Ashton Dog Sled races

Over President's Day weekend we went up to see Mark's cabin being built in Ashton and see the Dog Sled Races. We took our time getting up there and then met everyone at the cabin. We walked around and looked at the cabin and then spent some time sledding on his property. 

Malcolm had rented a few houses to stay in that night so we could watch the dog sled races the next morning. Our house was super cool. We just had pizza and hung out the rest of the night. The kids loved the big theater room. 

The house was right on Main street so we could see the start line from out our windows. In the morning I woke up the tractors moving snow around to make the track. We all got ready and went out to watch a few of the dog sled teams take off. We went back to the house for breakfast and then had to check out. The rest of the morning they had activities for the kids and dogs. Cougar pulled Claire and Maggie and Quentin and Kent in a dog sled which was super cute. Corbin got to go by himself and got pulled by Hank, Malcolms dog. I didn't know what I was doing so apparently I didn't pull and make Cougar go fast enough, but it was cute. Maggie, Kent, and Claire all were in a snowshoe race. There was a husky going around for pictures. It was actually a fun little event. I wasn't super excited to go and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. 

There was quite a bit of waiting and the kids were super tired from the night before so I was glad I had the wagon. It was super entertaining.

Then Mark and Marianne met us at the cabin again. Van got to sit in the forklift and pretend to drive and it was easily the highlight of the entire trip for him. Then Mark and Marianne took us all out to lunch at Applebee's. Kent got to order a steak and was in heaven. It was a fun little over nighter for sure! 

ifly

Claire had the best field trip to ifly a couple weeks ago. She didn't even want to go in the morning but Matt came with us and she was excited. We went into the instruction room to learn about what to do first. Then the instructor took the kids into the wind tunnel to show them how it works. Claire loved it! He squirted water out of a bottle to show them how it is pulled up by the air suction. Then they got to watch a teddy bear fly. She seriously was the cutest of all the kids to watch because she loved it all. 

About half the kids chose to fly and got dressed. Claire was second in line. The first girl to fly was terrified. She screamed the whole time. Claire was next and it was the best! From the second she got into the tube she was smiling, sticking her tongue out and loving it! It was so fun to watch her. She was the cutest of all the kids for sure!

Claire is FIVE!

Claire's birthday was on a Sunday this year. It was really nice to have later church for that day. We woke up and I made breakfast and then she was able to open all her presents because we were all home. She was thrilled with her soccer cleats and put them on immediately. After church she got dressed in her full soccer uniform, with cleats, and wore it the entire day. She also got a tracing pad and markers. She is definitely our little artist. She loves to color, draw, paint, anything artsy. I don't know where she gets it, but I love it. She colors more than any of my other kids ever have. 

After church we visited both Grandparents and she was spoiled and loved it! Maggie made Claire a unicorn cake. Claire was so excited!

I love this girl so much! She and Van are such cute little friends (and enemies) that play all day. She loves to learn and is reading exceptionally well. She doesn't always love school but she is social and has many friends she loves to play with. 

Skiing

We gave Maggie the 5th Grade ski pass for Christmas. Meredith has a pass to snowbasin and said she would take Maggie a couple times with her. Matt and Meredith took Maggie, just the three of them, for Maggie's first time. She loved it! There was a ranger that watched her struggling at the top of one of the runs that gave her a free hot cocoa pass because she did so good getting down that run. She said she only ran into one tree, when Claire asked that question. She said Aunt Meri was a great teacher and she felt like she was pretty good at skiing after just the few hours. Overall, it was a great experience and she is so excited to go back! 

Environmental Center Field Trip

 Maggie begged me to go on her field trip to the environmental center. I had never been on a field trip with her before and she kept reminding me. I had my mom watch my kids and went up for the day. I rode with Maggie's friend Blakely's mom, which was super fun. The field trip was actually really enjoyable. It was the most perfect day because there was fresh snow and sunshine. We did cross country skiing first and I loved it. I wasn't much help getting the kids ready because I couldn't figure out how to snap the boots into the bindings. I did make sure that people were doing okay out on the trail. I had to take my skis off a couple times to be any help at all, but I was actually pretty decent at the cross country skiing. I saw Maggie for about 30 seconds while we were skiing and then she was off with her friends.

We had 45 minutes skiing and then switched to snow shoeing. Maggie was much quicker than me because I was helping put shoes on so again I didn't see her at all until we all were at the top. I stole her for a quick picture and then she was gone again. I thought it was funny she wanted me on her field trip so bad because we didn't spend any time together. We both had a great time, though, so it didn't really matter.

We did get to sit together at lunch. We sat with all her friends and it was fun to be there. 

Braces - round two

 Corbin got braces on January 10th. He only has them on his top teeth and they should only have to be on for about six months. His teeth were nearly perfect from having bunny braces in the second grade. They are just to move his canines into place. He will have a bottom retainer to make a couple minor adjustments when his braces come off. Aunt Meri was Dr. Allred's assistant to put them on Corb. He has done really well with them. He hated them at first because they cut the inside of his cheeks, but that is the only complaining so far.