2012: year in review (1st quarter)

I was a horrible family blogger last year and it was my goal over the Christmas break to do a little catch up, which obviously didn't happen.  Is it just me, or did everyone else's life suddenly switch into hyperdrive mode??  So much for slowing down . . .

To celebrate the Christmas decorations finally getting put away (today) and Chris finally bringing home a new lap top (last week), I will try to earnestly blog again.  Especially now that it can be accomplished with my feet up while relaxing on the couch :)

With major events such as birthdays and vacations that didn't get any coverage last year, I'm hoping to get it all wrapped up in a few days by posting a few months at a time . . .

{ January } 
Sundance Film Festival and Skyline Hockey:

Another year at Sundance!

Josh Radnor, actor/director (after a screening of Liberal Arts).  LOVE his work and I am looking forward to seeing another film of his at the 2013 fest (Afternoon Delight).

Taylor Swift and Ethel Kennedy after the premiere screening of the documentary Ethel, 

directed by Ethel's youngest daughter, Rory Kennedy.  

Ok, ya, I have to admit it was pretty cool to be within a few feet of the fabulous Ms. Swift.

Director Ben Zeitliin and cast of Beasts of the Southern Wild, which was just nominated for an Academy Award for best film, director, and lead actress.  This film was an experience I'll never forget.

Meeting director Eugene Jareki on the streets of Park City.  Talented director of the documentaries,  The House I Live In  (2012) and Why We Fight (2010).  It was an honor to have a few minutes to chat with him!

William Macy and John Hawkes after the screening of The Sessions.  

I was so touched by the human elements of this film - it was beautiful.

Saying "hello" to Mr. Macy 

My friend Cheryln after a seeing the film Safety Not Guaranteed (delightful).  Before the screening, they showed a short called Bear - definitely something we didn't expect that kept us laughing all day.

Hence, we just had to pose with Park City's own "Bear."

After Sundance, it's back to real life and this sweet face:

I brought this hat back from Park City for Liza and she loved it so much, it was all she wore for the next three months.  I'm not exaggerating.  It was the first thing she put on in the morning and the last thing she took off.  Finally, by the end of March after she had developed a rash on her forehead, we convinced her that it was time for the polar bear hat to retire until next winter.

Breakfast in the hat.

A few pictures of Ryan on the ice with the Skyline Varsity Hockey team (Jan 2012):

Boy, am I going to miss high school hockey next year.

Actually, after 12 years of cheering this kid from the bench, I am going to REALLY miss the afternoons and evenings spent at the rink watching our Ryan play hockey.  *sigh.  Next winter is going to be tough - I honestly think I will feel a big chunk of my life missing.  *sniff

{ February }

Valentine's Day and "Sweetheart" Intermountain jr. tennis tourney:

"Letting go" mother moment:  allowing my 7 year old to design and create her very own 

Valentine's box without any interference (oh, so difficult).  

She did it all - cut the hole in her box, covered it with paper, and the decorating . . .  a'la Liza!

Room mother extravaganza in Sophie's 5th grade class.  Valentine parties rock!

Sophie delivering her Valentines

We moms are in charge of feeding the troops -

 how about heart shaped waffles, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries - yum!

Sophie and friend Emily

Liza's 2nd grade class:  Valentine Bingo!

Thrilling.

With best bud Gracie.

Brrrr.  It was a chilly President's Day weekend in St. George for the tennis tourney.

So grateful for my parents for hosting us and watching HOURS of tennis.  LOVE THEM!

{ March }

Liza's 8th birthday and a ski days:

Happy 8th Liza Lou!

We love our little sis!

Oh, she's not excited at all . . .

So grown up!

Off to school . . .

Since it wasn't a "party" year, she wanted to go with Gracie to Liberty Park after school.

Cute friends!

Then it was off for Liza's big birthday surprise:

Yep, after swearing up and down after hamsters, hermit crabs, fish, a guinea pig, rabbit, and dog that we were DONE with pets, Liza convinced her dad that she just had to have a hamster of her own.

We were so enthralled with the little critters that we couldn't just choose one, so Liza picked out TWO cute little hamsters.  She named them Chunkers and Fred.

Time for presents!

An FAO Panda - the closest we could come to a "real" Panda (that was her #1 birthday wish)

The hamsters all set in their new home (Liza's bedroom)

Chunkers

Excitement at the pet store!

A few Snowbird pics:

Sophie and friend Emily

Liza and Gracie ready to head into Mineral Basin

 . . . and they're off!

Ski days are always more fun with your best friend :)

that time of year again

Well, with a bunch of Cantera happenings floating around my brain that need to be captured on the blog and not exactly sure where to start, I just have get something new up.

So, here are few ski pics I just found from last March . . .

Ahhh, nothing better than spring skiing.  I doubt Chris even owns a ski jacket or goggles ;).

Annual ski time with our Colorado cousins . . . 

three days on the slopes and nonstop giggles from these girls!

With Ryan in Honeycomb . . . attempting to find some untouched powder.

We are loving the new season and thrilled that already we have better snow than we did much of last year. Saturdays are pure bliss - the teens are at Snowbird, Liza is at Solitude with ski team, and I have the option of either time on the slopes with Sophie or a quiet day at home.  My favorite part of the day is when everyone trickles in around 4pm with their mountain stories.  Here is sampling from this weekend . . .

Ryan:  "The cirque today was so good, I almost cried.  Really, Mom, it was unbelievable - fresh tracks all day . . . did I tell you I almost cried it was so good?!"

Liza:  "I guess I didn't get my boot in my binding the right way after lunch because half way up the chairlift my ski fell off . . .  but don't worry, my coach is really fast, so we waited on top and he found my ski and brought it back." 

Caroline:  "I froze my butt off."

welcome winter

Last weekend it snowed, and snowed, and snowed for almost two straight days.  We lost power for most of the day on Saturday, but no one minded much since they played outside the entire day, and even when it became dark and cold the girls thought it was awesome to play games by candlelight with headlamps (thank goodness we had power before bed :).  When the sun came out Sunday afternoon we had amassed over 30".  The kids couldn't have been more delighted!

Our yard on Saturday . . .

The same trees on Sunday (and patio table - crazy!). . .

The snow was so deep Lucy was literally swimming in the white stuff!

I couldn't resist taking a video.

I find great satisfaction in stepping in fresh snow - even if I'm still in my skirt and boots after church.

Caroline built an awesome igloo for all the neighbor kids and Chris and I made sledding tracks for them down our sidewalk. (Sophie wouldn't be in the picture and Liza wasn't that thrilled that I lost it after they had been arguing over hot chocolate for the past 15 minutes . . . )

Another video of the dog trying to find the squirrels on the mountainside across the street - too funny!

Monday morning - I couldn't let a morning like this pass by without a little snowshoeing in pristine Neff's Canyon . . . Ahhhh.

Caroline and friends enjoying their first day on the slopes together.  Opening day at Solitude was yesterday and Ryan celebrated his first day skiing today at Snowbird.  Yes, they both missed school and every year when the attendance secretary asks "reason for absence," I reply with "mental health day."  Always works :).