Our Beloved Shadow

We picked this up from the vet and it brought back lots of fresh tears.  I miss that dog so much and can't believe how empty the house feels without him.  I miss his bark and his loud snoring.  I miss how excited he always was to see us and him playing with the kids.  I hope he always knew how much we loved him.  In the spring we are going to bury his ashes under a fruit tree.

Fort Lauderdale

I had to take a whirlwind trip for work.  I flew to Ft. Lauderdale  for a 1 day meeting then flew home the next day.  It was 2 days of travel and 1 day of meetings.  At least it was warm while I was there and I was able to get in a couple of runs on the beach and eat breakfast sitting on my outside patio. 

Ring in the New Year

I decided that instead of running my scheduled 12 miler I'd ring in 2013 with 13 on the treadmill.  

My goals for 2013:

• Run 1000 miles
• Complete a half-ironman
• do 2 unassisted pull-ups
• read 12 books
• pay off the minivan
• spend more time with the kids

Happy New Year

The morning after....we made snowman pancakes for breakfast and drew pictures of our favorite 2012 memory and set a 2013 goal.  Then we cleaned the house and took down our Christmas decorations.  I sure do love a good party!

New Year's Eve Party

We threw a big family party for New Year's Eve.  My dad brought the usual NYE dinner - deli sandwiches.  Then I put activities in balloons to be popped every hour. 

First Activity:  Balloon Volleyball

 Second Activity:  Fitness Time

The kids did pushups, situps and had a long jump contest.

 

Then the adults joined in the long jump contest - only you had to be holding your toes while you jumped.  It was hilarious!!

Third Activity:  Bubble blowing contest

Fourth Activity:  play hide & seek (no picture)

 

Fifth Activity:  Eat cookies and milk

Sixth Activity:  Glow stick dance party
This was the best activity of the night - we had 150 glow sticks and the kids would dance then we would yell "throw them" and all the glow sticks would be up in the air - it was like fireworks.  

The kids were getting tired so we rang in the new year at 10:00 pm with a countdown and kisses

I am so creepy!!

Then we had a big slumber party.  My kids loved having their cousins sleep over. 
Jo Jo and Sophie are a big tangled mess.

Other ideas for activities: snowball fight & hot cocoa, charades, bubbles, and  build a fort,

Ski Day

Todd and I took all 4 kids skiing.  We met my mom, dad, Mark, Timmy, Steve, Eric, Allen, Chris and Lexie up at Sundance for a great day on the mountain.  Todd and I just skied with the kids all day and by the last run all of them were going down on their own.  Sophie even did Gangam Style dance moves while skiing on her last run.  It was a proud mom moment when I was on the hill following them and I could see all 4 of my kids skiing down the hill.  What a perfect day.  

Sophie and I on the lift

 

 Claire

Sophie and Tayson

Todd, Claire and Luke

Tayson, Sophie, Chris, Lexie, Claire, Todd and Luke

Sophie 

The Missing Boot

On our drive home we lost one of Claire's boots.  I'm pretty sure it was in Vegas when she spilled her milk and I pulled over to clean it up.  Poor thing had to finish up the drive with 1 boot - at least she can get new boots though :)