Jolley's Ranch

 

 

It's amazing what sunshine can do for the soul, especially after a cold cold winter like we've had this year.  The sun was out Saturday, so we took advantage and got our ski on up at Jolley's Ranch in Mapleton canyon.  You should go, very family friendly, affordable and fun!! 

Neither Taylor or I or our kids have ever been skiing of any kind!  I know weird, we have lived here our whole life!!  So we strapped on the slippery little devils and off we went!! Kids are so resilient, Tate and Reese took off like they have done it their whole life, Whit did great too, but when it comes to exercise, or outdoor activity that doesn't involve a four legged friend underneath you..........his heart is not in it completely!!! But he did good!  Taylor and I and my parents, crashed way more than the kids!! Then we went over to the tubing hill, and also did a little snow shoeing!!   It just felt so damn good to be outside!!! Our faces show it too today.........Mother of the year, right here!  I did not even think about sunscreen!!!!!!!!!!! Poor Tate looks like he stuck his head in an incinerator!!! 



This little girl, WILL NOT WEAKEN!!! She went the whole way, which is around a mile course, never stopped never complained, never looked back!! She is the toughest of the bunch by far!

 

 

Just going  right along, while the rest of us wobbled along the path to catch up!

 

 

This pretty much  sums it up with Whit!! My mom stayed back with him toward the end and the rest of us went down some of the hills.....then here they come......carrying his ski's !!!!!  He had had all he could take!!

 

 

Everyone deserves a Grandpa like this!!!! What would she do without him!

 

 

And a GG like this!!!

 

 

We have only ever been tubing at solider hollow before, and they have a tow rope!!!  Tate was not sure about all the climbing!!!

 

 

Snow shoeing!

 

 

 

This pic cracks me up.... yes the one wondering off in the opposite direction is Whit!! I told you he beats to his own drum!! Happy go Lucky!!

 

 

Oh I love Tate's face!!! Sums up the whole day!!

 

 

Just Chillin!! What he does best!!

 

Favorite Family Pictures!!

My Favorite family pictures so far, hands down!!  If you want some great unique incredible pictures......Nikki Winters is your girl! Flying W Fotos!!! I cried when I saw these, I still cry when I look at them!  She captured us, just exactly the way we are and I love love love them!!  Well except the part where I look at the pictures of me!!! I can't believe that is really what I look like????? I am looking so old, it freaks me out now when I see myself in photos!!!!   Oh well could be worse things!!! Like not getting old!!! LOL!! Anyway there were so many great pictures to choose from, I just picked a handful!!!  Thank you Nikki!!!

 

 

 



What's The Problem!

This kid beats to his own drum.... he doesn't sweat the small stuff, he doesn't need anything fancy, he tells it just the way it is........... we were almost to the car, headed to GG's for the day before I realized what he had on!!! I told him to get his boots on and that's what he did!!!! He did not care that they were different, he had two boots, both he liked...and he did what he was told, and would have totally went about the day like this!!   What was the problem???!!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo





A December To Remember!

Oh my hell!!!! I should be beat!! I can't believe that I let myself get this far behind on my blog!!!  Never again!!  So I'm making up for lost time!!  Seriously!!! 

Christmas was great!!! How can Christmas not be great with kids!! It is magic, I love it!!  I love how you can almost see the vision they have of Christmas and Santa through their eyes! The excitement, the anticipation!!! There really isn't many things better!!! Joe came to our house again this year, he is one of the coolest traditions started in our family!! He creeps Tate out bad....... but he loves him still!  He is always a little relieved when he heads back to the North Pole!! He feels like he doesn't have to watch over his shoulder when he walks down the hall!!!  Now that it is February, i hope everyone else had a Merry Christmas too......oh....and Happy Valentines!!??!!! LOL!

 



Starting the month off with the tree!!  And since we are out of the baby stage we were able to set up Granny's train!! It was cool and bittersweet!!! It was also really loud... I'm sure that she was giggling in heaven, when Taylor and I were ready to crawl out of our skin!!





 

We made Candy!!!

 

 

We wrote important letters!!

 

 

We finally made it to Zoo Lights after 3 years of wanting to!!

WORTH IT!!!!

 

 

GG and Grandpa took us to Breakfast with Santa!! Fun!!! Food, crafts, cookies, and face painting....of course Whit had the whole place rolling with his pick of face paint!!!! Taylor said he looked just like Cody Demoss!!!

 

Christmas Eve with the cousins.....I am so happy that this happens...It means the world to my kids, and I love it too!!

 

 

We visited Grandpa Hopes!  Man I miss him!

 

 

And then it was here!! The chaos started!! 

 

 

 

Santa delivered!! The kids were all smiles!!  One of the best times of the year....hands down!! 

 

 

THE END!!

 

 

Party Hardy!!

We did A LOT of decorating this year!!! Trains.... Trees.... Sleighs, you name it we frosted it!! It was fun!! I would love to have a small stock in Christmas candy!  We bought enough for an army just to decorate with...but worth every penny!! 

The Larsen's came over for a little pizza and decorating too!!  Jaysten won the prize for most creative, his Santa was diving off a diving board!!! Geniuses!!!

 

If you want to be entertained you should show up at the Hopes Family Christmas Party!!  There is always some serious fun!!  I love seeing the little cousins play! It takes me back to being a kid, and going to my grandparents on Christmas Eve!! Eating shrimp, and sorting presents!!  You can see where we all get our sense of adventure....Hopes never disappoints on the fun factor!! She is always up for anything!! She was our snowman.....we won!!

 

 

Heaven help me!!! My kids LOVE Toni!!!! WTH!!!  No just kidding...with good reason, what is not to love, she's the best!! She's a spoiler, and kid herself.  My kids think she rocks!!! But I'd be lying if I said this picture didn't worry me just a little!!!!;) LOL!!