a 24 hour visit to the CABIN.

We usually make one trip to the cabin every year while it’s covered in snow.  It’s beautiful up there and Nate’s been begging to throw snowballs, make snow angels & build a snowman for months and months.  We’ve had many weekends scheduled to go but the weather always gets in our way.  We knew the weather could be an issue this weekend but we were running out of time so we went anyway.  Nate left Friday morning with my parents & then Wes, Ryan & I drove up on Friday early afternoon. 

Nate instantly LOVED the snow.  As soon as my parents pulled in they got him all geared up and he played outside for a few hours before we got there.  He loved digging with the big shovel.  Next time I’ll bring his sand toys!  He NEVER complained about being cold . . . or wanting to go inside.  Quite the opposite, actually.  He begged and begged to stay out in the snow.  He was nice and toasty in all of the snow gear!

As soon as Wes/Ryan/I arrived, we all got our snow gear on and ventured back outside with Nate.  Wes & Nate climbed up a few snow drifts . . . got out the sled . . . and just had fun being boys.

 

I think it’s safe to say that Ryan did not enjoy his snow clothes or playing in the snow.  He didn’t mind being outside as long as he was being held.  He didn’t like his gloves or a hat which makes for a very cold boy in a matter of minutes!

Nate was awesome.  He had an absolute blast – it was fun seeing him have so much fun doing something new.  There wasn’t an ounce of fear in this boy – he was ready for any snow adventure we could find.

There was a TON of snow up there.  The snow drifts were 12 feet high in some places!  It was nuts. 

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After a very rough night for the Griffeths [Nate woke up screaming SEVEN times and Ryan screamed for hours] – we got up and went right back in the snow.  Wes let me catch a few more zzzz’s in the morning and then I stayed back with Ryan for a bit while Wes, my dad & Nate took the 4wheelers out.  They made it down to the village and enjoyed some hot chocolate.

Right after they left, it started snowing.  And it just kept snowing and snowing.

The more snow, the better for Nate.

The amount of snow up there made it hard to find a decent hill to sled down.  So while the 4wheelers were out, we got creative on Ponderosa Circle and pulled Nate.  He loved it.

After a while, Wes went inside and Nate and I had some fun in the snow.

At this point, the snow wasn’t letting up at all.  In fact, it was getting worse and the weather report said it was supposed to snow all the way through Sunday night.  So instead of getting stuck on the mountain, we left on Saturday afternoon! 

We had to get our cars out from the “driveway” before they got stuck so Wes got creative as we loaded the cars.   He hooked everything to the sled and drove it up the hill on the 4wheeler!

    

It was a very quick trip – about 24 hours at the cabin – but well worth it to see how much fun Nate had.  It was a nice 24 hour break to just do something different.  I think we all needed it.

Well, everyone but Ryan.  This was not Ryan’s idea of fun . . . a lot of car riding, lack of sleep, & not being able to spend hours outside.  But he survived.  On the drive to/from the cabin, all he wanted was to hug my arm and have my hand right up to his head.  And then he was calm. 

  

It was an adventure, that’s for sure!

LIFE: in pictures.

Ryan thinks he’s big stuff sitting on the couch. 

Ryan wants to be big.  Soooo bad.  He tries to do everything Nate does.

They love driving the cart at the grocery store.

 

Go Cougars. 

We’ve been spoiled with big-cousin Kyle riding his bike to our house to play with the boys.  He taught Nate some pretty cool soccer moves.

This boy has a permanently messy face.

Our goofball.

 

Apparently he wanted some chocolate goldfish. 

They love playing in the back of the car.

Ryan loves to be outside.  He bangs on the door to go out there all. day. long.

 

 

We love friends!

 

THE end.

another event-filled weekend.

.Our stake’s 1st Annual FUN RUN. 

It was a great activity.  I looked out the window that morning and the wind almost kept us home.  But then I decided to take Nate and Wes stayed home with Ryan.  I was planning on us doing the 1 mile run instead of the 5K [we had a birthday party to be to at 10am] so I didn’t bring a stroller.  But we started running with Ali/Tripp/Sam and Nate and I made it somewhere past the 1 mile but certainly not the 5K before it was time to leave for the party.  Nate was a trooper.  It was hilarious, actually.  He started out running so fast – almost to where I almost couldn’t even keep up.  And then after a while he’d sprint & then fall to the floor for a break.  He looked at us with this look of “why in the world are you making me do this?”  Every time we asked him if he wanted a ride in the stroller, he’d stand up – and say “I’m not giving up” like a superhero and be on his way.  Sprinting.  By the end, he finally caved and let Tripp push him for a few hundred yards.

It was fun to be able to do this with the Thompson clan and Sam!  All of the kiddos did great.  Hopefully Wes and Ryan can join us next year.  And maybe with a new knee, my dad can actually walk it instead of driving around in his truck saying hi.

Nate eventually accepted a stroller ride.  Or a ride on Aunt Sam’s back.

.We ran home for a quick shower before heading to Chase’ birthday party at Shark Reef.  The kids loved it!  What a great party.

.Abbie’s soccer game.  She scored a goal!

.BYU beat Gonzaga.  Hello Sweet 16.

.Sunday dinner with the family.  This hasn’t happened in months and months – it was nice. 

I love weekends full of FUN.  They are much better than weekends full of chores!

the weekend is here.

hallelujah.

St. Patricks Day!

Nate’s been excited about this day for a long time.

Wednesday night we frantically made a make-shift leprechaun trap and finished up our pots to leave out for the leprechaun.  Nate was pretty sure the leprechaun would come down the chimney so he put it all there – hoping to trap the leprechaun or at the very least, for him to leave some gold in his pot.

After discovering that we did not catch the leprechaun – he started coming up with a variety of plans for the trap next year.  And he was thrilled with his pot of rolo gold.  So was Ryan.  He started jamming them in his mouth really fast - wrapper and all.

 

Nate quickly discovered that the sneaky leprechaun also dyed his milk green.

When I picked Nate up from school – it was adorable to see these little kiddos walk out in their hats.  Harrison was the only pre-schooler willing to jump in my photo.  These two are buddies – that’s for sure.

 

We had green pancakes for dinner [that is, after the boys got to eat dinner #1 at aunt ali’s] and Nate loved wearing our little head-toppers for a while. 

Holidays – with excited kids – are pretty fun.

a FUN weekend.

We had a sports & friends filled weekend which we always love!

. It started on Thursday night when Wes and I were able to go on a date to the Mountain West basketball tournament.  BYU already played that day so we watched UNLV win and San Diego State win.  Not the most exciting games but it was soooo nice to get out and actually be able to chat and watch some basketball.  We had a hilarious man sitting a few rows back.  He was one of those obnoxious fans . . . but he was really funny.  I had to laugh out-loud when he yells . . . “play basketball you dancing bear!”  For some reason, it was FUNNY.

. Craig – Wes’ good friend that he grew up with in Georgia – came in to town with his dad to visit and play some golf so Wes got to play a round on Friday afternoon and again on Saturday.  Talk about a dream for Wes.  I love it when Craig comes in to town – they always have a great time.  Wes even went out with them a few nights while they were here.  I seem to find time for a “girls night” here or there so I’m glad Wes got some time out with a good friend.

. My friend Alex’ husband was out of town this weekend so while Wes golfed we met up with her two cute boys at the park.  Ryan is a park animal!  He loves it.  He climbs up and goes down the slide all by himself over and over.  And Nate and Harrison would have played all day.

. I love a good sporting event . . . especially when BYU is involved.  The stars aligned for me on Saturday.  My poor mom got food poisoning and was throwing up for 24 hours so she didn’t want to go to the MWC Final Game [BYU vs. San Diego] which meant there was an open ticket.  Wes on the golf course and wasn’t going to be done in enough time to make the game & Sam was planning on watching it with her friends.  Which meant that I – the only remaining BYU fan – was able to go to the game.  Luckily Sam was willing to come sit with the boys for an hour before Wes got home.

Even though BYU lost – it was really fun to be at the game.  The entire stadium was PACKED with blue BYU fans.  It was like being back in the Marriott Center it was so full of Cougar fans.  San Diego State played amazing basketball – they absolutely deserved to win.

But it made me really mad at Davies.  My competitive side has come out with this whole BYU honor code violation.  Davies knew the rules and made a decision that not only affects him – but his entire team and I get really mad/fired up thinking about it!  We had some serious potential in March Madness basketball and he pretty much screwed it up.  I feel bad for Jimmer – the guy is amazing [52 points?  Really?] and I wish he would have at least had a team at their full potential to see how successful they could be.  After watching them play San Diego on Saturday – our little white boys just can’t hack it against a team of bigger guys without a big guy of our own underneath.

However, at work it’s just me, my dad & Ali that are members of the LDS church and I’ve heard so many co-workers say how much they admire a school that stands by their beliefs enough to make that kind of a decision to suspend Davies from play.  It is pretty rare in today’s world so I am pretty proud of that . . . just really made at Davies.

. We had Sunday dinner at our good friends, The Leavitt’s home.  The kids had fun in their backyard while we roasted hot dogs and made smores.  Nate rode a “big kid bike” for the first time and loved it.  It had training wheels, of course.  I see a big bike in his near future.  When the kids had just about had enough of rocks and dirt, they discovered a cooler full of ice and had a blast with it.  Ryan was right in the middle just dying laughing at the big kids.  I loved it.

 

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It was a nice weekend!