with their classmates on show and tell days.

A onesie for our Rootin' Tootin' cowboy.  And a soft lion from Grammy and Papa

On Christmas Day, most of the clan went skiing, but we also decorated cookies and hung out.

"Farmer Jake" He is excited about his scotch cap!

Decorating Christmas cookies!

Winter Happenings

Some of our friends from our fun college days were in Sheridan for Thanksgiving.  We spent an afternoon visiting them and their newest addition...Briggs.  They used to live in Golden and had two girls before having their boy!

Briggs and Jacob

All the big sisters :)

If there is a tree, Gabi will climb it.

Here are some other pictures from our time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Jacob is getting better at eating solids!  He is such a happy boy!

We had a busy Saturday in early December...the girls built gingerbread houses, went Christmas shopping at the Children's Christmas Shoppe, and had their pictures taken with Santa.

We had a REALLY cold snap for almost a week (like -25 without counting the windchill).  Near the end, it was 5 and I decided to send the girls outside to burn off some energy.  I bet Joe they would last 5 minutes...they lasted nearly an hour!  They are so used to being outside and active that they just tolerated it because they needed their fix!!

Both girls are taking dance lessons.  Here is (part of) Maya's class after their Christmas performance at the end of lessons one day.

Gabi played basketball on the YMCA league and really enjoyed it!

Maya was Mother Mary in the Christmas program.  She did an awesome job memorizing all of her lines and during the performance.  We practiced using her "big girl voice" (She has a tendancy to talk in a high-pitched kind of baby voice) and she did very well.

Family Pics & Thanksgiving

6 Months Old

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Amanda & Greer's house.  I didn't take many pictures, but here are a few. It was nice just to be home and spend time as a family.

Annual Ornament Exchange...Dave opening his from Maya...a cow with cowboy boots on.  :)

Great-Grandma Fern & Jacob

Relaxing at home

Lots of Love,
Tara

Current Update!

JACOB:

I can't believe he is almost 6 months old already! I took him to the doctor last Monday and he weighed 18 lbs. 4oz.  We started feeding him rice cereal just at dinnertime a couple of weeks ago.  He wasn't a big fan at first, but is starting to get the hang of it and enjoys it *a little* more.  He is still a super happy and healthy little guy and loves to eat and sleep...we couldn't ask for anything more!

GABI:

She is loving Kindergarten!  We had to deal with a bullying issue a few weeks ago, but after we helped her get that resolved, she is excited about school again (I wish girls weren't so mean to each other!)  She is really good at sounding out words and loves to write and draw pictures.  She is even starting to write sentences on her own...she made me the card below all by herself yesterday (I was battling a horrible stomach flu bug).

 MAYA:

Maya is still enjoying school as well!  Her new thing is legos...just like her daddy!  She will sit at the table for hours working on a project and follows the little direction book very well!  She is a sweetie and her teachers always tell us how much they love her enthusiasm! :)

JOE & TARA

Joe is still staying busy at his office.  They were an office of 4 engineers, but had to let someone go, so now they are back to 3 and very actively trying to find more help!  He travels quite a bit around the state, but really enjoys what he does.  He was asked to serve on the University of Wyoming Advisory Board and was recently offered a Principal position with KL&A.  I don't have a current picture, but he sure loves to get Jacob laughing and loves having a buddy to watch football with. :)

I look really tired in this picture...life has been pretty hectic lately.  I decided to go part-time starting Second Semester of this school year (~January 20).  I will just work in the afternoons.  So, I will get to be home with Jacob and Maya in the morning and then will take Jacob to Evonne's house and Maya to Pre-K in the afternoon.  I am so looking forward to being able to spend more time with them.  I am very thankful that my school district values me and family time enough to let me make such a change in the middle of a school year.  I hope to continue working part-time for as long as they let me! :)  My other big news is that I am now a National Board Certified Teacher!  I went through the process last school year (and finished 5 days before Jacob was born).  I just found out yesterday and am just beyond excited!  It was a tough challenge that included 4 papers/videos/reflections of myself teaching and 6 subject-area tests. I'm so thankful that it is done!!  To read more about what it means go here: www.nbpts.org 

We are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving here in Buffalo!  Lots of love to you all and Happy Thanksgiving!  We have so much to be thankful for!