Sunset sledding

There hasn't been an abundance of snow this year in Calgary.  I guess I can't complain, although I do love the snow.  Last week before dinner, we tried to get some sledding in. Before we even got to the hill, Soren took Anna down at the knees and they had a brawl.  Love it when my kids fight.

We have a fantastic view of COP and of the mountains.

Soren all bundled up.  It was cold and windy that evening.

 Jeff's kids slide down and he hauls the sleds up for them.  I love that my kids are old!  I just stand at the top of the hill and watch every climb up the hill over and over.  It would do me good to climb up that hill over and over!  

 Anna was singing "Do you want to build a snowman" to Ella.  Find it funny that their names are so similar to those in the movie.

A lot of snow balls thrown.  Anna got Cambie.  That's what started the brawl on the way to the hill.

This was so freaking cute!  Della wanted to hit that jump soooooo bad.  She literally got to the very top of it and stopped.  Don't ever say Della didn't finish something.  Those little feet came right down and she pushed herself over the tippy top. Boy was she proud of herself for hitting that gigantic hill.

As Jeff and I are some of the most brilliant parents out there, we put huge snowballs on the sleds and sent our kids down on them.  I don't know about Barb, but Troy would of been very proud.

It is of course one of the very safest ways to sled.

Safe.  Very safe.

Olivia crashed and was pinned by the snowball.  I was to busy laughing until Soren went and jumped on top of it, nearly busting her legs off.  I knew they weren't broken when she took off after him trying to beat him up.  Dang, I love nights like those.  It got even better when I went home because Troy had a hot dinner ready for us.

Visiting Dad.

.....and Cleo.  She actually likes me.  Take that back.  She tolerates me.  At least she comes out from hiding and lets me brush and pet her.  That's big!  

A few weeks ago I was able to take a quick trip down to visit my Dad, Sister and her family.  It's emotional to walk into my parents house and not have my Mom screaming hello. As difficult as it is, its very comforting to be there.  She is everywhere in the house still.  I love to visit with my Dad.  This last visit we got to go over family history.  Fun stuff.

The craft room is still the same.  Love it.  I totally take after Mom when in comes to this kind of stuff.  

I walked around the house and snapped a few pics.  I want the kids and one day my grand kids to see what their house was like.   I love these photo's of Mom and Dad.

The view outside my Dads front window.  They change colour by the minute as the sun sets.  Stunning.

Dad, Jana and I went and spent some time up at Moms grave.

Two years she's been gone.  I still have those moments when I go to pick up the phone to tell her something and then catch myself.  Or when I think something is really neat and want her to see it.  I have so much of her in me.  Just so thankful that I still have my Dad.  Thanks for the laughs Jana.  Not the dry heaving.  Didn't like that!  You have amazing kids.  So fun to spend time with them!  

Snow children

I have to say that my two youngest kids have adapted to the cold much better than I thought they would.  They definitely love being outside sledding, skating and playing.

Very cold.

After Christmas the girls wanted to do some photo shoots.  I look online and see all these amazing ideas that I want to do.  Um, it's freaking cold!  I don't want to go outside!  The girls did talk me into going one very cold, sunny day.  I'm glad I did because we laughed a lot!  It was nice to walk around and see the birds and breathe some fresh air.

 At one point Ella hugs a tree and says that she's a tree huger.  Anna kicks the tree and says that she is a tree kicker.  Typical!

The girls singing Taylor Swift.  

Christmas 2015

Don't even get me started on the fact that it's almost the end of January.  Christmas was just here.  I'm still recovering from it!  Logan was able to come and visit for a few days.  We loved having him here with us.  I think it was a shock to his system to be thrown into living with a big noisy family again.  It's interesting how we all adapt to a certain way of living and then it gets thrown of balance again with someone comes and visits.  We all expected things to be normal, but it seems we have all gotten used to living apart.  I wouldn't change a thing.  

It proves how grown up Logan has become.  Part of me still wants Logan to need me, but part of me is also very happy that he can cope on his own.

 This Christmas was also very emotional for me because my little one no longer believes in Santa.  It puts a whole new spin on the season.  

 Troy had surprised me with a new camera before Christmas.  I still hadn't figured out how to use it.  Pretty obvious.  It's always been tradition to have the kids walk into the family room from youngest to oldest.  Think this is the last year this was going to happen too.  I had a whole lot of rolling eyes and grunts.

Even after all the chaos in the house, laughter, playing and arguments, I was the happiest of Moms.  I had my children all around me.  I had my Husband with me.  It didn't get better than that!  I'm a pretty proud Mom.