SNOW

We haven't had snow this winter.  Mostly just 40 or 50 degree weather which has been nice, I won't complain.  But the kids have missed the snow.  This week we went up to Beaver Mountain ski resort with Tom's brother Ben and his family.  We stayed in a yurt.  What's a yurt?  Well, I would explain it as a simple round cabin that's about 40 feet in diameter that is completely empty with the exception of some industrial carpet and wood pellet stove and a large space heater.  It also had a sky light at the top with some lights.  The bathroom was just outside with a small kitchen. And  within feet were sledding hills!  The kids were in heaven! They all loved it.

 
Once the ski resort closed we went up onto the ski runs and the kids went down those hills.  Most of the kids went up with their aunt.  Tom and I followed with Gavin and our nephew Andrew.  On our way up the groomer (the large machine that smooths out the snow) passed by and stopped and asked Tom if they wanted a ride.  

This was the best picture I could take before they were off.  Gavin (who loves big trucks) loved the groomer ride and afterwards would always ask where the groomer was.  

Abbi and Zac also had the opportunity to try out skiing. Ben and his family are huge skiiers and the kids were able to use their cousins skis and try out the hills with the skis.  I have never even been on skis before.  Zac and Abbi really enjoyed it and Abbi just asked me today how much skiis are.  They can't wait to go again.  (Who knows when that will be :/) Zac was very natural on the skiis and scared me quite a few times going down hills.  

When we weren't in the snow the kids had a great time with their cousins.  They played Harry Potter with their book lights as wands.  Zac and Andrew discovered some leftover paper and clipboards from a ski class that were in the yurt and spent time drawing in the dark with the book light.  And Carter discovered that cups can stack and make a great bowling pins.