There's a Horse in the Backyard

Last week, I was sitting in the kitchen talking with a friend when she was like, whats that...something huge had walked by the side back window.

When we looked out the back, I was so surprised to see a HORSE in the backyard! Our neighbor owns land (I think) and has some horses. We headed out there to see the horse, and the boys got to ride him. The horse's name is Slick. The boys LOVED it!

Zac wanted to ride again and was really interested in how the horse was moving and things. Our neighbor taught Zac some things on how to ride this horse. He got him to stop and start and go faster and walk sideways and backward. Zac was so fascinated and had a huge smile on his face the whole time :)

A Low Key Snowy Saturday

The Saturday after everyone left it snowed and the boys were sooo excited to build a snowman. They have been wanting to building one for months. I'm so glad Jon was home to help them.  It was a nice low key day. We really only have Saturdays for our families now, so we try not to be too busy. We slept in and Jon made breakfast and then the boys went out into the snow.

Max all dressed up

As you can see there wasn't very much snow.

The boys adored this little guy. They named him Herbie.  Zac talked to him like he was frosty. I really think he thought the snowman would come alive. He was really really disappointed when he started to melt later that day...so unlike Utah snow.

While the boys were out playing in the snow, I hung out in my pjs and made this. I bought this metal frame snowflake wreath last month on sale at Joanns. I felt like it needed a little more. I had been looking on pinterest for ideas. And I decided to add tulle to the frame. I turned out a little different than I expected, but I still like it.

Zac's First Time Cross Country Skiing

The first week back in school. Zac had his first cross country skiing day. I was going to go up and help the kids get their gear on, but I got there too late. But I still got to go out on the snow and watch and help.

Getting their little skis

Zac did great! I'm impressed how well he moved. He didn't fall very much. He occasionally got his skis crossed, but nothing too bad. And he was really good at being able to get himself up after falling.

Here they were playing red light, green light and practicing "pizzas", or snow plowing to stop. Thats a bit difficult for him.

Next they walked up the hill doing "duck walks" and then practiced walking sideways so they didn't slide down the hill. He did great!

One of the instructors helping him with the "pizza" position

Then they played the Hokey Pokey. It was tricky for him to turn around in a circle without crossing his skis. So he has a couple things to work on. But he did awesome and I'm excited for him to learn more!

New Years Eve 2012

It was pretty low key this year. I think we were all really tired.  I had planned to make a bunch of snacky treats but forgot half of them in the fridge and no one seemed that interested anyway. But the rollo bites were sure yummy.

We played games for a while, taboo, and buzz word. Then Jon broke out his Insanity DVD. I really should've taken a picture of that! :) He and Emily were working out to it for about 15-20 mins. We almost missed ringing in the New Year! I got the Sparkling Juice out, we toasted, and watched the ball drop online.

The next day Sunday, Jason and Kari headed home. Monday, Emily and Dave settled back into Provo, and Wednesday Jon's parents headed home.

I was a bit concerned about having that many people here for that long and the need I'd feel to host, and inevitably fail at it. So, Jon and I sent an email to everyone asking for everyone to take care of themselves, clean up after themselves, assigning out dinner nights, and encouraging everyone to do what activities they wanted when they wanted AND not to ask! :)  I think things went pretty smooth and it sure took tons of pressure off of me. I think it'd be fun to do again for a few days. I think next time I'd like to have a little more structure planned into it. But considering my physical state and limitations it worked well. Nonetheless, it was relaxing and fun. 

1/1, at 1:00p - Sledding


I started a tradition a couple years ago (posted here, and here), of sledding on New Years Day, at 1:00p. Well.....this year the weather has not allowed sledding. AND New Years Day landed on a Sunday. So I tweaked the tradition a little.....

12/31, at 1:00p - Swimming!


As you can see we are really lacking snow.....

We headed up to the Kamas Indoor Pool (no snow in the Uintas either) and played for a couple hours.

Zac, Jase, Dave and Emily hanging out in the hot tub. It was only a few degrees warmer than the leisure pool, which is perfectly warm and comfortable. It was also very very nice on my body, with the buoyancy qualities and all.

There is a twisty water slide at the pool too. I've taken the boys to this pool one other time, but I couldn't take them both down and they were too scared anyway. So it was GREAT to have Jon there to be able to take Zac down the slide. Zac was really nervous at first, but a few times with dad and he was ready to go by himself. He did great! It was so fun to be able to go do an activity like this with Jon too.

At the top

Kari, Halle, and Emily

Max being silly

The leisure pool with a shoreline, play ground, lazy river, and water slide.

Prunie!

Munk Reunion

 On Friday, the whole Michael and Maryanne Munk family got together. Maryanne had some names for sealings to do at the Salt Lake Temple. We met Sarah and Cory's family up there in the afternoon and Emily watched Sarah's kids while we did the temple work. Afterwards, we all came back to our house for dinner and hanging out. It was fun to have everyone here.

Again, I didn't take any pictures during the dinner. All of these are from Emily.

We had chili and corn bread for dinner.

Max and his shenanigans :)

Poppa reading to Halle

Sarah and Cory

Batman and Robin (Adam and Max)

Adam, Ammon and Zac playing with the game boy

Dave playing with the kids

Eli

Jason and Dave....don't ask me. This is an inside joke, of which I don't know

Munk Men

Sigh....good pic of everyone...but I'm just over 6 months pregnant and I look 9 months along!

Ugh again....I wish i was told how bad that shirt looked....hahaha Everyone else looks great!
The Ladies

The Men

It took Em a few pics to get all the kids to show their faces! :)

The Kids

Color Me Mine 2011

Since Jon rarely has time off work, we made sure to build in some little family time and a date night during the week. We decided to go to Color Me Mine in Provo. We'd never been before and should have planned more time to be there. It took the boys a long to choose what they wanted to paint-so many choices.

It was a great time I thought! And the boys really liked it too. I hope to make this a tradition every year between Christmas and New Years.

Zac picked a penguin plate. He did a great job painting and did most of it on his own. I helped with some of the details on the face and making sure he had plenty of coats of paint so the color wouldn't be opaque.

Jon decided not to do a piece, because Max would need a lot of help. I feel bad Jon didn't get to make one. He's pretty creative and likes to do this kind of stuff occasionally.

But Max really did need help and loved it. Max picked a snowman ornament.

I picked a mug for my hot drinks during the winter. It didn't go as I had hoped. The stencils didn't stick so I had to freehand the snowflakes. But it still turned out ok.

Unfortunately, Max's snowman was already packed away with the Christmas decorations when I took this picture. But these are the pieces all finished and fired. The colors are much more vibrant and the glaze is nice and smooth and shiny.

It really enjoyed this and maybe we can do it for a date night later in the year?