Sledding with Daddy & Gloria

In another sledding trip while out at Papa's house, Jeff, Kyle, Emily and I went sledding with Gloria. This was the first time in her life that she has been sledding! It's hard to believe that someone who has experienced many a snowy winter hasn't gotten out to enjoy some sledding until now! Needless to say, Gloria was thrilled and had a blast sledding. And we were more than pleased to have witnessed her first sledding experience! She was the 4th person who we've taken sledding for their first time - (1) Jeff and I took Diana H from Australia who was visiting us in Chicago during high school had never even seen snow went sledding for her first time with us, (2 & 3) Kyle & Emily, and (4) Gloria.

Kyle does the jump with Gloria sledding next to him. I'm not sure Kyle intended to go over the jump, but he did and LOVED it! He asked to do it again!

Kyle, Emily & Gloria sledding

Sledding with Ben, David & Kari

Kyle & Emily also had the pleasure of some fun skiing with their cousins out near Papa's house. Everyone had a blast.  Kyle and Benjamin loved sledding together and racing down the hill. Emily and David were more of similar speed and enjoyed sledding, but didn't need to be barreling down the hill at supersonic speeds.  

David sledding

Emily sledding

Kyle sledding

Benjamin & Kyle tandem sledding

Kyle & Ben and Kathleen & David sledding

Emily & Jeff racing Kyle

Kari & Emily sledding

Sledding with Grandma

In making sure we do our "something fun" each day, Kyle and Emily got to experience another new winter activity - sledding!  We got quite a bit of snow in Chicago so had to break out the snow suits and sleds on the side of Grandma's house.  On both sides of the house, there are 2 great hills that I grew up sledding down.  Kyle and Emily added sledding to the favorite winter "something funs" along with skiing and ice skating. Not bad for 2 California kids who are used to warmer weather and one of whom was terrified of the snow when he was younger.

Kyle sledding

Emily sledding

Emily & Grandma sledding

Emily & Grandma sledding again

Kyle can read

Kyle has been working hard learning how to read.  For some time he's been very interested in what everything around him says.  We've been working on letters and phonics and sounding out words and it seems to have clicked recently.  Both he and Emily have been doing a lot of reading with Grandma and it is all coming together for him.  Emily is working hard at reading as well and is very close to it clicking for her as well.  It sure is something else seeing your child read the words on a page for the first time. 

An excerpt of Kyle reading to Aunt Karen

Christmas festivities

Christmas 2010 was a great Christmas.  Kyle and Emily were really into it and loved the festivities and decorations that go along with the holiday. This year, Uncle Tommy set up the train with assistance from Kyle and Emily. And Santa visited on Christmas Eve!

Cousins

Emily and Evan

Grandma reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with all of her grandchildren - Ryan, Kyle, Evan, Emily & Isaac

Grandma reading Twas the Night Before Christmas", Part 1

Grandma reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas", Part 2

Looking for Santa flying away after hearing his bells

Santa was here!!

Santa's note

Christmas Day Dinner

Kiddie cousin table

What a great site - Kyle and Emily at Grandma's house and eating breakfast with Isaac and Ryan at the kiddie table.  I'm not sure how much eating went on, but they sure did have a lot of fun together!

Ice Skating

Kyle and Emily seem to really be enjoying winter and the fun activities that snow and ice create.  Today's event in sub 30 degree weather was ice skating. We went  with Grandma over to the Arboretum's ice skating rink they had set up in the parking lot.  The skates were perhaps the most uncomfortable things I have ever worn on my feet and the ice wasn't very slippery, but Kyle and Emily both LOVED ice skating and were pretty successful. 

Video of Kyle, Emily & Grandma ice skating


Kyle didn't want to leave. He could have continued skating all day long. He took an additional solo lap here.

We love Spike

Today was Spike's last evening as a San Diego resident. She is off to start, rather continue her career as a professor. We sure are going to miss seeing her as often. 

Spike came over earlier in the day to hang out and play with the kids. They did  one of their favorite games together - Ready, Set, Hugs!  Later on we played another favorite, Winter Olympics on the Wii. 

Emily and Spike - Ready, Set, Hugs!

Kyle and Spike - Ready, Set, Hugs!

And another message for Spike with her lullaby

Disney in December

The kids and I took a fun trip to Disneyland to see Disney Christmas.  It was pretty well timed because schools hadn't yet let out for the winter so we got on a lot of rides in the short time we were there.

Carousel

Teacups

This is from our first time on the teacups!

Small World done up for Christmas.  Kyle and Emily were mesmerized

We also saw the Princesses.  We hadn't visited with these princesses before in the Princess area.  Kyle and Emily especially wanted to see the the princesses for their cousin, Davie, who also likes the princesses.  Each princess had a special message for him which was really sweet.  

Ariel
Ariel's message to Davie

Jasmine

Belle

Belle

Dale

Spikes lullaby

This is a special lullaby that Spike taught Kyle and Emily.  Spike's Mommy & Daddy used to sing this to her and her twin sister when they were little.  Here they are singing it together.
*Note - the video will just appear dark, but there will be audio when you press play. Blogger just doesn't allow you to post audio only.

This is just Kyle and Spike singing. 

Santa

Look who came to town!! Kyle and Emily were actually reasonably excited to Santa this year.  We definitely have the not-so-happy-to-see-Santa pictures when they were younger.  It may have helped that there were also bounce houses, pony rides, dance shows and games to play too. 

Snuggly Sleep

Since they were 6 months old, Kyle and Emily have had their own bed. Every once in a while, they would snuggle, but not to sleep as they are too goofy together to actually sleep side by side these days. Or they get upset when the other bumps into them so sleep doesn't happen. Today they asked to sleep in the same bed for nap.  I thought sure, they can try it and when they are goofing around in 5 minutes, I will separate them so they can nap.  Needless to say, after 10 minutes, I was shocked that it was silent and they were happily snoozing away.

Snuggling with Spike

Snuggling with Spike. We sure are going to miss her.

Skiing with Spike, day 2

The second day was a much cold and snowier.  In the morning, Kyle and Emily took a group lesson and had a blast while Jeff and I got some good skiing in together and with Spike.  The lesson was great for the kids and gave them even more confidence and skill skiing. 

After their lesson, we took the gondola ride up for lunch mid-mountain.  We had some cold and worn out kiddos.

Happy girls

During / after lunch, there was the Duke v. Butler basketball game showing so Jeff and the kids stayed to watch the game while I got some skiing in since I was going to take the kids back to our place for a nap and Jeff was going to continue skiing.  As you will see, that didn't quite happen... I hit some trails with Spike and Adele.  Duke beat Butler.  The kids got a second wind so I took the kids down the mountain on the gondola while Jeff got a few more high runs in and met us at the bottom to do a green run with the kids.

Our gondola ride down.  I have a great picture of Kristin and my Dad on a gondola in GAP (Garmisch), Germany that looks a little something like these, except we weren't skiing so didn't have the ski gear on. 

Following are a lot of videos from the kids first time skiing down a green run.  Up to this point, their lessons had only taken them on magic carpets on bunny hills.  This was the Sesame Street run that had a chair lift to the top of the run. So it was also their first time on a chair lift.  So there is no thoughts of bias, I was skiing with Kyle and Jeff with Emily.  I happened to have had my phone out to take videos of Kyle skiing.

Jeff, Kyle & Emily at the top of Sesame Street

The four of us at the top of Sesame Street

Emily pole skiing with Daddy

Emily skiing with Daddy, Part 1

Emily skiing with Daddy, Part 2

Kyle pole skiing with Mommy

After one or two runs holding our poles, the kids were more confident and let go to ski on their own a bit.  When Emily initially let go, she shouted down to me, "Mommy, look at me!!!!" and she proceeded to speed down the hill, but realized she was going to fast and went straight into a huge pile of powder to the side.  Thinking we were going to be done skiing after that, Jeff was shocked when he skied over to her and she pops her head up out of the powder and giddily proclaims, "Can we do that again?!!!"  And we did ski more.  In fact, we skied Sesame Street until the lift closed. 

Here are a few videos I have of Kyle skiing down Sesame Street without holding onto my pole.

And this is basically from the top of Sesame Street to the bottom on our last run since the lift was closing. Please excuse the 3 part video and slight overlaps. It is one video on my phone but couldn't be emailed as 1 because of its size.
PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

It was a great weekend of skiing. Kyle and Emily have said that skiing is their most favorite "something fun".  It was a bummer that it was a going away party for Spike because we don't want her to move, but we were thrilled to be able to go skiing with her at one of her favorite fun spots in California.

One of the rainbows visible of the double rainbow we saw on the drive home.