Snow Day!

We have only had about 3 "storms" to speak of this year and it has been a bit strange having such a dry winter.  But, when it does snow, we try to take advantage.

Today, Mattie had William and Sophia over - they played and played in the snow, "rested" on their chairs on the sauna deck, had some hot cocoa, played dress up, and finger painted... What do you do on a snow day?

Mornings always start off right with some semi-unsupervised finger painting. I am amazed at how good she actually is with paints.  She stays at her craft table, washes her hands before doing anything, and stays relatively clean.  I did have to tell her no once when she asked if she could paint her face.

We had a doctors appointment this morning.  I say "we" because I get my baby check ups and so does Matine.  They all know her in the office and love to visit with her when we get there.  Nurse Gloria always brings her treats and asks her how "her baby" is growing in her belly.  She helped the Doc measure my belly today with the little tape measure and as soon as they were done Matine walked very confidently to her drawer in the exam room - I saw the Doc take a big gasp (like oh, no!  kid going through medical drawer) and before she could say anything Matine had put the tape measure in the exact spot it came from and nicely shut the drawer.  I thought Doc's jaw was going to drop.  It was pretty funny.

After our babies were given the "a-ok" we had lunch with Mike, William and Sophia and then they came back to our place for a few hours.  The kids couldn't stand being inside once they saw that sun shining on the nice white snow - so 45 minutes later after my wholeness bundled up 3 squirming kids - they were gone.

Hot cocoa and then some dress up.  It was a day!

Mattie loves her "princess" dress and she accessorized today with a bowl on her head.  It looked just like a yarmulke and I laughed thinking how timely her support of Israel was....

Elkhorn Hotsprings Weekend

This time last weekend we joined the Harrison Family (see Melynda's blog for her account of the weekend) for our 2nd Annual Winter Ski / Fun Weekend (that's what I am calling it at least).   Last year we joined them in Neihart, MT for some downhill skiing at Showdown Ski Resort and XC skiing at Kings Hill Pass.   This year we met up in Polaris, MT at Elkhorn Hotsprings.  They are an excellent family to "travel" with because they, like us, are independent, fun and just ready to go.

This is the face of winter fun! 

We met up with them on Friday at the Patagonia Outlet in Dillon for some shopping and then caravanned through the beautiful Pioneer Mountain Valley to our destination.  We stayed in the cabins there at the "resort."  I use this term loosely because despite the quaint appeal of the exterior, they are "rustic" in most ways.  We didn't seem to mind the sagging, three legged beds, or the archaic wood stove that was either really HOT or OFF.  We didn't even mind the drafty outhouse, shared by the culdesac of cabins --- there was SNOW!  Sadly, snow has been hard to come by this winter and we are just fortunate we only had to drive 3 hours to find it.

Peter and Henry quickly packed down a sledding course with snow shoes and the kids spent most of the weekend screeching down the hill and asking to be pulled back up the hill.  Thank goodness the dads took care of most of the treks back UP hill.  I manned the landing at the bottom of the hill and made sure the kids didn't go off course and careen into the outhouse or trees.

I am not sure I have ever seen Mattie have more fun.  She LOVED the sledding.  She NEVER got too cold, wet or tired.  She even did about an hour of sledding at abbot 8pm IN THE DARK with her headlamp on (which is also a favorite possession and great toy for a kid, thank you cousin Gwenna).

We intermingled some walks across the bridge to the hot springs to soak in the mineral pools, a little bit of XC skiing (this consisted of a very slow ski/walk on the road) and for Mattie, some walking around in her snowshoes, rolling in snow, and eating snow.  The dogs were also quite happy getting to run and frolic and be free of fences for the weekend.

There is also a very "Montana-esque" lodge/restaurant that served food and a continental breakfast each morning (included with our cabin rental).

The Hoffmann's came down for a bit on Friday night and a bit of sledding on Saturday too.

It was a great weekend that helped us feel like we actually live in Montana for a winter.  I wonder where next year's destination will be?  Somewhere that can accommodate ANOTHER little kiddo .... that's for sure!

cousin time in the cabin - sleeping bags and a floor - always good entertainment! 

morning snuggles with my gal... doesn't get any better (unless it was on a not-so-creepy bed)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We are ringing in the New Year in Dillon with Pete's sister Amy and Eric (and of course cousins Cash and Jhett).  The kids are having more fun than I could ever show you in pictures or words.  We occasionally have to break up a fight (usually involving sharing a tractor, hat or ball); but for the most part they disappear to "shoot monsters"  "jump on beds" and play with all their Christmas toys.  We can't keep clothes on Matine this trip (shocker) so most of the time she is feral in diaper only.  

We have a little bit of snow so they get kicked outside as much as possible to sled, throw snowballs, or their declared favorite activity of "falling in the snow."  

We went to Elkhorn Hot Springs in the Pioneer Mountains yesterday (a first for most of us) and it was heaven.  Snow all around, warm water and happy swimming babies.  Jhett and Matine are FISH and couldn't get enough.  Cash is still on the fence as to whether he really likes the water or not.   We have already planned a trip back to Elk Horn to rent a cabin and soak more.  There is a ton of cross country skiing practically out the cabin doors, a cute restaurant, and of course, hot natural spring water!   Our kind of place!  

Today we will head down to the arena on the La Cense Ranch where they are doing a bulldogging and break-a-way roping contest/benefit (yes, I just asked Eric and Peter what the heck that was).  Should entertain the kids for a while!  I am sure Matine will love an excuse to wear her chaps, gun and holster in public.

Tonight we will try to stay awake until midnight, eat some appetizers made of elk, and ring in the New Year with our family... We feel very lucky and happy to have had such a great year and look forward to a very eventful 2012!  

Our best to you - our friends and creepy stalkers on the world wide web!

Cheers,  The Howells

Just like summer ....

Well, almost just like summer.  The dog got shaved ....

Sorry dude.  He is really mad at us, can you tell by his ridiculous "pose" here?

Matine played with her sand box tools and rake .... We just substitute snow for sand and fleece hats for sun hats! 

 Gaucho got to play fetch with the Chuck - it, but instead of tennis balls (that are buried in snow), we threw snow balls with the apparatus.  He was happy either way, really.

And Matine got to play outside, in the sun, and build fun stuff!

Friday Morning Sledding

With all three of us home for the morning, sun shining and still a bit of fresh snow on the ground ... Time to hit the Waterworks hill and do some sledding!  

Mattie loves it, and even did a solo slide or four all by herself.

I think the dogs enjoyed chasing someone other than themselves for a while too ...

The hike that turned into sledding

What do they say, "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."  Starting to be the motto for my life.

"I will blog today."  --- reality:   I can't sit at a computer with a child remotely awake, unless I want it to be reprogrammed with little fingers banging and getting it to do things I didn't even think were possible.

"I will bake something today"  --- reality:  Child needs to "help" and I end up cleaning up flour and sugar from every crack in the house.

I will go for a run today!" --- reality:  Well, it just doesn't sound like that much fun and it's usually less enticing with blowing, frigid winds.  Can't  blame that one on the kid every time.

Last Saturday, we thought it would be nice to go for a nice hike and soak at Chico.  We did plan ahead and were aware that there would be snow, so we padded Matine from head to toe in Goretex and Down and brought sleds along.   We had the Rogers family join us too.  We thought: "hike a few miles and sled on the way down."

We made it maybe 500 yards from the trailhead parking lot.  We just sledded down the road we were supposed to keep walking on.   Oh well, it was a blast and yet another reminder that the "hard core" days are OVER (at least for about 12 years).  

once she was down, there was no getting back up. 

it was all hands on deck to manage this crew of bundled kids

Matine refused to ride with anyone but Logan.  She just wanted to lay on top of him.

Madeleine and baby Sophia

no sledding adventure is complete without chocolate chip cookies and a thermos of hot chocolate when you are finished.

those Rogers' sure do make some pretty babies!

I am glad our hiking plans went awry.  The five kids had a blast sitting on each others laps and racing down the road on the sleds.  We had just about as much fun chasing them and making sure they didn't plummet of the roads into the gullies. 

We did make it to Chico afterwords for a nice soak and some bloody marys.  That part of our adventures has stayed intact!