Soldier Hollow

 This year we tried the Soldier Hollow tubing hill.  Lets just say it was pretty awesome, and definately the only way to go sledding.  The girls and Matt had a blast, they had permanent grins on their faces.  The ride up the hill was just as fun as the ride down.

 Emily all ready to get pulled up the hill.  She went more the relaxing route.

 Matt and Ali on the other hand enjoyed throwing snowballs at each other.

 Pure excitement on the way down.

 The tubing gang, Lex, Ali, Isabel, Marianne, Shane, Matt and Emily.

It was such a beautiful day that we had to top the day off with a trip to the outlet malls and play on the snow covered play ground. 

Valentines Memories!!!

This year for Valentines the girls got to hang out with Nana while I went to Instacare for the billionth time this year and Dad was at work. They had a Papa Murphys pizza party, and they also got a few surprises from the Nans of course to go along with it.

Who doesn't love starting off the new summer season with a new pair of shades?

As well as some springy pajamas, and a polka dot bikini.

Thanks again Nana for a wonderful Valentines, and "Peace Out" from two of your biggest fans.

Brighton 2011

In February we went up to Brighton for another try at snowboarding, or body sliding, whichever you prefer. Obviously Ali likes both. The minute we got there she went to this hill in front of our car and slid down it a gazillion times. I think people were thinking that she was nuts.

She did such a great job again this year. I think that after a couple more times she will be better than me. I am not very good, so she probably already has me beet.

She took another lesson, and had no qualms about being left with her snowboarding friends. She is growing up too fast. Matt and I actually got to leave the bunny hill and go on Majestic with our friends while she was busy for two hours. It was awesome.

The day could not have been any better, it actually could have if I could have taken a nap on the chair lift. The sun was heaven.

~ Until Next Year~

Ice Castles

Back in February we went to see the Ice Castles with Becky's family. The kids thought that they were so cool. It was crazy to see these castles of ice that men spent hours making in the freezing cold winter nights. They were pretty incredible.

The kids loved stomping around in all of the ice slush, and going through all of the tunnels.

Emily enjoyed picking up the large pieces of ice off of the ground and showing them to everyone. Then she wondered why her hands were so cold. Of course she would not keep gloves on.

Matt and Steve started talking to one of the guys that made them, and he explained to process to us, lets just say that it does not sound very fun to be to have as a hobby.

They go out there at like three in the morning and build the castles with PVC pipe, then they stand out there all night spraying water on them.

We appreciate them doing it for our enjoyment.

High Flyin Fun

A couple months ago, yes months, we got to enjoy some wonderful weather and play outside a lot. The girls love it when Matt throws them up in the air and catches them. Here are some of their big air throws.

Emily was so excited to get to ride bikes, it had been a long cold winter

Ali of course has more body to throw up into the air, but she still got really high if you ask me.

We even got to take advantage of the warmth by one of the girls favorite things. Popsicles, Hence the bright red lips.

We even had a bit of Hula Hoop action. Ali is still a pro, and Matt and I are trying to brush up on our skills. Woo Hoo Matt!

Super Bowl and Sophia

This year we went over to Jakes house for the big Packers vs. Steelers game. Since Matt is a Packers fan and Jake is a Steelers fan we thought that we should watch it together. It was so fun, and the girls loved playing with Sophia while the big kids watched the game.

Ali had fun taking pictures of Sophia, here are a couple of the ones that she got.

Whoo-Hoo, the Packers won. It was a happy day for Matt.

Sweet Caroline

One day Emily was coloring all nice and quiet at the table and all the sudden she started singing "Sweet Caroline" totally out of the blue. The girls have been loving this song lately, so here is Em sharing it with you all.

Sleeping Beauty

I thought that this picture was so funny. The girls love sleeping in these masks, I don't know where Ali picked up the fetish, but she has now passed it on to Emily.

Happy New Year!

Better Late than Never!

We had a very fun, laid back New Years this year. Some friends came over and we played games and Rock Band. Of course the girls thought the day seemed to go on forever, they kept asking when it would be time to party with Cooper. They spent a lot of time sitting on the couch waiting, so we took advantage of the time to take some self photos.

Poor Coooper is such a good sport, he always lets the girls dress him up in girly outfits, and he goes right along with it. Here he is dressed up as a very handsome witch.

Another One Bites The Dust

Yeah!! Ali finally lost the other loose tooth. She lost it a couple days after she lost the first one. It fell out while she was eating lunch, and she says that she is so glad that she did not swallow it. Her fresh new teeth are growing in nicely, but I am growing kind of fond of her toothless smile.

Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. The girls loved every moment of it, and they were very sweet to each other. Emily is a big hugger these days. All she wants to do is give people big hugs. Christmas was also Matt's Birthday, so it was a double duty party day.

Nana got to our house in perfect timing. She took the Gustafsons to the airport and made it back just minutes before Ali woke up. Then we had to wake up the bear. She took a minute, but was happy to be awake when she realized what was going on.

When they got downstairs Ali saw her Vanity that she has been dreaming about forever. So far she loves it and the thrill better not ever fizzle out.

Some of Ali's loot.

Emily got a Vanity as well, so that she can have fun doing her hair as well.

Em's Prizes. Nana made her Christmas with the last minute pink kitchen. Ever since we started asking her what she wanted for Christmas she would say the pink kitchen from the Toys R' Us catalog. We kept telling her NO because she already had one, but it went on a really good sale, so me and Nana went out to Toys R' Us at midnight on the 23rd to pick up the prize jewel.
Thanks Nana, you made her year.

The girls also got a Ukele to share. They always want to play with Matt when he plays his guitar, so we figured that this was the perfect size for them. It is so funny to listen to them play it. Our family also got a Keyboard from Nana. I am excited to brush up on my piano skills and Ali is anxious to take piano lessons. Nana may have to teach her, we are just to busy to squeeze in one more activity.

A huge EXCITEMENT for the day was that Ali lost one of her two front teeth while we were getting ready to head up to Jason and Carries house. She was so excited. We have been working on those buggers for months, and they were starting to look really creepy and she was doing some nasty tricks with them to Matt and I. We were so happy to see it go.

Emily partying.

We had such a fun time at the party. We were missing a handful of people, you know who you are. We need to have a make-up Christmas morning party with you guys.