Let's Play Hooky...

Hi There - Hey There!

It's been a minute.

I blame the mild winter.

It's causing me to wild things like paint the garage and load top soil in the yard...

In January!

BUT, finally - we have snow!

An early out day was in order so we could claim our favorite sledding hill all to ourselves.

I should know by now that these impromptu parental adventures -- these little moments of playing hooky from regularly scheduled responsibilities are just the ticket for a January afternoon... 

 

Boone's 2018 version of "Iditarod or Die" game face.

Wanna know how my boys do sledding?

Full throttle.

There is no walking around the mountainside to take in other sites.

There is no tiring of the current hill (with a jump at the end) or looking for a new hill.

There is just zipping down and climbing back up again x 81 or so.

Along with, "WHOA - NAILED IT!"

And appreciative whoops and hollers for those who catch air or biff it hard. 

I love it.

And guess who else loves it?

Booner Bear cracked up every time he watched someone zip down the hill in front of him and end in a heap of human down below.

I could not believe how long he stood on the sidelines and watched - completely entertained.

And speaking of "Heap of Humans" - can you believe I was co-creator of this one?

Floors me every time.

So grateful for little adventures like these.  

And praying I can always remember the effort and catch up is worth it.  

As is attempting the self-timer and failing.  :)

Just do it. 

And eat icicles.

You only live once.

Ice Castles...

A while back I snagged some tickets to see the Ice Castles in Midway on Groupon.

I didn't know what date to select but I did know my voucher was only good for a week night - so I selected a Monday evening in between Boone and RyGar's birthdays.

Of course I did not have "the best college football game ever" on the family calendar - but I do pay my Direct TV bill, so DVR to the rescue!  RyGar played along and came with us warning everyone he knew not to send him game updates "or else".  LOL

Back to the ice castles.  They were pretty amazing.  Interesting and a little bit tourist trappy...

BUT they had slides.  SLIDES!  Made entirely of ice!

And the little dudes were all in.  Including Booner.

It was fun to watch them resist pulling pieces of ice from the castle.

It was fun watching them make snow angels in the middle of the walk way. 

It was fun watching the light change colors and trying to find Dax who had stowed away in an igloo.

We probably won't go again.  But it's fun to have gone and seen.

And we probably won't soon forget.

Celebrate Good Times...

Boone's 2nd Birthday was the most low key toddler celebration I have ever planned.

Largely because he is the 4th boy and his birthday requests included "Fries" and a "Ba-woon".

But also because as the youngest boy, on a Saturday in winter, you get to attend your big brothers' basketball games and then nap while they go to a wrestling tournament in the afternoon.  It's what we do.  It's his normal.  And it was a pretty great day to celebrate, no matter the obligations on the calendar.

Another part of being the youngest of four boys is the part where you don't really get to open a single present by yourself because there is such a plethora of "helpers".

Bless his heart he doesn't even care and welcomes his buddies right up in his grill.

Boone face timed with Grandma's & Grandpa's and was funny and sly and loved showing off some of his tricks.  He has no qualms with being the center of attention.

He wanted a "BWU birfday cake" and was thrilled with his home spun little number.  But when we lit up the candles he put his little hands over his eyes and said, "NO FIE-YO!"

We love this pint-sized independent fella and can't believe he has already been here on the third rock from the sun for two whole years.

We celebrate you every day... but especially on this day.

XO, Little Bud.