time for tea

Me and Ellie and Lucy met up with some of our favorite girls for a tea party at Pandora's Tea Parlor. This place is beyond cute and a great place to go and hang with little and big girls. The girls loved the dress up room that is stocked to the brim with all the fancy sparkly wonderful stuff that little girls love, they were in heaven. It was so cute to see them sitting on their very own lovely little table sipping and chatting away. We wanted in on the fun so we got a little dressed up to...(and laughed and laughed). Thanks to all the tea party girls for this fun lunch.

Pandora's tea parlor may be closing it's doors this makes me sad :(

Ellie with her very adorable friends minus one. (Izzy :( )

Little Lucy lovin the tea time!

Ellie and Scout

Ellie's fancy friends Sophie and Mari sitting on those very cute tables.


Beautiful tea party ladies ...those hats were SO great!

that boy is so smooth

Canyon doing some sweet rails last weekend...lovin it!

Family Ski Day

We had a fun family Ski Day while Lucy spent some time doing all that fun baby stuff with G-ma.

As the season winds down I have some mixed emotions. I am so ready to once again see the beautiful color green, get out the tents and swimsuits and be saturated with sunshine. At the same time we have had SO SO many good days at the mountain that I will miss our Saturday routine. I am glad I get to enjoy a little of both in the early Spring (Spring snowboarding is so fun). Nice warm days in the valleys yet still some snow at the resorts. With all that said, I will have to admit that if the 70's and 80's want to come a little early I will be welcoming them with open arms, flip flops and a tall glass of lemonade.

tooth proof

Lucy has sprung two cute little pearly whites. I have felt them and on occasion caught a glance..but I wanted a better look. I was hoping I would be able to see them in a picture.

At first all I got was this cute look....

And this....

She seemed determined to keep her pretty little lips sealed.

But finally she smiled and there it was.. the tooth! One very cute first tooth... the other one is to small.

Tubing @ Soldier Hollow

We went tubing to Soldier Hollow. We had such a good time! How could you not... you don't even have to pull your tube up the hill. It pulls you. :) Then you get to go down a perfectly smooth rollie pollie hills in a big train. WHEEEEE...

A sick weekend

We had a sick weekend.. and not the good kind of sick. The kids are and miserable and my husband is at boy scout camp kind of sick. What is worse than having sick kids ? Not much..but we did manage to go to a movie. I had to get out and this was an activity we all could enjoy on low energy. The kids weren't contagious but still not feeling up to doing anything that required more than sitting. This was a fun movie. The kids loved it! It was kind of scary but the kids insisted that they were unaffected.When we got home Ellie was knocking on all the walls checking for trolls... I assume. Looks like it got to her a little. A fun movie none the less. Lucy sat contently through the whole thing looking around and eating cherrios. It was a little mind boggling so see her sit through the movie not making one mad or sad peep. I will enjoy it while I can because lets face it once she is on the move the ease of taking her along with us to the movies is history.

remember

I was looking at these pictures today that Shane did a few years ago. I just love them. Canyon and Ellie were so little. Canyon was 5, Ellie was 2. Its fun to look back and remember what they were like back then. It's amazing what a couple years can do..it goes by so fast....way too fast. A year seemed like forever when I was growing up... just waiting 12 days for a birthday or Christmas seemed like an eternity. What happened to that? Now a week blows by in a blink of an eye and my kids are getting way to grown up. Just when I want them all out of diapers a part of me wishes they were back in them. I need to enjoy each day with them in these little kid years I know they won't last long. I love love these two!

jib to 180

For Presidents day weekend we did a little of this and a little of that.
Canyon is pulling some sweet 180's these days check him out. It's fun to see him ride those out he gets so excited. He also thinks he is old enough to drive his own sled...I don't think so not quite yet (only when dad is on the back).

bangels and pearls

We cut Ellie some bangs a while ago. Then a few days ago while I was doing her hair she said " Mom I don't really like my pearls." She thought bangs were called pearls for some reason. So I cleared that all up for her. Even though they seem like they should be called pearls (much cuter). A couple days passed and she asked me if I would put a clippy in her bangels. I decided against teaching her that they were bangs and not bangles. The word pearls or bangels just sounds way more charming. Besides why are they called bangs anyway? Thats just not a very good word to describe whispy hair that dangles lightly above your eyebrows is it? So its bangles for the girls in this house it's just better that way. ( I love her natural curls I hope they are here to stay)

be mine

Lucy was my little Valentine today. I think she loves me because she doesn't like me to go anywhere that her big brown eyes loose line of sight and her favorite place to be is riding around on my hip. I love you too Lucy B.... Will you always be mine?

TAG i'm it...

I've been tagged 10 things you might not know about me.

1. I can't and refuse to wear black socks... I don't know why I just can't put a pair on. I can do black tights..just not the socks.. part of it is they remind me of old men.. the other reasons I can't quite put a finger on.

2. I love to travel near or far.... I would go just about anywhere anytime but not quite with anyone.. I have to like who I travel with. I love to go explore new places from slot canyons to vibrant cities.. anything goes. I would love to explore new countries uh... I better apply for a passport to make this happen. For now road trips with some good tunes will be making me happy.

3. I find it hard to pass up a dare.. On my first date with Shane I army crawled through a small squishy cave in a swim suit.. Why??? I asked myself that question when it was over a million times...because he dared me. (10 years later it looks like that double dare payed off)

4. There are many many things I wish I was better at. The list would be way to long so I will just leave it at that.

5. My feet crave flip flops in the winter months. After many long winter days my feet just start to feel suffercated and when the socks come off its like they can breath. I know its silly.. but so true. The best is after a Spring snowboarding day to take those big boots and wooly socks off and slip your little footsie into a flip flop Ahhhhh! that feels good.

6. LOST... I know I know .. the TV program is all the rage...But until recently I have only watched an episode here or there. Life is just to busy these days to commit to a set TV schedule. But thanks to this we get to watch it whenever we want. We are half way thorough season one and I must admit it's pretty good.

7. We don't have cable and in this day and age this makes us very strange I am aware of that. Once in a while I wish we had like when a good jazz game is on but other than that I don't miss having cable. We don't watch that much TV anyway.

8. I love warm summer nights.. I have so much more energy and I love staying outside until late.

9. I love sleeping in..there is nothing quite better than just waking up when you don't feel tired anymore and eating a big yummy breakfast.

10. I love having my head scratched, feet rubbed, neck & massaged, hands & arms tickled and so on and so on.. but who doesn't right???

Whew!! that really was hard.. I was running on near empty in the end. Ali I better be on your good friend list now. Now it's time for Heidi, Heather, Janelle, Holli and Harmony to play the game. TAG your it !! Come on don't let me down.

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.