Mid Winter Break

Last year at this time, we were heading off on a 17 day, 7 state, western tour. This year we were decidedly more home bound. 

As mid-winter break approached, I realized it had been a while since our last trip, and I started to feel itchy to head out again. However, I only wanted to go somewhere warm, but wasn't willing to drive more than 3 or 4 hours, so that pretty much ruled out all options.
Bummer.

We made plans with friends to head up the mountains for a day of sledding, but once on our way we discovered the Pass was closed due to ice and snow conditions. Argh! If only I'd checked the weather before we got all geared up. We improvised. Our friends came over for a morning of cooking and games.

More accurately, the girls cooked and the boys played games.

In the afternoon, we went to open play at a nearby gymnastics gym. Some of the kids were less than thrilled about the idea of going, but they all had a blast once they were there. There was a lot of rough and tumble play.

In a stroke of good timing, we had an unexpected snow fall. It's lovely when snow comes on days we don't have any outside the home commitments. 

I bundled the kids all up and we went out to play. There weren't many kids out playing because all the neighbor families were gone on vacation.

It turned out I shouldn't have spent so much energy bundling them up. It was shockingly warm outside. With the sun shining down, I brought out a chair and soaked up the rays. With my eyes closed, I could almost convince myself I was lying on a beach. Apparently Aubree had a similar idea.

The break gave us a chance to spend a day with Katie and her kids. My, oh my, do I love having them live close.

There's no friend like a cousin-friend, and Nellie and Jordyn are the cutest together.

We also returned the favor and went up to Katie's to celebrate Anna's birthday.

My cousin came over for dinner and I decided to try something new and made Navajo Tacos for dinner. With the extra dough, I made scones the next morning for breakfast. Aubree thought this scone looked like Washington state with a maple leaf in the middle. 

Mostly though, we just spent a lot of time hanging out at home. I did make the kids do some school work, but Bryce still found plenty of time for his current favorite pastime - Legos.

The first few days of the unhurried, unscheduled week were lovely, but by the end I was bored, bored, bored! The kids mostly concurred (especially Aubree).