Winter in Salt Lake

Next month we will know for sure, but we'll probably move to Texas at the end of May for residency. This is most likely our last winter in Salt Lake so we're trying to do everything unique to this area (that we can afford, and that we can do with two little kids... so that kind of narrows it down) to avoid regrets once we move to a flat, hot place. A few things we've done so far: Last week we went ice skating on the Olympic oval here. The ice wasn't anything special, but it was a huge rink and it fulfilled Scott's itch to go skating. We also tried out Deer Valley ski resort and it was awesome. Too pricey to go regularly, but the snow was incredible and there are more runs and lifts than either of us had ever seen at a single resort. We didn't get pictures at either place, but here is a sampling of the pictures and videos we HAVE taken in the last couple of months.

These two are becoming good friends. Nothing makes me happier than watching loving interactions between them.

Janie is so happy and hyper and fun, and sometimes a little scary. Her short fuse always surprises us. We just aren't quite sure what to make of this feisty little kid. Here's a good example of her hyper bunny act.

Scott and Kate had to build a snowman again before the snow disappears. Kate was really into it, particularly the "decorations." Snowman demolition:

While I was busy taking pictures and video of the snowman builders, I forgot about some cookies in the bottom rack of my oven. At first glance, these cookies could pass for chocolate, but unfortunately they were not. They were just that burnt. Scott thought my culinary disaster was funny and snapped a deer-in-the-headlights photo before I could hide my failure in the garbage can.Without any encouragement, Kate has become obsessed with eating snow. Today she lectured Janie on the importance of avoiding the "yellow snow" and only eating the fresh white stuff. So the ultimate for Kate was this maple syrup snowcone. Another item on our list was letting Kate try to ski. Scott took her one Saturday while I stayed home with Jane. She was a trooper about the skiing part, but it was a pretty cold, windy day and so she didn't last that long. She started the day with cautious optimism: The sheer joy of skiing. At least for a little while. :) Random: Scott's sister Laura and fiancee Ben came over for dinner a couple of days before my birthday and brought me a yummy chocolate lava cake! Storytime is a good solution when it's too cold to play outside. The girls really like this seek-and-find book. Janie doesn't get the concept, but she likes pointing to stuff. Day two of the Olympics and Scott had already indoctrinated Kate with Canadian gear and propaganda. Crawling boot camp: the Cheerio Trail Method. Admittedly not the most sanitary method, but it worked with Kate so we're trying it on child #2. So far Jane is only army crawling but she seems close to doing the real thing. Jane likes to collapse dramatically after reaching each Cheerio. Here are our dear friends Lisa and Dave and their baby Carson. They are one of the reasons we'll be sad to leave Utah. A typical outfit right now consists of winter gear + some form of princess attire.