The week before Christmas

Having several days of 'non-routine time was wonderful.  We went away to Apex for a couple of days with friends and thoroughly enjoyed

bouncing on Uncle John's bed...

 sliding on a snowpile

 giving Auntie M exercise by asking for more rides

 getting a serious workout hiking back up to our unit

 (whew!  the top of this hill!)

 being pulled up said-steep hills by willing moms and aunties

being out in the snow

sledding down the hill behind our unit

 

 the wipeouts after sledding down the hill behind our unit

more sledding

 snuggles from aunties

 watching the sledding

 trying out the kiddie sleds ourselves - no control, by the way!

 being the king of the snowpile

 more snuggles from another auntie

 scrapbooking or organizing, all digitally (cardmaking with paper)

 even more snuggles with aunties

 hot tubbing

 helping auntie get supper ready, one potato at a time

 hiding under auntie M's bed

 and goofing off on uncle john's bed (again).

We also enjoyed the skiing, but I have no pictures of that!  Chelsie had a morning with Daddy while I used the ski pass and they had a blast tubing on the tube hill while Breyden tried skiing next door on the bunny hill :).  It was a lovely time away for a couple of days.

When we got home, the truck needed a serious washing...and got it!

 

Chelsie had gone on a special shopping trip with Auntie Willy to buy Mommy and Daddy a Christmas present and was thrilled to be able to give them to us.  She was jumping up and down (and very proud to have kept the secret for a whole week!)  Daddy's flashlight set had one for him and a small one for her, and Mommy's birds were just like our family - a cute set of 4.  Thank you, Chels (and Auntie!!)  A special memory for sure.