You have to do something fun in all this cold...

We decided to get the kids on the slopes this year.

I always loved skiing and snowboarding as a kid,

and we live 17 miles from a world class ski resort...

that has a GREAT, AFFORDABLE

ski program for local kids.

We actually started them out the week after Christmas

up at Wolf Mountain with Uncle Dave

& Aunt Carli.

They absolutely loved it and didn't want to get off the mountain.

Bryce sporting his little skis

and the edgy-wedgy,

of course.

But he probably won't need it for much longer.

He is already a great little skiier.

He can S-turn, go straight, make wedges,
keep out of peoples' way...
I hardly have to worry at all.

And Colton, started his Blaine County

Locals snowboarding lessons

on Saturday

with his instructor, Buddah

He is doing awesome.

He can carve down the whole mountain,

toes or heels,

without falling.

Four more weeks and he may pass his Mama up...

Ok, so maybe not this year,

but I have a feeling it won't be long.

Little Anna gets to observe with the camera man,

Daddy!

We'll get her on skis next year.

It is amazing how well they pick it up when they are young.

It almost seems totally natural.

Magic Reservoir Ice Fishing

We may not have a lot of snow,

but we definitly have plenty of ice

Ice for the boys to test out their new fishing poles

My little Bryce - always with a smile!

Today's catch!

Bryce came in from fishing with a big smile and said,

"I caught lots of fish, Mom!"

And Colton came in sadly to say,

"I only caught one"

Get used to it, son.

They sure make a great fishing team...

and an easy, inexpensive dinner for the night.

Good thing the boys LOVE fish.

They didn't get that from the McEntires,

that is for sure.

One Shot Family Picture

This was our Christmas Card 2010

Family Picture

Funny thing about it is that we got home from church,

I got the boys, Ben & Atlas in place,

set the camera on a bar stool,

clicked the delay button,

grabbed Anna,

sat down and said,

"Look at the light!"

Flash.

Picture done.

First try.

Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning with my kids

is nothing like it was when I was a kid.

I don't know if that is a good thing or not.

Let me explain...

Notice how my boys are dressed as they are showing

off their new fishing poles from Santa.

Well, they didn't wake up until 9:30.

Actually, Ben finally had to wake Colton up...

all the aunts and uncles (and mom & dad) were tired of waiting...
Dad told Colt that he missed Christmas.

That got him up quickly...

But they still wanted to get dressed

and eat breakfast before

heading downstairs to see what Santa had brought.

What kind of kids have we created?

Now, Anna...even though she didn't know what to wake up for,

she did know that there were presents for her.

The first gift she opened from her Aunt Angie was a new baby doll.
She immediately began saying,
"Baby! Baby! Baby!"

I don't think I've ever seen anyone so excited for a doll.

Her cousins (Uncle Dave & Aunt Carli)
got her a stuffed bear with different outfits.

Daisy the dog got to chewing off an eye the very first night
:(
Who needs a bear with 2 eyes, anyway.
It doesn't bother her.

She ended up with two baby dolls
and a stroller
which she uses for both dolls at the same time.
A little crowded.

Colton gets a soccer net from Nate & Becky (appropriate).
He plans on putting it to winter use on the hockey rink.

Good thing Atlas has grandparents,
or he wouldn't get a thing for Christmas.

We can always count on Nana & Pop to take care of our
1st child.

And this year was the best yet...

A SQUIRRIL!
(Those who know Atlas well know what a squirril means to him)

The kids got new Sunday clothes...

matching black, red & white...

don't have a picture of the boys...

maybe next week.

It was a fun, relaxing, low-key kind of Christmas this year.

Completely enjoyable!

Christmas Eve Traditions

2009 Christmas at the McEntire's

First Tradition:

A grandkids' re-enactment of the Nativity

Thanks to Nana's great costumes, the Petzinger kids

were obviously a wise man, a shepherd and an unwilling sheep

Lily was our narrator,
Cru the angel, Ian was Joseph
and Adrey was Mary

I'm grateful that we do this with the kids
so they learn what Christmas is all about

Even if they don't understand, quite yet...
like my little sheep...

who will someday probably be Mary...

unless Adrey refuses to give it up

I know you are asking, why is your mom wearing sunglasses

in the house on Christmas Eve?

What a good question.

Back in October when we went to Yellowstone,

Anna took her little finger with her sharp little finger nail

and poked Nana in the eye

scratching that top layer.

It has refused to heal -

more than 2 months later.

She was in a lot of pain and had to keep the light out as much as possible.

Pop suggested that anyone holding Anna should wear safety glasses.

I am afraid I will have to agree.


Jake & Heather are showing off the kids present

to Nana & Pop...

A foosball table - no, not just for Nana & Pop, obviously...

For all of us--now we can have couples tournaments in pool

and foosball.

And speaking of tournaments,

besides eating only finger foods on Christmas Eve,

we also play Bingo

For prizes!

The boys were both after the same prize--

a monster truck.

Bryce got Bingo first and had to go to bed before

Colton could get Bingo and steal it from him.

He was not happy.

But then he got his Bingo and picked his prize.

Not as good as a monster truck,

but good enough that he was now happy.

Unfortunately, we all did pretty bad at getting pictures this year

for most of the action...

But, it was a very nice Christmas Eve with all my brothers,

their wives, their kids and kids to be...

Merry Christmas!