January 2008

Even though it snowed more days here this month than it has since 1993 (according to the local weather man), we managed to stay warm and enjoy the outdoors as much as we could with two little ones. We have been away from the winter season for 3 years now so we have had to adjust to the cold temperatures and snow shoveling on a daily basis. For the most part this month, us girls just stayed indoors. The guys got to enjoy some backyard playtime and also a big sledding day up in the mountains. Several families from Ty's squadron met at a certain spot one Saturday afternoon and set up a few camper trailers, a firepit to cook food and had about three snowmobiles constantly hauling people up the hill after they sledded all the way down. This was a first experience for Carter, but he loved every minute of it. The first time down the hill Ty stopped about half way down to make sure Carter was doing okay and about the time they got ready to take off for the second part of the hill, he hears, "WATCH OUT!" Ty looked over his shoulder about the time that a couple in their sled was about to crash into them. Thankfully, Ty had time to scoop Carter up and somewhat throw him out of the way. Regardless, they both went flying along with their sled. Carter thought that was pretty cool though because, "they boomed us and made us spin out in the infeild like Chick Hicks does to Lighting McQueen in Cars." It was the only story that he could tell me of the entire day. There aren't any pictures because I didn't go along and Dad's don't think to take a camera and document an event like this. Maybe next time!
The rest of our month was filled with several days inside and lot of busy work. Carter is working on learning how to write his alphabet and his name. He loves to practice on the bathroom mirrors with a dry erase marker and anywhere else that is allowed. Whitleigh has grown up so much this month- she started the month out getting really good at standing and ended it taking her first few steps back and forth from Ty and I. She also got her two front teeth so she automatically looks more grown up! She is our little eater and we have yet to find anything that she doesn't care for. "Da-da" is still her word of choice but has learned "ball" this month too. I just know she is holding out with "Ma-Ma" because she knows how frustrating it is to me! :-D
Ty hasn't been able to fly all that much this month due to weather. The next few months are going to be filled with several ORE's in preparation for the big ORI in March. I am trying to start the studying process for my final comprehensive exam that takes place the 26th of April. It will finalize my Master's and will be the last page in Gretchen's Schooling Book. And that sums up our January- we miss and love you all! Stay tuned for Febuary's update and more videos since I finally figured out how to do that.