The Secret Life of a Ninja: March 2012

Sunday, March 18, 2012

This winter season I have been able to go sledding twice with the twins. The first time, Derek and I took them up I-90 to exit 45 where there is a small hill for kids. You get off the of ramp, park, and sled.

Greta the Dare Devil riding solo and face first

Derek, Greta, and Evan

Greta trying another one of her tricks

Evan was all giggles going down the hills

The second time was during the Winter Storm. The night before the snow really hit, I found some disc sleds at Bartelli drug store. The next day the twins had an appointment to get their haircut. Lis, the lady that cuts our hair, lives about .5m down the road. Well, we couldn't drive so Alexis and I bundled up the kids and walked/slid our way down to Lis' house. While the twins were getting their haircut I walked to Safeway where I found some rope. We tied some rope to each disc and were able to pull the kids on the way home which was a lot easier. On the way home we also stopped at the golf course where there is an hill. So, we spent about 45 minutes sliding down the Seventh Hole. It was a great hill and the kids loved it. I am not sure why but for some reason I decided not wear my snowboard pants. During the time we were out it was raining/snowing really light but consistently so that I was soaking wet by the time I got home but it was great fun.

I made Evan carry the sled uphill one time. The other times he had me pull him up :)

AHAHAHAH

Is Greta trying to catch snowflakes with her tongue or doing a Michael Jordan impersonation?

Greta with Alexis the sledding Ninja

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Winter Storm

In January, we had a Winter Storm that blessed me with three days off of work. The snowstorm then turned into a ice storm. Here are some pictures to illustrate how beautiful it was.

These branches do not normally touch the ground. I cannot touch them when they are in their normal position. The snow was so heavy that MANY branches were hanging down or even broke.

If you look on the left you can see some branches resting on the ground because of the heavy snow.

Fun with Matt

While Owen and I were in Kansas we spent some time playing with Matt in the snow. We played some tackle football, tried jumping on the trampoline that was covered in inch thick ice and then snow, built a snowman, had a snowball fight, and the most exciting thing was building a pile of snow.

The snow was pretty dry but as it melt there was enough moisture to build a small snowman

Anyone want to play some football?

Matt keeps the snowman from gaining any yards towards the end zone.

What can you do with a pile of Snow?

You can throw a 6 year old boy into it.

Okay, now it's the adults' turn

I am not quite sure why I thought head first would be a good idea

Owen gets himself stuck

I just loved this picture of Matt and his beautiful blue eyes

Christmas 2011

For Christmas I decided to visit my sister, Heidi, and her family in Garden City Kansas. My brother, Owen, decided he would also head to Heidi's. Lucky for me he lives in Colorado so he picked me up at the Denver Airport and we drove together to Heidi's. The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Denver was how warm it felt compared to Seattle even though the temperature was lower. I have really struggled with the wet cold and enjoyed the 5 days I had of dry cold despite the extremely dry skin. Christmas Eve Owen, Heidi with some help from me made Jagerschnitzel for dinner. The boys also got to open one gift.

Santa filled our stockings with all sorts of goodies.

Uncle Owen playing with Gavin's train table before Gavin got to.

Adam really, really, really, really, really, really wanted a 3-D Nintendo DS and Santa did not leave him empty handed. I gave Adam money to get a new game and as a result of my gift I got to go into a Game Stop store for the first time while he picked out a game.

Heidi playing with Gavin as he hammers shapes in his new toolbox.

Matt busy playing with one of his Christmas gifts

So, if you did not notice in the picture of our stockings, the boys were given Jayhawk pet pillows. Unfortunately, Heidi and Robert are KU fans. Well, Owen and I, having gone to K-State, felt it was appropriate and our duty to help them see the light. So, Christmas Eve, at midnight, Owen and I crept out of the house via the sliding glass door into the backyard. We made our way to the driveway in the front of the house and improved Robert's license plate with a surprise gift. Christmas Day, Heidi, noticed that the screen door was slightly open. It is funny because after we had completed our mission, I noticed I had not closed the screen door all the way but I let it go and immediately thought "I bet Heidi notices." As sure enough she did. She said, "So, this is how Santa Claus go in the house"; Heidi and Robert do not have a chimmney. I told Heidi I had made the footprints in the snow so the boys would think they were Santa's. Anyway, as Heidi and family pulled out of the driveway in the minivan to go t church later on that day, Heidi, the most observant family member noticed Robert's new license frame. I am sad to report it was taken off Robert's car as soon as they got home from church. Owen even parked his car as closed as he could hoping it would block Robert from taking it off.

I-Fly Seattle

While Alexis' father, Von, was visiting, he wanted to try I-Fly Seattle. It a wind-tunnel that simulates skydiving. Alexis, her brother, Adrian and his wife, Kim, and the Twins had experienced this simulation. So, Derek, Von, the Twins, and I took a turn. Before my first turn I kept telling myself to "just relax, relax your body." It was not scary at all. They have you go in the tunnel for 1 minute increments. I think I went three times. I wanted to go high but I think they keep the wind levels down so you can't. I really enjoyed myself.