Hey Jude

I love this. I love it, love it.


Did I mention how much I love this?
So cute.

"Post it note"

Just to remind you, I am currently spending most of my blogging time on my new blog site: thejourneyintophotography.blogspot.com . Thanks so much to all of you who have looked and especially to those of you who added your comments. It is very encouraging and much appreciated. If you haven't added my new site to your blog list (and you want to that is) then you might be missing out on my updates. I've only done 3 posts, but I know some of you are a little forgetful (I am definitely NOT referring to you mom!) so I thought I would set out this little reminder "post it" so you can be sure to see my latest and so far greatest photos. ( I know they are not great great, but they are most definitely an improvement to their predecessors). After this post, I'll assume that all who are interested will know how and where to find the photo blog and I'll resume posting my family updates here and I'll keep the photo blog to itself and it's interested followers. Happy Blogging all!!!

If any one cares...

I started a new photography blog if any one cares to check it out. Please don't misunderstand, I am not a photographer. I repeat, I am not a photographer. Aspiring, a student of, an amateur, very amateur, but I am no professional. This is just a way for me to experiment with photography and learn more about something that I love. Most of the pictures will be of my kids and Ben. Maybe if I ever get a new camera I can twist my neighbors arms into letting me use their kids as models someday. But no time soon. I better get a yard in before I spend money on a new camera. Sometimes I may neglect this blog to focus on the new one and sometimes I might neglect the photo blog to focus on this one. But check it out if you want to, add it to your blog list if you'd like to watch my progress, or my regression (it could go either way really). Let me know what you think, good or bad, I'd love to get some feed back. Especially if you have helpful hints or any resources you'd be willing to share.
Here's the link : www.thejourneyintophotography.blogspot.com

Ski Day with Kai

We finally took Kai skiing up to Snow Basin a few weeks ago and we all had such a blast. She has been begging us to take her ever since she got her "pink ski's" for Christmas this year. We really wanted her to have a great first experience so we were waiting for some good weather to make it that much more enjoyable for her. She did so much better than Ben and I anticipated... well, eventually.

The first run was a bit sketchy and we were thinking we were in for it. About one minute after getting off the lift she kept saying "I'm done skiing now Mom" and she would lay down on the back of her ski's and wouldn't stand up. Ben had to hold her up almost the whole first run and it took us quite a while to make it down. His back was aching by the time we made it down and we thought about cutting our losses then before she totally wrote off skiing forever.

Luckily we had taken the advice of one of Ben's co-workers (thanks Steve:)) and brought lots of bribes up with us and we decided it was time to break them out all ready. I'm kinda weird about giving my kids sugar so Kai rarely gets treats (sugar treats that is... she gets crackers and fruit and stuff) and we used fruit snacks to bribe her onto the lift again. She thought that was something else! I guess it's just a matter of changing the status quo. After she knew that I was packing, she was feeling much more enthusiastic about skiing. I would ski up a head of her about 10 feet or so and tell her that she could have another fruit snack if she could make it to me.

The next 3 runs or so went really well and she really enjoyed it. She eventually got to the point were she would stand up on her own for most of the run and Ben would just steer her with the leash. She liked to try and catch me or win me in a race and she really liked the "bumps"(a series of little hills all in a row) that they had on the side of the hill. Ben usually had to hold her up over them, but she was loving it.

After about 4 runs or so we decided to take the gondola up to the lodge and eat some lunch. She really thought the gondola was great and she was a little disappointed when the ride was over. After we ate, Ben skied down and Kai and I rode the gondola back. He tried to stay right under us as much as he could and she got a big kick out of sticking her arm out the window and waving to Dada. She kept calling out to him (even though he couldn't hear her) "Wow, good job Dada, you're a really good skier. You're going so fast Dad!" I was laughing, it was really cute.

We decided to try one last run even though we knew she was super tired, having missed her nap and well, all that skiing can really tucker little legs right out. That last go was a bit like the first, so we decided the day had been successful enough and we threw in the towel. 5 runs, 6 hours, and 3 packs of fruit snacks later. All in all it turned out to be a super fun time and Kai really did so well. She never cried or threw any fits and she was really enjoyable the whole day. I can't wait to take her again and she can't wait to go.

Now I hope you are prepared for a lot of pictures. She was just so cute and we were having so much fun and I documented most of it. Ready, set, go...

Getting ready in the parking lot (it was a wee bit bright)...Good thing we brought her shades...She loved the lifts (this is the first ride up)..."Make a piece of pizza"..."I'm doing it mom!"...

So warm we had to take our coats off...In the gondola with momma...In the lodge after lunch just being cute...This is one of my favorite pictures of these two together...This was how the first run went. the whole...way...down...

This is the second run, she's starting to get it now...

Here she is not so "getting it" and giving Daddy's back a run for it's money...

Now that she's gone pro she hasn't even got the time to say "hi" to the little people...

Last but not least, the "bumps"...

What a fun time to spend together and we can't wait till next year when Jude can come up with us. Thanks Grammy Gay for spending the day with him so we could go skiing!