Friday, January 29, 2010

Winter Fun

I love you Daddy!

Daddy caught my last-minute breakfast sneeze... thanks Daddy:)
Goin' for a walk with Mommy

I love playing stair-catch with Daddy
Mommy and Aunt Kelly went snow-shoeing together in Estes Park. Sierra and I played at home with Grandma Paulie.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Yurting With the Bensons

What is yurting, you ask?
...what it's not: :)
This is a Yurt: A tent-like structure with a woodburning stove. So yurt-ing is snowshoeing to a yurt with overnight gear on your back.
Amanda and Jacob are two of the neatest people we know... so fun to have friends to "play outside" with!
Yurt bound:)

Happy girls:)
After 3 miles we found our yurt in the clearing... SO BEAUTIFUL!
Perched on a hill, the view off the porch was gorgeous!
We stopped for PB&J at the Yurt, then continued on another 3 miles up to Montgomery Pass

Silly fun:)

Almost there:)
We carried a sled up with us for some fun on the way down:).

1st shot at it
2nd
3rd time's a charm:)
We made it back to the yurt just before sunset

Time to get the fire started ...burr:)
Trying to stay warm while we wait for the fire to start
Thawing by the fire... what a special guy you are Dustin:)
... had some ventilation issues, so our chili dinner started a bit smokey... still real yummie!
The air cleared just in time for mini-s'mores: mini marshmellows, chocolate chips and Teddygrams:)
So temperature control was a bit tricky in the yurt. Knowing temps would dip into the single digits, we figured piling wood in before bed would help keep us warm longer... we were right. It got to 105 before we got up to open the door - yikes! :)
I had to get up for sunrise!
"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised!"
- Psalm 113:3
Morning bible and hot chocolate with Amanda
Day 2: sledding durbys :)
Really, the boys did it, but I had to give it a try... who's the special one now:)
Lunch on the deck before heading back

We laughed so hard. D road the sled with all his gear a full mile down the mountain:)
What a GREAT trip!
Thanks Paulie and Rog for staying with Caleb in FC!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Christmas in Minnesota

Merry Christmas! We made it out of Colorado's snow storm just in time to hit Minnesota's... Nothing better than runs in the snow though (says the Minnesota girl... Dustin's starting to warm:):) up to the idea too).
Nana had TRUCKS and cars for me to play with... these were Mommy's when she was little.

Nana pushed me around the house making truck noises; we stopped to ring the bell on the tree after each lap:)
Mom took out my 4th grade recorder...
We went to a candle light service with Nana, Mommy and Daddy
Happy Birthday King Jesus!
I love you Buddy:)
It snowed and snowed and snowed... I love you Grandma and Grandpa!
I played cards with Mommy. It was fun, but we lost to Daddy and Grandpa
Grandma let me play with her rocking chair!

I played Kitchen-utensil-wrestling with Grandma - she is so fun!
Grandma and Grandpa played trucks with me!
My highschool friend, Monica, visited with her daughter Piper - so much fun catching up:)
Caleb and Piper dancin'
I love you Aunt Holly! :)
Jeff, Kelly and Sierra flew into town Saturday. We ALL gathered for dinner Saturday evening... for the big surprise announcement...
It's TRUE! :)
Congrats Jeff, Kelly and Sierra! :)
My dad, Kelly's dad, my bro, D and Kelly's brother, Brian
Me too guys!?
Dancin' with Sierra :)
Caleb was in heaven pushing Sierra around in the truck; he never passes up an opportunity to push something big or heavy :), and Sierra... was enjoying the free ride (ada girl!) :)
Beep Beep
Peek-a-boo on Nana's stairs
Common theme:)... here Sierra is getting a ride in the truck again:)
Old Navy sweatshirts and matching cars... life doesn't get much better:)
Keep up the good work, Santa!
Our family from International Falls, MN (My Uncle Rod, Aunt Mary Jane, and cousins Will and Grace) visited. We went sledding!
Go Grandpa and Caleb, Go! :)
Minnesotan's at heart, we braved sledding in single-digit weather... Caleb was cold (1/2 Arizonian:) )... We're convinced Sierra, on the other hand, doesn't feel cold - she can't get enough of being outside when it's cold:)


More family games:)
Will, Caleb and Grace
Aunt Mary Jane
It was SO COLD and we couldn't go out to play, so we found an indoor gym:)


Kelly and I had a bit of fun too:)
Dinner with the whole family
Us with Cousin Ben and Nick
So blessed to be celebrating with family this year, we couldn't feel more gratitude fhat God brought his Son to us... Our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Faithful King (Isaiah (9:6) ...our Savior... we love you! Happy Birthday:)!