Spring skiing

One of our highlights of Spring break last week was taking the boys skiing. This is the second time we've made it up this year and the boys have improved so much. They're turns and snowplows are looking great. We stick to green runs, but there's a couple steep areas where they need to turn a lot and we've been really impressed with how well they can stay in control. Mac had two big crashes in the beginning from going too fast, but I think that was a good wake-up call to slow down. They'll be keeping up (or passing us up) in no time!


Heading up on the chair lift


The boys loved the rainbow trail, it was through the trees with lots of bumps. This is one of the first times, Mac is flying out of it and this is right before he ran into the tree to his left. His first big crash...


This is Nate coming out. In general, he's more in control with his skiing. He doesn't have the "need for speed" that his brother does.


Mac has learned his lesson and is now perfecting his snowplow. This is actually a pretty steep hill on our run.


We went with friends and while Sam was helping their kiddo with his first time skiing, the boys and I went up by ourselves. Mac got to ride all by himself...he was pretty excited! He did well, although I questioned my thinking the whole way up as we went over high areas! The boys are both champs on getting off the chairlifts.


We play "follow the leader" down the mountain to teach the boys to make big turns on the steep areas.

We're not sure if we'll make it up again this year, but it's been a good one. Maybe we'll get Elly up next year...we'll see.

St Patty's day parade

Yesterday was a beautiful day and we were able to ride our bikes into Old Town for the St. Patty's day parade. Spring break is this week and we're looking forward to sticking around town and relaxing. Although, I'm going to start some home makeovers, so keep posted...


Waiting for the parade to start. We were at the end of the route, so took a bit


Elly's not sure what she's in for


A fiddler stopped to play right in front of the boys. They stayed in the front line the whole time, almost 2 hours, waiting for the floats that threw candy. :)


Elly joined them a couple of times and they were sure to not let her join the parade

Hope you all have a happy St. Patty's day!

Nate's 5!!!

Wow, I can't believe Nate is 5! It's gone by fast. He has been so excited about his birthday... he woke up in the morning bounding up the stairs, announcing to everyone that it was his birthday. Mac was running behind him just as excited. It was like Christmas morning in the Eliason household!

We had a small birthday party for him with 5 of his friends in our backyard that he thought was the best party ever. It really was just an obstacle course and pinata, but with constant action, the kid was happy. Here's some pics...


We decided this year to try out having the boys invite as many kids as they are years old to their b-day party. Reason being, Mac our social butterfly would invite everyone he knew, and Nate gets overwhelmed with lots of kids. So Nate got to invited 5 buddies and he had a great time playing with everyone.


Check out my cake decorating skills! Not sure how it turned out... but winging it was kind of fun! We still haven't been able to cut into Tom. :)


Make a wish!


Sam set up an obstacle course including the trampoline, playset, zipline (which was the biggest hit) and other sports stuff Nate loves


The only thing Nate wanted for his birthday was a pinata...amazingly no one hit anyone else!:)


Sure glad I'm not the pinata with this tough guy!


Elly couldn't get enough of the zipline...she was cutting in front of the other kids to get on it. Her new nickname is "Animal."

A Beautiful Day!

We had such a gorgeous day today! We have had snow on our ground since December and as much as I love snow...it's been a bit draining this year. I am very excited for Spring and finally today was warm enough and snow-free enough to get on our bikes for a ride to church for my Moms-4-Moms group. Nate rode his bike the whole way and Elly road on her seat on the back of my bike. It was so great to be riding again! The way home around noon was absolutely beautiful! (Can you tell I'm ready for warmer weather?!) Anyway, I took some pics of the kids playing outside this afternoon as well.


The wheels are happy to be out again...


Check out my basket and handgrips I got for Christmas


Look who I spied climbing up the playset!


Climbing on our fence...our yard just can't contain these boys!


Where's the snow...I've been snowboarding all Winter back here!


Oranges in the sunshine, what gets better than that?!


Notice the bare feet, no, it's not warm enough for that yet.




Elly splashing in the puddles of melting snow


Ice cream cone? Don't fall for that clown trick!


Peek-a-boo...time to get back out the hammock.

I know I'm getting a little too excited for all this sunshine...it'll probably dump on us next week. For now, I'm loving it. Have a great day!

Meeting Baby Gus

Someday I'll be more on top of my posts! I had such a great time in Washington 2 weeks ago. Beth took Gus on his first trip down to Wishkah with Elly and I. Gus is such a sweet little guy and of course it was fun seeing how great of mom Beth is. Elly liked to check Gus out, but we tried to give him some distance. You never know when she might want to get too crazy! It was a relaxing visit and I'm very thankful that Grandma Debbie came down to help Sam with the boys so I could go. Here's some pics...



Elly got lots of Grandma and Papa time!



Elly had fun on trudging around my old stomping ground. She loved the bridge.



Here's the little guy we came to meet!



Elly was gentle when we let her get close to Gus...she liked giving him kisses



Elly was very curious about this little guy who was with her Aunt Beth



Elly takes one last look at her new cousin



A surprise Valentine's gift for me

Visit with the Ballards

Well it's been a while since I lasted posted. We've been doing well, just plugging along in the new year. We met our new nephew, Nick in the Springs two weekends ago. We all got some time with him, but Mac might have gotten the most. He loves babies, and fortunately realized he was too fragile to try to dress up (Elly isn't so lucky). Nick is of course adorable and Sara looks great. The boys had a great time with Jake, and Elly and Cade are hilarious together. They just follow each other around, as happy as can be. It was a great visit with the Ballards.

We also started a fitness challenge with the Glasers and Eliasons. It's been great to be motivated to work out. At this time of year, I definately need a little help to get into shape! Hope you're all doing well.

Mac loved holding Nick. He would check out his toes and fingers, he just loved his baby cousin.



Cade and Elly are very cute together. They just follow each other around. Here Cade shares his water. Some water for me...


Now it's Elly's turn


We can finally do pigtails!


The boys joined in on our fitness challenge


Look at that form!

Christmas with the Atlanta Glasers

We had Nick, Marianne, Katie Ann and Harrison in town with us for Christmas. We had such a great time (miss them already!) and it was even better being a white Christmas with them being from Atlanta. They got into town the 22nd and it started snowing that night finishing with about 8 inches. Here's some pics from our time with them.

Our first day with them, we went sledding. It was Katie Ann's first time in snow. She loved looking at it and wanted to go outside. Once she was there though, she wasn't so sure. She did brave a couple trips on the sled!

Mac on his way down the hill.

Nate right behind!

Elly doesn't last too long in the snow, but she got a couple runs in.

The next day they were in town, we went ice skating. The boys are in the helmets and Katie Ann in the blue hat.

Here we are at Christmas eve service. Sam helped out by being a greeter, so didn't make the photo.

My camera setting was off on this pic, but I had to include it. This was Christmas eve at 9pm. Sam and Nick were awesome in getting the trampoline set up. It took them 3 hours in single digit temperatures! I was soooo glad my brother was in town for this!

Getting closer!

They made it...no frostbite!

Now on to another project...Elly's kitchen. Man, Christmas gifts took a lot of work this year! I guess it didn't help that I waited until Christmas eve to make our stockings!

The next morning was all worth it. Here Nate is also playing with his prized possesion...a skateboard from Santa.

Harrison Jay enjoyed the morning

Look at those happy boys! Thanks Grandma & Papa!

Don't worry, we wouldn't put up a tramp without an enclosure with our crazy kids!

Hope you all had a great Christmas!