Hodge-Podge and the Ski Program

We are a bunch of sweet-tooths around here.  Most are pretty good about eating fruits and veggies, but keeping the sugar out is another story.  They (whoever they are) say don't buy junk food if you don't want your children to eat it.  I would like to know what advice they have when such goodies are created by children in your own home on a weekly basis?  Ha!

Sugar Cookie Bars - taste exactly like traditional sugar cookies but much easier.

 Treats are usually made on Sunday and we try to make them last until FHE on Monday.

Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Cookies

 We have a rotation schedule (sort-of) but Brinley usually dominates in the baking department.  Everybody likes the results and are happy to let her do the work/clean-up.

Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Muffins

 

 Besides the cold snap experienced during the week between Christmas and New Year's, January was unseasonable warm.  Early on the kids were able to play in the snow.  Not at the moment.  Whatever is still on the ground is dirty and icy.

 The children always look forward to Sunday dinner at G-ma and G-pa M's place.  Though hit and miss with our/their busy schedules, we gather often.  G-ma M loves games - not sure where this one came from but the kids had fun trying it out.

 Brin had fun watching.

There is the occasional game night at our own house.

"Apples to Apples" usually wins out since every skill-level can play.

 Quinn can be very random at times.  

When he makes up his mind to be my helper for the morning, there is no stopping him.

(No matter what else is planned for the day...:).

 Some of his outfits are also very random.  This pj combo doesn't look comfy but he will tell you otherwise.  Some days he'll layer on 4-5 shirts and choose to 'sweat to death'.  Funny boy.

We have a beautiful new addition in the extended M. family.  Brandon and Stephanie and Jack were joined by baby Penelope (Penny) on January 20, 2015.

 Ahh, another budding violinist in the house.  Anna begged and begged to switch from cello to violin after the Christmas break.  Not wanting to rent a violin when we had already paid to rent a cello (we do own a full-size but it is too big for Anna at the moment), I thought maybe Jantzen would like to try it out.  Nope. He's holding out until I give him the green light for guitar lessons.  Maybe this summer.  Guess I'll be returning the cello and paying for a violin now.  What's a mom to do?

 When we first moved to the area, the school district offered a 4-week ski school program for 5th-9th graders.  At the time, Tanner didn't express much interest so we hardly noticed when the program was dropped a few years later.  Soon after, a parent group decided to spear-head the effort of organizing a local ski program for students (5th-9th grade) very much like what the district once offered. Last year Jantzen clued us in on it so this season we were 'in the know' and ready when it was time to register.

 Anna was fortunate to borrow skis and boots from a neighbor so we only had to rent poles/helmet (required).  Aaron helped her practice getting the gear on prior to her first time on the hill.  After a 30-minute lesson, she spent the rest of the evening figuring things out with her friends before returning home on the bus.  During the craziness of the evening, she somehow lost her coat and one ski boot.  It put a real damper on an otherwise great experience because the boot did not belong to us and our search efforts were not producing results.  We called the schools, the resort, talked with the bus driver, drove over to the bus rental facility and checked luggage areas, etc.  We prayed for several days that somehow the coat/boot (especially the boot) would show up somewhere.  After sending out an email to a parent-helper, the coat/boot turned up and we drove out to a lady's house to reclaim the lost goods.  It was another reminder to Anna that Heavenly Father answers prayers.

 Each Friday during the month of January, Anna and Jantzen packed up their ski/snowboard gear along with a sack dinner and hit the hills after school until 9pm.  It was something they looked forward to all week long.

 Jantzen really enjoyed putting his new snowboard to use and improved his skills greatly.  Unfortunately, during the final 30-minutes of his ski program experience, he took a fall and went down hard.  Hard enough that the ski patrol had to escort him off the mountain and Aaron had to take him to the Dr.'s for an x-ray.  There were a lot of injuries that night due to icy conditions.  I happened to be in CV when I received the phone call about his fall.  How convenient that his former soccer coach (and Dr.) happened to be at the scene and had my number in his phone.  Tender mercies.

The good news is - no broken bones.  The bad news is - a buckle fracture in his right wrist.  Since he is in the middle of his basketball season, this is going to really cramp his style.  Aaron had plans to take the kids skiing again this winter (if we get more snow - super icy now) because the state offers a special discount for 5th-6th graders.  They can ski for free (with paid adult) with a special passport we purchased for $10.  Some families really get into skiing around here but the expense, time and logistics for our family to participate in this together has been prohibitive.  We are happy Jantzen and Anna have enjoyed their ski program experience and we're hoping for a speedy recovery for Jantzen!