I think we are finally coming out of the deep freezer.  Hopefully the rest of the winter will be a slow gradual warming trend.  I noticed today that the afternoon sun now hits our fence.  Bree was hanging out there, with her front paws on the fence, just soaking up the sliver of sun!

It has been a busy week.  Last Thursday my sister and youngest niece flew out for a few days.  The boys did not know they were coming, so that was a fun surprise.  We visited the local hot springs twice, spent a day on the slopes, did a little ice skating, watched football playoffs and a basketball game for both Jacob and Benjamin.  Plus lots of just hanging around!

It was very interesting during Jacob's game.  Since they have extra kids on their team, everyone usually sits out one period.  Jacob sat out the third period.  At the start of the third period, I think Jacob's team was up by 2.  At the end of the third period, Jacob's team was down by 18.  Not that Jacob makes most of the baskets (he probably averages 50-60% shots made), but I saw for the first time the energy he brings to the court.  When he is on the court, he is rallying his teammates, talking to them, doing the high fives, motivating them.  When he was on the sidelines, his team was lifeless.  Just a really cool thing to see and a great teaching moment for him, that his attitude/drive, etc makes a huge difference on the court.

Benjamin's games on the other hand.  His team has taken a beating.  They have lost the last 4 games and usually by margins around 25 points.  His last game, however, they were down 7 to 38 and the final score was 27-40.  They somehow got it together the last period and rallied back a bit.  Benjamin has been doing well getting up for basketball and to the school by 6:30am.  I actually like the early mornings.  I drop him off, go run Bree and then come back to get the younger two ready to head out the door.

The day we went skiing was gorgeous.  I was a little nervous because I have become a huge winter wimp.  If I choose to be outside, it better be perfect conditions.  No wind and lots of sun and that is exactly what we got!  Probably one of the nicest winter days so far.

A ride up on the chair lift...so thankful I did not drop my phone.

The pictures just don't do it justice.  Really great weather and good skiing.  The kids had fun and they all got some good skiing in.

We are already talking about seeing if we can swing season passes for next year, since the boys are getting older and it is not so much work getting up to the hill.

A random picture of the antics of my Jbird.  That kid amazes me sometimes.  He got his arm stuck in this cup.  (Lets just say that he figured out you could create a great vacuum and make some wild noises as you pull your elbow out.  So, he took the other elbow and jammed really hard.)  We could not get it off, so ended up cutting the cup.  At the end it was all smiles and laughs, but lots of tears in the middle.

This pictures reminds me of when we were skiing.  At the end of the day we were in the lodge, packing our gear up.  Joseph was sitting at our table and the chairs have a gap between the seat and the back of the seat.  He was sitting on his knees and one knee got wedged into the gap.  It would not budge.   My sister and I are trying to get his knee out and all I could think about was calling...who would you call...ski patrol, to come get his leg out.  (I thought of taking a picture, but I figured I would have sent him over the edge with emotion, as we all chuckled at the situation).   Finally, it occurred to me that he was sitting on his knees and unintentionally driving the knee further down.  So we tipped the chair over and allowed gravity the chance to work.  His knee almost immediately came free.

Quiet weekend in store.  We have one basketball game and I am getting a massage.  I had one last weekend and have decided it is time to start putting some money into me (other than the gym) and take care of this aging body!

Some ice skating pictures.  Benjamin is finally expressing desire for skates!

Jacob is in the background.   They have both gotten really good at staying upright.

I love the concentration and tongue in this picture.

We discovered a very small sledding hill close to where we run Bree. So we did an impromptu sledding with a shovel.

That position was not the best.

This worked much better.

Overexposed but love the photo.  Can't believe he is almost as tall as the shovel.

Patiently waiting their turn.

Joseph and I went back another time with sleds.  It was very windy and since I am the winter wimp, I sat in the car...hence the 'foggy' pictures through my dirty windshield.

And my favorite picture from the day!  Bree loves the boys!

Benjamin has drawn his basketball practice and it is 6:30am Monday - Friday.  This is great discipline for him and he has even gotten out of bed both mornings!  Not sure when their games start, I am thinking next week.  Some of the games will be away games, but hopefully they are all within 30-60 minutes.  Not ready for any long hauls!  Jacob first bball game is this Saturday.

In January I started doing Crossfit 5 times a week.  The last 4 months I have been doing Mon, Wed and Friday.  It has taken my body a bit to adjust to new schedule.  I sure come home wiped out.  I have even taken a short nap afterwards.  I have just enough time to shower and relax before the boys get home from school.  I decided for January that I was going to keep track of everything and repetitions for the whole month.  Will be interesting to see how much I do.  I know I have definitely gotten much stronger.

I came home to this note the other day.

I don't remember the circumstances behind the note, but probably not obeying, arguing and whining!  I love to read Joseph's writings.  He really struggles some days with his reading.  His speech is also slipping a bit.  Not sure if it is the apraxia and it's ebbs and flows or he is getting lazy.  He is still doing speech at school but when the time comes, will probably need to line something up for the summer.

JR has been able to have 2 part time guys helping him with all the snow fall.  They only work few hours one to two days a week, but it makes a huge difference.  He has one client now in the valley (much closer to our house) so I have been helping him out.

Not much else happening.  Trying to stay warm.  The days are getting longer ~ yahoo.

Both Benjamin and Jacob have started basketball.  Jacob plays on a church league and practices one day a week with games on Saturday.  Benjamin decided to play 7th grade at the school.  He practices every day.  They have not divided up into teams yet, so they all practice from 3:30 - 5:15.  However, because we have lots of kids and not a lot of gym space, once teams are picked some end up practicing before school or later in the evening.  Our community could really use an indoor, multi use facility, like a YMCA.  Would be really interesting if he ends up practicing at 6:30 or 7am!!!

We are on the tail end of another cold spell...minus eleven this morning when I took the boys to school.  I have seen memes on facebook that say "why do I live in a place where the air hurts my face!"  Very true right now.  However, we will be a balmy 35 this weekend.  That is almost shorts weather.

JR has worked 2 weeks straight, with the snow.  He needs a break.  He has talked with 2 different guys about helping out.  Hopefully he can get that lined up pretty quick.

Several people told me how much they loved the Bree pictures.

Here are a few more!

I take her out running at least once a day.  Figured we needed to get something for nighttime, since she is as dark as the country night we run her in.  Amazing how far you can see her now.

We went ice skating and she escaped from the car.  She loved the rink.  One of the boys' friend was there, who is a great hockey player.  The friend was playing keep away with Bree and the puck.  He was pretty successful, but when she did get it, she would not put it down.

The cold just does not bother her!  She can run about 15 mph for well over 2 miles.

My favorite....snow all over her snout and chest cause she loves to dig.