24 February

 The vacation lens......
We celebrated Valentine's day!!  All out this year with homemade decorations, valentine's for all our family and friends and homemade cookies. 

 they had to dress up like they were 100 years old for the 100th day of school right before vacation.

 He nailed it.

 of course there were cards and flowers and out to dinners while the big kid babysat for V day.  :) 

 WE were supposed to get a blizzard but ended up with only 6 or so inches.  T and I used that time to brush up on our snowblowing skills while J shoveled the roof.  It's great exercise anyway. 

 The snow is so high almost over our 4 foot fence.  ho9nestly, it doesn't make me sad yet the skiing is so great. 

 He worked on his pinewood Derby Car.  His First.

 His design is that of a solar car. 

 He loves drawing.  Right now it's dragons.  One of his many talents.

 My valentine's snowy night date. 

 WE visited with all the cousins for the middle part of vacation.  Moved more snow, ate,drank,laughed,made crafts and played.  the kids are so lucky to be so so close to their cousins. 

 Friday we headed up to SUGARLOAF with the D family.  Best.Time.ever.  at our favorite ski mountain. 

 The first night was about the hot tub and pool.

 Saturday was cold and a bit windy. 

 the views are amazing even from the lower trails. 

 The kids were serious rock stars, skiing for miles and miles each day.  Especially B, she made it down even some intermediate trails by herself. 

 The big boys did the white Nitro.  Scary and icy and steep and open for the first time this weekend.  They were proud of themselves.  T is such a good skier now I never see him on the mountain even when I am skiing with him. Stay tuned for the go pro video. 

 views from the bottom. 

 She's a rockstar this one.  She has named her skis Jack and Andy and tells them she is proud of them and they are awesome.  What a great attitude. 

 Word.

 There was no cooking after the ski day.  Burgers and Beers and lemonades are a must after a long cold, ski day. 

 There is a lodge at the top of the mountain, of course it was on their bucket list. 

Can't wait to go back.  Amazing company,food,and fun.  Amazing vacation.

9 February

 Weekend Stories.....  On Saturday morning we fond ourselves downtown.  L had asked Siri something on his iPod the night before and she said she couldn't answer because she hadn't had her chocolate today.  L said "Yum, I want some" and up popped directions to two chocolate places on maps.  Hey, a weekend can't be bad that starts out with chocolate, right? 

T went up skiing to Sunday River with friends.  The ups and downs of parenting this age group are just hard.  It's messy and emotional, and exhausting.  You can never say and do the right thing.  There is a lot more, Holy crap, I did screw that up..., I'm sorry"  and the faults you see in them you know are your faults too.  It's so hard giving them to the world.  Just like that they are gone, with friends and secrets and their own lives.  There are things about them that you don't know anymore.  Your family does family things with one less.  It's bittersweet. 

Sunday we skied too. Probably the coldest day we have ever attempted skiing. It was seven degrees.

These volunteers that teach people with all different kids of disabilities to ski are angels. The people who show up at 9 am on a Sunday when it's seven degrees out and ski all day and cheer out loud for even the smallest accomplishment. There are no words. 

I think they'll always remember our family ski days. Packing everything up the night before. Trail mix, soup and hot chocolate. Mom and Dad  dragging them out of bed at the crack of dawn, stopping at Dunkins for a hot drink, an OJ and an egg and cheese bagel, hot tubs and more soup when we get home. Yep, these are the days. 

5 February

Thursday.....it was the day of the big party!  L and B invited a friend over to eat L's amazing shortbread cookies (which she made with the kids a few days before...she's really into Valentine's day...LOVE her!) they all had a blast making their own pizza (in the shape of their choosing) and making Valentines.  Bre's best friend is such a sweet girl and L's best friend has been since preschool.  The girls had a blast playing just Dance on the X-box and the boys spent some time in the new fort.  It was a fun,fun night!  Can't wait to do it again for the next holiday :)

3 February

 Monday was another Snow Day.  Seriously we are getting hammered with snow and there is no end in sight.

 I want to remember what their snow clothes looked like hanging there near the door.

 The HS bus stop kills me every time.  Kids wearing Heels, no coats, sneakers, and SHORTS.  Obv they have gotten to the age where "cool" comes before comfort (literally).  My boy included....sigh.

 we went snowshoeing, and it was fun for a little bit until the complaining about cold feet started (Just keeping it real!). 

 Bus stop kids.  The snowbanks are so, so,big!

Facetime with cousins on snowdays is the best.  More snow on the way!  Stay warm :)