Home Economics 101

I decided to start a new subject in homeschooling this week: home economics. Once a week, K will cook something. This month we are baking breads. This week's bread: pumpkin with a chocolate spice frosting. She did a fabulous job, and she even gave this loaf to a neighbor lady. We found out later it was her birthday, and she ate a slice of this bread as her birthday cake. The other loaf didn't last long at our house.

I'm a Ballerina Now

K has been learning a lot in her ballet classes. She is so fun to watch as she learns new steps and dances around the studio. Here is a taste of the end of one of her lessons.



Thanking her teacher with a curtsy

 I didn't get any great action shots, but I am hopeful that future lessons will yield better pictures.

Tenth Anniversary Vacation: Day 2

On day two of our trip, the morning greeted us with blue skies and plenty of sunshine, a welcome change from the day before. It was still cold, but the day held promise of warmer weather.

After breakfast, our first stop was at Target, where we purchased some warm gloves for the kids.

View from the Target parking lot.

After leaving Target, we headed back to the hotel where we parked our car and headed for the sky tram. We then rode up to the top of the mountain, where our day of fun began.


The tram ahead of us.

 

My three kiddos bundled up for a day outside.

Once we reached the park at the top of the mountain, Timo headed off with AJ to ride the Alpine Coaster, and I took K to the 4-D theater. She watched a short show while I stayed outside with H. I took him over to a little climbing cube, but he was more interested in brushing snow off of the nearby picnic bench.

H playing with the snow.

After the show, K came out and wanted to climb around the Speleobox. H then decided it was okay for him as well.


At the exit of the Speleobox




H taking his turn.

 Soon, AJ and Timo came back from the Alpine Coaster, and he took a turn climbing around the labyrinth while Timo took K for a ride on the coaster.


AJ




H wanting to pose for the camera again.

 While Timo watched them climbing, I walked down a path for a photo of the trams ascending the mountainside.

When the kids were done climbing around, we decided to go ahead and eat lunch. The restaurant at the park had an incredible view from the dining area. It was very peaceful to eat and look out across the valley.


K admiring the view

 After lunch, Timo took the older two kids to play a couple of rounds of laser tag. Then, we headed to our 1:30 tour of the caverns.

Waiting for the tour guide

As everyone filed in the first room of the cave tour, I started snapping some pictures.

AJ isn't so sure about this

Always ready with a smile

Strategically-placed lights illuminated interesting portions of the caverns, and I tried to capture their beauty as we walked through the narrow passages.

The second portion of the cave tour takes place in a cavern below the first ones. This one holds many formations that look like other things.

A fairy

Bacon hanging from the ceiling

Oscar



Snow White and the dwarfs on the left, and a castle on the right



Looking down into the most decorated room in the caverns

A crab



The cave's "heart"

After the cave tour, the kids were anxious to get outside and get back into the activities.

K conquering the climbing wall

Almost there

Repelling down

AJ climbing

Daddy and AJ on the Alpine Coaster. This looked like so much fun, but it is not recommended for pregnant women.

Daddy and K

H and I found a huge sandbox, where he happily played while the older kids took their turns on the other rides.

H sifting sand

AJ on the bungee trampoline

Pure joy

A view of the valley from near the bungee trampoline

K enjoying the bungee trampoline

Way up high

Doing a flip. She got really good at back flips.

K and AJ back at the climbing wall/tower

AJ did much better the second time around.

Both kiddos climbing

Around 5pm, we decided to head back down the mountain. We played one last round of laser tag, with H and me joining the rest for a family laser tag feud. Then we rode the tram down the mountain, stopped at the hotel for a few minutes, and headed out to dinner.

I think the weather ended up working to our advantage. It kept the crowds away, but it was nice enough to enjoy being outside. It actually ended up being a beautiful day in the park, and the kids were able to visit the attractions without waiting in long lines. Everyone seemed to enjoy the trip, and the kids even asked if we could do this every year for our anniversary.

Tenth Anniversary Vacation: Day 1

We recently celebrated our 10th anniversary by taking a short family vacation in the mountains. The weather had been beautiful when we booked the trip, but Murphy's Law kicked in, and our anniversary held some of the worst weather we have seen this autumn. Not to be deterred, we headed out Thursday afternoon on a much-needed get-away.

Upon arriving at the hotel, we checked in, and the kids wasted no time in donning their suits for a dip in the indoor pool. It was a great place for young kids because the water was not deep, and the two slides offered some excitement.




AJ ready to swim




The big water slide

  The kids have been getting more comfortable in the water, and AJ actually decided to do more than doggy-paddle. I was so proud of him for putting his face in the water to kick his legs and move his arms. This is all with no swimming lessons.


AJ swimming

  Of course, the slides were the most exciting part of the pool, so the kids spent most of their time on those.


AJ sliding down the dog's tongue



K on the doggy slide



K splashing in the water at the end of the big slide




H getting ready to go down the slide




Weeee!



Timo and H going down the big slide together



Happy boy with Daddy




Timo and AJ going down the big slide




Look, Mom! No hands!




Hi, Mom!

 It was so nice and warm in the pool room, that it was almost possible to forget what the weather outside was like.


Looking up the mountain from the pool room.

 After swimming, we headed out to dinner. The snow had mostly stopped by this time, and the restaurant was cozy. We all enjoyed our meal in comfort.

It was not the most romantic evening, but I was with some of the people I love most in this world. That is enough to make me happy.