Happy Birthday!

Perry turned one year old this month.  It was quite exciting.  I think Peter is confused because he not only helped open Perry's presents, but he also quite likes them.  His thinking has got to be something like "Perry has a birthday and I get presents."  Actually the day itself was quite uneventful.  Perry had been sick for a few days prior to his birthday and was still feeling crumby most of the day.  Towards the end of the day, when he was feeling better, we rushed him through his dinner, cake, tub (for obvious reasons), present opening and bed.  All that accomplished in about an hour and a half.  We got the cute cake pictures though and there isn't much more to expect from a one year old birthday.  Time with Perry has flown by.  For those of you in snow deficient places, I also wanted to report that we had a second official "snow day" off of school.  I remember these being so fun as a kid.  I am hear to tell you that as a parent, they aren't always so fun.  Parker often wants to play Gamecube all day or have friends over.  Peter likes to tromp through the snow, but if he falls, the scream he emits (from getting cold) would cause heart problems in a normally healthy person.  Yet he loves snow.  We haven't been able to teach him about yellow snow yet and we are a little worried about that since he loves to eat snow.  Perry wants to explore the snow, but I don't know what to do with him.  Just sit him in the snow?  I don't think he'd like it as much as he thinks he will.On snowy days, I just want to quilt (Ha! not happening with the kids around) and drink hot chocolate.  Sometimes reading a book would be nice.  But I am between books right now.  I am thinking of reading Oprah's newest pick for her book club though.  I think it is called "A New Earth" or something close to that.  It's by Eckhart Tolle (again, a guess on the author.)  Anyone want to read it with me?  It supposed to be life changing.  I am also wondering about the book "Eat, Pray, Love" so if anyone has a review for me, let me know.If you are curious to how the New Year's resolutions are going, I would like to report that they are doing great!  After all, this is my third entry in January and I just download the necessary Adobe file for ordering my birth certificate (working on the passport goal.)  I figure I can do this by snail mail since I don't have anywhere to be.  Unless one of you all won a vacation for two and are inviting me?  A girl can hope.Well, I am starting to be able to tell that I wrote this at three in the morning.  I think it's either the rambling that gives me away or the silly things I keep thinking, but editing out of the post.  You are getting the censored version.  So, best wishes to you all.  I am truly blessed to have you in my life and wanting to stay in touch.  Thanks!

Sleigh Ride

Hi Everyone,
I haven't done anything exciting lately. We actually have had one evening without power and one day home from school due to snow. Too bad my kids are snow challenged (due to their mom growing up snow challenged) and simple and fun things like playing in the snow and building snowmen are actually difficult for them to envision and accomplish. Our sad snow man is puny and has problems staying together though the type of snow isn't the problem. I will try to take a picture and include it, but no guarantees.

Anyway, I thought I would revisit New year's Eve and write about our Sleigh ride. It was a Christmas gift from my mom. Thanks mom, it was a blast! Anyway, we had to drive up to Bogus Basin and get on a sleigh (run by the Bogus Creek Outfitters). It was great, but only 10 degrees and I only had two layers on, so it was a little cold going to the cabin. We were on the back of the sleigh, so we didn't have other bodies keeping us warm either. But the stars were amazing. And the city lights were pretty too. I just looked at the web site for the cabin, because we didn't take pictures, and learned that a few days after we were there, a tree fell on the cabin and has temporarily interupted sleigh rides. Crazy! But back to my story. We got to the cabin and had a terrific dinner. It was started with a bread bowl broccoli cheese soup. Next came steak, shrimp (the best part I think), red potatoes, carrots, apple cider, endless hot chocolate (the other best part) and finally a berry cobbler. The music was provided by a musician named Douglas Cameron. And he was awesome. http://www.douglascameron.net/ He sounded a bit like the lead singer of Bare Naked Ladies and his songs were a bit Gin Blossomy with a little country (or is it folk) sound. I would include a song, but don't know how and am really afraid of publishing something that violates copy right or something. The singer also has a few songs that include lyrics directly about Idaho or Boise. Of course, as often is the case with troubled artists, the songs also include a lot of drinking references. It was so funny when my oldest son, Parker, describe why he liked the songs anyway. He said they had a great beat and good music, and he didn't even think about the drinking parts. He sounded just like me when I have liked some songs I shouldn't have (Master and Servant comes to mind.) Anyway, the musician has supposedly signed a contract to do some songs for next season of Friday Night Lights, so fame is just around the corner. Back to the cabin though. The night was rounded out by some cowboy poetry. It was too funny. One poem about the Lycra cowboy was particularly knee slapping. You may have had to be there, but you should be able to get a visual anyway. Well, then we sleigh rode back to our car. And it was wonderful! (Every time I think the words sleigh ride, I hear Debbie Gibson's version of that song in my head. It's annoying. Oh, and I guess all these years later, it's actually Deborah Gibson!) So, if you need something to do when you visit, I would highly recommend having your mom gift you a sleigh ride.

New Year's Resolutions....

Hi There!
So, besides the same ole same ole resolutions, I made two new (and achievable) ones. I want to get my passport and I wanted to start a blog. I think starting a blog also implies that I want to have something worthy of posting on a blog, but lets save that for next year's resolution :) Anyway, here is goes and it's still January.