Spring in February

Like most of the country, we have been experiencing some unseasonably warm weather. While it's great now, we are bit apprehensive for the summer. For now, however, we are taking advantage of it! Yesterday was no exception! When I got home from work, the weather said 80, so we packed up and did some hiking around Black Diamond Mines. The weather was perfect! And we hiked around until dark. We did some geocaching as well as exploring. And while we brought the stroller for Arie, she was happiest to be walking around with her brothers!

Sorry so blurry - not sure why, but it's the only family shot I took! Oh well! Photog I am not!

School Celebration

Mason and Zach both attend the Antioch Charter Academy. We moved Mason to this school when he was in second grade, and it was one of the best moves we've ever made. The Charter School is a Montessori-based program as well as multi-aged program. It's a K-8 school so this means it is Mason's last year. The school just went through a major accreditation and held a "celebration", which they opened to the community to showcase some of the amazing things the school does. They really relied upon their students to showcase all programs the school has to offer. Mason did a power point presentation in which he shared what 8th grade is all about at this school. He was very impressive - even some high school teachers were impressed not only with his manner of speaking and ability to stay calm in front of adults, but also in his power point presentation skills (they use power point quite a bit in both 7th & 8th grades). I was very proud of Mason!

Zachary is a third grader - and usually the school only allows 4th graders and up to play an instrument. However, Zach and 2 of his friends are at the top of their class and doing so well that they were given special permission to play in beginning band. Zachary chose to play the trumpet - just like Dad! It was fun to listen to the beginning band perform, but especially to watch Zachary play. By the end of the day, however, he did comment that his lips were a bit sore! :)

Park City

During our trip to Utah, we spent a day at Park City. Park City is such a beautiful place - we fell in love! We rode the Alpine Slide - I had always heard of this, but had never been nor tried. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day - perfect for being outside. The fall colors were just beginning to turn the leaves of the trees!

Getting directions from the lift operator.

Mason and Zach on the lift.

These are the carts that we ride down the track. You control how fast or slow the carts go. Aaron and Zach, of course, tried to get "air" on the way down. Mason and Arie and I were more content to take our time and take in the scenery.

Arie and mom at the end of the ride.

Mason coming down.

Zach trying hard to stop in time - he really likes to push the limit :)

Aaron finishing up his ride.

Next we visited the Olympic Park where they held the ski jump and downhill. We were lucky to watch some Olympians in training as they did their ariel jumps into a huge pool!

Team Krey - bobsled for the USA!

Later we ventured downtown and walked the streets until we found this amazing restaurant - Red Rocks Pub & Brewery. Some of the yummiest food we've had!

Park City was so much fun! When I lived in Utah, I never really ventured to Park City. Now that we've been, we look forward to going back!

BYU FAN-ATICS

I am an BYU alumn and Aaron is an Aggie (USU) alumn. So, last year, when the two teams met in Provo, we decided to take the kids to the game. Along for the ride were good friends the Johnson and Gonzalez families. We had to stop at the famed salt flats for a photo op! Not to mention our family has a tradition of carving our names in the salt! Here's the whole kidd-o gang:

Brooke Johnson & Mason

And then, onto the game!! Oh how I love a good BYU football game! Anyone who knows me, knows that not only do I LOVE football, but pair that with BYU and I'm in heaven! I have successfully won my children over, who also cheered for the Cougs. Poor Aaron was the lone Aggie fan. And - so sorry Aaron - the COUGS WON! :)

Two of my bestest friends: Cindy Johnson & Paula Gonzalez

Celia Gonzalez and Madi & Kylie Johnson

Olivia and Arie
We went to visit my nephew, Paul Krey, who is a freshman at BYU - yep! He is a super smart dude!

BYU WINS! Aaron was not super happy (and clearly neither was Arie) but the rest of us were all smiles! GO COUGS!

My Legacy

Every once in a while, probably far less than I should, I sit back and look around and marvel at how blessed I am. Yesterday I was doing this while looking at my three, beautiful children. When Aaron and I began on this journey to parenthood, we had a rocky go at the beginning. After almost three long years, when we found out we were pregnant with Mason we were thrilled. On that day, I remember kneeling down to thank my Father in Heaven for blessing us, and promised that I would thank Him everyday for the opportunity to be a mom. I have never broken that promise! All of my children are so unique and different, and each bring such a fullness of joy into my life! I really cannot imagine my life with them not in it. I can't truthfully say that I've loved being a mom everyday. But I can say that when I take stock of my life, all of my blessings and gratitude boil down to one essential element - family! My children will be the biggest and hopefully best job I do in this life. They quite literally define who I am and my journey in this life. And I am grateful, profoundly, to be their mom!

Soccer!

For those of you who may not know - Zach is our sports buff! He loves playing all things sport! He currently plays baseball, but we've never really signed him up for any other sport. He's been begging to play soccer for quite sometime. He's also been begging to play football. Most people who know me know that I LIVE for football - but there is something about having to sit back and watch your son play that makes me a bit hesitant. As for soccer - I'm NOT European, and the sport truly bores me. However, Zach has been working super hard in school, so I've relented and he's now playing indoor soccer for the Killer Bees! He had his first game on Saturday night. Here he is in his uniform.

And that little yellow speck? Yep - that's Zach playing goalie. He was stoked because that's the position he says he's best at. He played the first quarter as goalie. He stopped 5 attempts, but let 2 past. Not too bad for his first game! He was quite pooped at the end, but smiling and happy. And what was the first question out of his mouth on the ride home? Can I sign up for football too? Ahhh, no rest for the weary!

GO BEES!

Ice Skating

Last week our Young Men & Young Women from our church took a trip to Brentwood to do some ice skating. Most of the time the girls and boys do separate activities, but on occasion, they combine for activities. This was one such occasion. So, I got to spend the evening with Mason. How grateful I am that he has yet to be embarrassed to be seen with his Mom! We had so much fun together! I do love this boy!

Mason invited his best buddy, Evan to skate with us. Evan doesn't belong to our faith, but he sure had fun zooming around the rink with Mason and some of Mason's friends. Evan is a good kid, and as a mom, I am grateful for good friends who come from good families with values similar to ours.

Mason was nervous about ice skating. As a family, we went ice skating in Tahoe during the Thanksgiving break. Needless to say, he didn't have much fun. However, because his buddy came, he put on a brave face. He mostly clung to the wall the first few times around, but by evenings end, he was skating free of the wall, and playing with all the boys! It was such a great night!