Snow much fun (??????)

So I tried Snowboarding for the first time. I was not great to say the least. I do have to say that Miranda and Harold were very patient teachers. I feel so old now and well I am fluffy(really that just means fat but ouch I just can't say it).Harold stuck with me the whole day and watched my many falls. Then he would ski down and help me up again & again & again & again ect...... How do you get up?
Finally when I went into muscle failure(which sadly didn't take long) and Logan, bless his heart, had had enough, Harold let me rest.


Then Harold taught Emma who caught on pretty quick. She is not even sore at all. Oh to be tiny again and be made with cute little rubber bones. I on the other hand wondered if I could drive to church the next day. I never want to go back ,but he made me promise I would try it at least twice before I quit for good. Poor Harold spent the whole day helping someone else and he never even complained. After his heroic behavior how can I back out of a promise.

Everyone in the family enjoys this so I feel like I need to like it. Ahhh the pressure. Still none of them have had four bone weakening babies right. I may have to play that angle.
I do like the idea of sitting in the lodge, getting massages and eating. Only drifting out to the slopes for the occasional picture.




The camera battery died before I could get any pictures of Caleb or Harold. I guess I will have to go back.

Winter break catch up

We had a great winter break. I feel like we really got into Christmas this year. Harold was supposed to be gone but one of the guys from his unit volunteer to go so he came home on the 18th and was here with us for Christmas and the new year. I think that is really put things in perspective. Christmas is not about stress. I feel like we just took it easy and it was nice. I was released from my primary calling 2 weeks before Christmas and put in as our branch activities leader. The first thing I did was cancel the Christmas party. I did have some guilt but to tell you the truth I think that it was a relief for most people. One less thing to do. Here are some pictures from the break.

This is at the Battalion Christmas party. I love how they set Santa up in this Chinook.


Here is Emma on Santa's lap. They are in the Chinook.
Here is how Santa arrived. This is the first time I've seen this.




I know it is cheesy but the kids(and grown men) thought it was pretty cool.

We had the first ever
STANLEY FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE TALENT SHOW

Here's Harold singing with Emma And Logan. Logan and Harold also did a dance. WOW!Is all I can say about that.

Here is Miranda rocking for us on her Guitar.
Caleb and I played a Trumpet /Saxophone duet. We recorded it but there are no pictures. And You do not want to see the video.

Happy New Year!
We ring in 2010 with some great friends.




And when you walk in and find this you don't ask questions you just get the camera and take a picture.

And just when you have had enough "family time" and you are ready to send them all back to school and work. You wake up Monday morning and find this.
Two more long precious days of family bonding. Everything shut down for the worst snow storm in 40 years.





Happy Holidays!