We packed up the van on Boxing Day and headed to Keystone, Colorado, only to be stuck in Colby (about the 1/2 way point) with a closed I 70 due to blowing snow.  We arrived the following day later than originally planned but that didn’t stop us from having fun!  Between ice skating, tubing, skiing and snowboarding, we all had a great time.  Here are some pics of our trip.

The kids are quite the ice skaters now!

We had a rest outside the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – hot chocolate and ice cream!?

We went back for some night ice skating after David had arrived.  The hotel had their chocolate train set again. Cool!

Tubing at the Nordic Center is always a lot of fun – and hard work!

Mum and Kate —- Grandad and Wesley!

Dad relaxes befor heading down the hill — Jocelyn and Kate, BFF

Taylor’s an awesome snowboarder.  David did really well after only have skied once before, 5 years ago!

Zach and Wesley took snowboarding lessons together and did great!

Jocelyn took her 2nd skiing lesson and loves it although Wesley says he’s a snowboarder now, not a skiier!

Wesley joined Cub Scouts this year and is thoroughly enjoying himself.  He loves the Pack meetings where the entire family attends and does something together.  This past Monday night, he received his Bobcat badge as well as his chess and soccer belt loops.

I am truly blessed to have three wonderful, healthy children.

Jocelyn celebrated her 10th birthday on November 30th.  We took her out to eat at Red Robin’s and she was sung to and was given balloon ears.  She loved all of the attention!  I love you, Baby Girl!

My nephew Weston passed away in September of last year.  He would have been 3 this month.  In his memory we do a balloon launch at the park where two trees were planted.  We wrote our messages on our balloons, said a prayer, and then all released our balloons simultaneously.  Weston is always in my mind but I am comforted in the fact that he is in heaven with Jesus, waiting for us.

This is one of the plaques by one of Weston’s trees at the park in Norman, OK. (right)  Checking out how much the tree has grown.  Quite a bit, actually!

Keith gives the instructions prior to the prayer.  Off they go!  The colors were so pretty against the blue sky.

Our trip to Oklahoma City began later than originally anticipated with us arriving late on Wednesday night instead of in the afternoon.  Traffic was a nightmare!  We enjoyed our stay at the Hyatt and their staff was extremely friendly and helpful.  Thanksgiving Day was spent at Jerry and Shirley’s house with turkey and lots of other foods.  Amazingly, we had TOO many pies!!  The cousins got along extremely well with no fighting.  We enjoyed spending time with Ken’s family although Steve couldn’t make it this year.  I’m truly blessed!

We crammed as many people around this table that we could. The cousins always enjoy eating together. Keith and Amy smile for me!

Ken with big sis, Julie.  (right)  Amy, Julie and I – my sister-in-laws!

Keith and Ken.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my side of the family on Sunday and will be heading to OKC to have Thanksgiving with Ken’s side of the family on the actual day.  Mum did a wonderful job cooking the turkey even though she doesn’t eat meat and we all managed to squeeze around two tables.  I’m so thankful for having so many blessings in my life!

See, we all fit!  8 adults and 8 children.

Taylor and Zach specifically asked for the legs!

. . . his trumpet, that is!  On Tuesday we attended his 7th grade band concert and I must admit, they sure have come a loooonnnngggg way since this time last year when he was first beginning to play!  Taylor looked so handsome in his tux shirt with bowtie.  Unfortunately we had to sit quite a ways back so some of my pictures were a little fuzzy.  The 1st trumpets got to do a little solo together during one of their songs.  Taylor’s a little hard to see but he’s the third one in.  He played very well and I’m so proud of how far he’s come already!  He is indeed a talented musician.

]]> http://tjwsmum.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/taylor-tootin/feed/ 0 tjwsmum band 1 band 4 band 3 http://tjwsmum.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/a-lott-of-fun-in-ok/ http://tjwsmum.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/a-lott-of-fun-in-ok/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:03:37 +0000 tjwsmum http://tjwsmum.wordpress.com/?p=981 ]]>

Last weekend we had the opportunity to visit our really good friends the Lott’s.  We headed out Saturday morning to Pauls Valley, OK to visit the Toy and Action Figure Museum, the only one of its kind in the world.  We headed to the train depot afterward to go through the little museum they had there.  We had a great time!

As we walked into the museum you see this huge display of what would have been a collector’s bedroom. There were toys everywhere!  Right:  Audrey and Jocelyn mock a fight in front of a cool wall.

Ken doing his photo thing and Wesley dressed up as Captain America.

Harrison and Taylor crunched themselves into a little car. Right: the 6 children being their normal selves by the train station!

Left: in the middle brick it said “center of the universe”! The kids were fighting over who was going to stand on it, of course!  Right: Harrison and Taylor in the train depot.

Audrey and Jocelyn; Wesley and Owen in the train depot.