ellie-aspen & the sleigh

Ellie really wanted to be the sleigh puller when she wasn't riding in it. She took this job very seriously as you can see.

winter lake

Looks like I got my blue bird day this weekend... and believe me we took full advantage of it. Sunday afternoon we went on a little walk to the lake. I think we were the only non-ice fishermen out there. We did a little sleigh riding...Shane did a lot of sled pulling. We saw a lot of deer and the kids found an abundance of stuff that they consider treasure and adults consider trash. Mostly I just enjoyed the beauty of the blue sky against the white mountain peaks and the lovely feeling of the sunshine on my face.

hello snow

The snow is back this winter by the truck loads. I love the snow because it covers all the grey brown murk of winter, it makes the cold bearable, snowboarding out of sight, driving exciting (only with no kids in the car). It makes snow angels possible, our hot tub more useful and the house more cozy.. I love it I do but..... I would love it even more if that little wonderful invention the snowblower was parked and happy in my garage. This is our house before the last 3 storms. We have SO much snow. Oh! and I forgot to mention that the snow also makes me excited for Spring. I guess a blue bird day or a sunny vacation will do.
(This post is for my favorite Vegas friend who wanted to see some snow).

still loving this

I'm still loving doing this after all these years. This weekend we got to go snowboarding for a FULL day with NO kids.. I love going with my kids and watching them progress...but hitting the slopes on a huge powder day going on any trail at any speed reminds me why I love it so much. This love is what makes us take 3 kids and all their gear up to the resort every weekend (not always an easy task). It will be so worth it and so much fun to take any trail at any speed with the whole family. We are almost there... well with Canyon and Ellie anyway.. Lucy's not quite there yet. :)
(I wish this picture wasn't 11 years old but it is.)

change of heart

Up until a few days ago Lucy's number one most hated thing on the planet was a bath. She hated them right from the get go. Her first one in the hospital was total sadness and so were the following 100. But a few days ago Lucy had a change of heart when I put her in the sink. She actually had fun, even when her face got wet from splashing and rinsing. I put her favorite song on (Fiest 1 2 3 4) for her during the bath. Maybe that was the trick. Baths are always always better with music.... I guess even for babies. Geez why didn't I think of that sooner ?

the boy

Yesterday me and Lucy went over to the local ice skating rink to watch Canyon skate his heart out. He was on a field trip with his 2nd grade class. It was fun to see him mingle and mix with the other kids and put on a show with his best tricks for me. He insisted a thousand times over that he wanted to buy me hot chocolate for coming, so I finally took him up on his offer. Sipping Hot chocolate, sitting on a little bench with Lucy in a beautiful town with lightly falling snow, watching my favorite boy in the world ice skating with a huge smile on his face. Not a bad afternoon at all.

lunch and some finger foods

Lucy is getting the hang of eating her fruits and veggies.
Peaches = favorite so far.... Green beans = not so much

What she really loves is trying out this finger food thing. She works so hard at picking up those little Cherrios.

( ahhh finally got it !)

(Delicious...!)

the girls

I was bored today...so I took some pictures of the girls. We had to much fun. I hope they always love each other this much.

birth note

I am in the process of making a large print of this for Lucy's room. It was her birth announcement we made a while ago. I think Shane did a perfect job. It turned out just as I hoped, with a little inspiration I gave him from one of my favorite stores :). How nice to be in love with a graphic designer. ( I think I should buy this it would be a nice fit with her new art... and so cute too!)

favorite thing

One of Ellie's most favorite things to do is to greet Lucy in her crib when she wakes up. I think Ellie looks at it as the perfect time to have Lucy be her subject in training. Teaching her all about how to be a lady and what her idea of pretty is. Most of the time Lucy just stares at her and smiles with admiration in her eyes... it's the cutest thing.

Girls night out

Last weekend I went and saw this with some friends. It was a great movie and so fun to see it with the girls. I LOVED this movie for its witty humor and great characters.. the music fit it perfectly as well. I don't go see movies very much other than cartoons and enchanted.. so maybe I am not the best critic but I would suggest this to those who have not seen it yet. I can't wait to watch it again with Shane.... guys would like it to I think??

snow baby

I took Lucy out for a little snow time while I shoveled our driveway.
According to that big smile on her sweet face I will make the
assumption that she liked it.

one gone....one to go

Canyon lost his front tooth the other day... the long awaited one that has been loose FOREVER! He was getting some good movement going but still had awhile. Nothing a good knee to the face while doing a summersault at a rock-n-roll birthday party won't fix. Not to mention he lost more than the tooth in this little accident. But at least the tooth finally fell out right? (no party holders are held responsible for this minor incident.)

blue hat

This Saturday we were all ready to go riding/skiing except for Lucy she only had her diaper on. So we play a joke on Ellie. We put this blue hat on her and told Ellie that Lucy was all ready to go. Of course Ellie panics at the mere thought of Lucy being at the lodge wearing only a diaper and a hat. She tries her hardest to convince us that it is not acceptable for Lucy to wear this. So we cave...and Ellie beams with victory. Before I got her dressed she looked SO cute, I quickly had a little photo session. I was surprised how much I ended up loving them so I had to post a bunch.

new years and a snowman

This is where we spent our new-years...what a great little get away to start off the new year.!! Which leads to one of my goals for the new year....go and see more places like this and this. I wish here to learn to do this but I know it will have to wait. I also want to visit old favorites like this one.
Another must for the new year a gym pass.

There were other things that were a part of our new years get away.. like this snowman. Canyon and Ellie like to call him Mr. Tickle bush... that's what they have named every snowman in the past few years..... Your guess is as good as mine on that one.
Other cabin activities included.....
Snowmobiling, Fireworks for bringing in the New Year (big ones), collecting aspens, building a snow fort, tubing, and food food and more food and that = gym pass for the new year.

Canyon had a great time.. his favorites: the snow fort, getting huge icicles, and shooting his brand new Red Ryder at soda cans and man-made targets only!! (at the request of his mother). I did make the exception for a poisonous animal if he happened to encounter one.

Lucy experienced her first snowmobile ride. That is the only form of transportation into the cabin she had no choice. We bundled her up and she did great coming in and getting out... and brrr.. it was a little chilly. Good thing singing pat-a-cake will take her mind off almost anything including below freezing temps it seems.

Hoping for a great 2008!

snow bunny

Ellie Apsen loves the snow.... She is very good a trudging through waist deep snow, trail blazing the way. She thinks it's funny to be unbalanced and almost falling every step I guess. She wont even accept to be helped when she is really stuck....and somehow every time she pulls off the great escape all by her big girl self. Then she always seems to make it back to a big cup of hot coa coa waiting for her... Her very favorite on a snowy day.

winter earth

A little holiday get away...led me to this lovely winter spot.
With a hint of fall left behind.

Cox Christmas

We had a great Christmas.... the kids loved it and were so excited but once again we had to wake them up on Christmas morning along with Grandma and Grandpa Cox...and tell them all that Santa came. Christmas is so magical with kids.... Canyon heard Santa come in his room twice.. and he was scared so he kept his eyes closed.. Ellie put out reindeer food.. and loved seeing the tracks they left in the morning..How fun is Christmas when you still believe?

Canyons highlight..... the surprise wii as the last present for the family... he still brings up Santa's writing on the card he said he loved Santa's fancy cursive handwriting.. he was sad when he found out I threw it away.. whoops.. sorry canyon.

Ellie's highlight.... How the tracks looked like the reindeer just flew away like magic.. the Barbie laptop.. and the new Island Princess dress.

Lucy's highlight... Probably music, lights and lots of paper to squish and hit.

I loved celebrating Christmas with our little family and the feeling it brings into our home.

Christmas Card 2007

This was our Christmas card this year. We come up with something every year and Shane puts it together. Shane has been quite creative in years past so when Christmas time rolls around and people start asking about the "new Christmas card" we start to feel the pressure to come up with something great. I dont know if this one topped some of the past ones but I liked it a lot. Leave it to Shane to take my ideas and vision and make it even better.

Almost 8

I just can't believe how old Canyon is getting..when I hold him his long skinny legs almost hit the ground. I miss him so small and cuddly. I wish I could go back for a moment and see his big toothless grin or watch him toddle around. Back to the time when it was just me and him all day long and my face was the one he saw the most. But I do love who is now and spending time with him doing older almost 8 year old stuff. I guess lately I have just noticed how much older and independent he is and I miss him. Maybe I should just be grateful that he still likes me .... instead of all those girls that follow him around at school (who can blame them). I am looking forward the the long break off school and work coming up and the time we will spend together as a family doing the stuff we love to do... maybe that will help me get my Canyon fix I need right now. That is just one more of the reasons why I love this time of the year..time off from the daily grind to just be together... Merry Christmas.....

yummy rice cereal

Lucy had her first bite of yummy yummy (bland yucky) cereal!! She just loved it... can't you tell.

Yes..... this special occasion was a family affair.. in this picture every person had their mouths open waiting for Lucy to open hers.. Geez what pressure for your first try at food with all those staring eyes wide open mouths... good thing she strives under pressure.

Horay! she did it.... well kind of anyway. She is probably just happy that there is no longer a
strange sloppy substance being put in her mouth.

skiing days

Ellie did so great! Started out the season right where she left off last year.. She already had her first yard sale of the year.. but she wasn't scared... she got back up and raced down the hill. Brave girl Ellie

Canyon started off going for any powder he could see good boy Canyon!

Lucy hangs out in the lodge.. she stares at all the people. She takes mental notes on how all the stuff works...I'm sure of it.

tis the season

What a beautiful first day out! Fresh tracks in lots of powder oh.. it felt good.
It even felt nice to have sore legs the next day!

Our new stomping grounds where we hang out with Lucy awaiting our turn. Not a bad spot to wait... We even found a perfect corner with a window to claim for the season.

Waiting for the lifts to open... huge tree fell on a chair lift = 2 hour delay.! Laying in snow piles and catching snowflakes will pass the time.

Lucy spent most the time having sweet dreams in the lodge but she did hang outside for a bit and ate some snow. She was so good to hang out in the lodge for hours on end.. Thanks Lucy!

little miss brown eyes

Is 6 months old

A half a year old and very charming. Lucy is our tiny little peanut but is doing very big girl stuff like.....eating yummy cereal...sitting up.....drinking large glasses of milk.... entertaining the entire family... and she even gives big sloppy kisses. Could this be love... I think it must.

brrr..... its cold outside

Canyon and Ellie got in the hot tub the morning after the last storm... Canyon spent a while talking Ellie into getting out and jumping on the trampoline with him. It took some convincing but finally she was up to the challenge...but she wanted him to hold her hand of course. The rest of the pictures tell the story. The way Ellie's face looked in some of the pictures made me laugh so hard...(double click for the full effect.)

whew!! finally warm again... mission completed!

winter wonderland

thoughtful canyon

I think Canyon has to be one of the most thoughtful 7 year olds out there. The other night Shane was gone to a meeting and I was doing 10 things at once..while holding Lucy. Canyon was doing his homework and he looked up at me contemplating something and said "Mom is it hard being a mom?" I said, "do you think it is ?" His reply was so sweet he said " Yah I think it looks really hard and I am glad you are the mom because your good at it". How thoughtful and sweet is that?? I don't think when I was 7 I gave it a ounce of thought if it was hard or not for my mom. Canyon has always been my little sweetheart it's his beautiful gift in life. I could not love this boy more...I am a lucky mom.

let it snow...

I love this new snow SO much! Looks like we need to get the gear out.. all the boards waxed up and ready to go! Starting this weekend you can find our family here somewhere on this mountain. We have never had passes at Sundance but this year is the year due to lack of funds and an infant by our side we our saying goodbye to our longed loved resort the Canyons and exploring Sundance this year. Sure it might not be quite as big or elaborate as the other resorts but I am looking forward to the coziness and beauty of this resort and lets face it.. a pass somewhere is a better than a pass nowhere. Oh, and when most of your time on the hill is spent with your 4 and 7 year the greatest tree stash and the steepest and deepest just aren't as important... (but still important.. I will miss them. ) I'm sure it will be a fun year and Canyon and Ellie are SO excited. The bonus side to Sundance is that your pass is good for the whole year for hiking and biking I guess this will be the year of Sundance for our little family.