What we've been up to

I have a lot of updates to cover. I was shocked to see how long it had been since I had updated the blog. Sorry.

Since I last wrote anything, Luke has traveled to Italy to compete in the World Ski mountaineer Championships. He did well. He placed 19th overall against the other competitors and was the first US finisher in the events he competed in. Job well done Luke. He also competed at the Wasatch Powder Keg and won first place. Good job again, Luke.

After getting home from Italy, Luke then finished up preparations to go to Peru with Idaho Condor on a humanitarian trip. He spent time there over spring break with a large group that provided medical and dental services to remote villages around Cuzco, Peru.

Now that he is home, we are in training mode for running. Let's hope spring decides to come soon so it will be funner to run outside.

Brynlee took ski lessons this year. I was a little worried about her riding the lift without Luke or I but she was fine. It was fun watching her learn to ski. By the end of the lessons she was going all by herself and wanted to straight-line it for the bottom of the chairlift, from the top. For being sometimes timed, she was a little too fearless.

Chlöe is getting so big SO FAST. She will be 7 months old on the 13th. I can't believe how quickly time has flown by. She is still an awesome little girl, I love her to pieces. She is so easy going and happy. She has rolled over a few times but is mostly mastering the art of sitting and drooling.

For Christmas Luke bought me a new DSLR camera! I couldn't believe it, and I am so thankful for him and that he was willing to spoil me and get me a nice camera. It has been fun taking good photos of the girls. Hopefully I'll get better, but for now these are some fun photos of the girls I have played with. It's fun being able to take photos of them together, while they like each other :)

Weather

The weather looked like this outside today.....

So with a little help from my sous-chef...

We made this....

That looked like this...

....taste tester approved.

Effect International

A Busy New Year

Saturday morning of New Years we took the girls skiing up to Pebble. Even though it was very chilly outside, Brynlee was quite a trooper and enjoyed going skiing.

Thank goodness for a ski harness. Dad makes a good Brynlee Lift.

Bynlee skiing down and practicing her "Pizza"

Luke and Brynlee on the chair lift

The First weekend of the New Year, Luke skied in the US National Ski Mountaineer Championship race that was held in Jackson Hole, WY. He has been racing in ski mountaineering for several years, but this year his fitness level and ski gear were in line and he was able to pull out a great race. He finished third overall, but was the second American to cross the finish. This race was also a qualifier for the US Skimo team. The first three American finishers would qualify to be on the national team that would compete in February in Italy. Luke is very excited and will be heading off to Italy next month! We are super excited for him, and even though I will not be going over...we will be supporting him from home base.

Here are a few photos of the end of the race. I was not able to make it to the start, just the end of the race. If you go to http://www.powdermag.com/features/news/skiers-in-tights/ there is a feature article and it describes the race a bit as well as showing them climbing Corbet's.

Here is Luke finishing the race, Stoked and in Lycra.

Brynlee was making snow angels as we waited for Luke to finish.

The day following the National Championship race, Targhee also held a skimo race that was a qualifier for the US Skimo team. Luke raced it as well and came in fourth overall, third American. It was a very chilly morning. Here is a photo of the sun burning off the morning fog at Targhee. I was hiding in the lodge, believe me it was cold.

The starting Line,

The race is on, skiing up the mountain...

and up...

Girls waiting in the lodge, keeping warm.

Finished 4th overall.

Good race, Very cold, frozen face. Now to train for world's in Itally.

Chlöe is growing up so fast. She is 4 months old now and I feel bad that I haven't taken as many photos of her as I did Brynlee. It breaks my heart that I can't turn back time and have those moments again to take photos of her cute little face. SO I have vowed to take more photos! I am leaving my camera out and taking photos weekly.

Here are a few photos of Chlöe sitting up in her new big girl chair. I love this thing!

I started giving her a little bit of rice cereal, which she loved. Here is her first food experience. As you can see, she was very happy about the experience.

Brynlee is now loving the camera and also had to have a photo taken. Who can blame her, she is dang cute.

We were given this cute little bunny hat by a good friend. All I can say is stinken cute! Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks!!!!

Christmas

This year we celebrated Christmas at our home with Luke's family. It was nice having his family with us, especially where they live so far away. On Christmas Eve, we drove to Shelley and had dinner with Luke's grandparents and cousins. Santa made a special appearance at the end of the party and Brynlee and Chlöe were lucky enough to have Santa bring them gifts. They both did well on Santa's Lap. Brynlee told me that she wasn't going to be afraid of Santa this year.

Brynlee helped clean up after the festivities and had fun being pushed around on the broom.

We had to hurry home so Luke and Brynlee could get ready for Santa. They frosted ginger bread cookies.

Chlöe hanging out, watching and drooling. (I can't beleive how big she is getting)

Putting out the milk and cookies for Santa.

The Girls in there p.j.'s getting ready for bed.

Brynlee sleeping soundly with her favorite horse, waiting for Santa.

Waking up Christmas morning

Finding stockings under the tree

Chlöe hanging out with grandpa, sucking on her thumb....she didn't last long.

Brynlee had great expressions while opening her gifts. We were lucky to catch a few. She was really fun this year. She brought a lot of excitement into our home and it made Christmas better for all of us.

Brynlee with grandma opening a fun little gift.

She asked Santa to bring her a tool set. Lucky for her he listened.

This is a quilt that Grandma Nelson made for her. She was very excited because it had princesses on it.

In Pocatello we kind of missed out on the White Christmas thing, but the sun was nice. We headed for a walk/run up city creek before we ate our Christmas meal. It was nice to get out and it made our dinner even better.

We had a great Christmas. Thank you to family! I appreciate all that you do for us and it was fun to be together.