Pics of Ski Beech

Picture 1: our view from the balcony Picture 2: Hailey learning to ski down the mountain Picture 3: Elena learning to ski down the mountain Picture 4: Barrett coming down the mountain Picture 5: Brittany, Barrett, & Katie on the lift Picture 6: Our rental house at the bottom of the mountain Picture 7: Uncle Paul, Katie, Krissy, Anthony & Barrett at the top of the blue slope Picture 8: Katie & Aunt Brenda Picture 9: Lane learning to ski down the mountain

Ski Beech

This weekend we went to Ski Beech, North Carolina. Moma and daddy gave us this vacation as part of our Christmas. We left Saturday and got to North Carolina Sunday around noon. The house we were renting was HUGE. It was three stories tall with a ton of space. It also had the perfect location. It was right on the slope directly next to the lift. We could come and go as we pleased. We had a ton of us go. It was moma, daddy, me, Barrett, Elena, Landon, Krissy, Anthony, Hailey, Anthony Jr, Ashleigh, Aunt Brenda, Uncle Paul, Katie, Justin, Brittany, Aunt Patricia and Lane. We had a ball. This was so much fun. Now, most of us there had skied once or twice. I had never been skiing before. The first day was atrocious. We drove to pick up our skiis from the ski shop and then we were going to ski back to the house. Everyone just took off. It took me like an hour to get down the mountain. Barrett stuck with me at first and he kept telling me to keep my skiis together and of course when I would do that, I would fall. I think I fell all of the way down the mountain. Barrett finally left me and then Justin came. He and Brittany stuck with me the whole way down the mountain. Justin was giving me pointers about how to hold my feet, how to get up, how to go slow, etc, etc. I, of course, did not try skiing for the rest of the day. The next morning though, we all got up bright and early and took off. It didn't take me once or twice before I had the basics figured out. I think that was all thanks to Justin. If he wouldn't have stayed with me that first day, I would have had no clue how to do anything. After a while, we brought Elena and Hailey out. Of course, neither one listened and after just about flying down the mountain a couple of times, we brought them back in. Lane took ski school in the meantime and picked up the basics that our kids wouldn't listen to. Elena and Hailey were too young for ski school so we just winged it with them. We skiied until the lift closed at 4.30. The next day, same routine. Except this time we let the kids come out first. We let them practice on the low hill for a while and then we brought them in to rest. We skiied until after lunch and then we brought them back out. Lane took a trip down the bigger mountain and then took another break. It took him a while to get down because he plowed the whole way down. Hailey made a couple trips down the mountain because she had no concept of plowing and was full speed. The same for Elena. We sent them in and then we all took off again to ski some more. All in all, this was a great trip and we had a lot of fun. We can't wait to do this again.

Gabe's 1st Birthday Party

We had a busy day today. We got up early and got dressed and then went to town to do some shopping. After we went shopping, Elena and I went to the hospital to visit Jessica and Brad and their new baby Lila. Lila is beautiful and teeny tiny.

After that, we came home and wrapped Gabe's present because today Gabe had his 1st birthday party. It was Mickey Mouse themed. I think my mom liked the theme more than the kids. Tina had a space walk and the kids basically stayed in there the whole time. They barely came out to eat or get cake and ice cream. Gabe racked up and got lots of great presents. Of course the gift Elena picked out for him, he already had. I knew it would happen like that but Elena had her heart set. Mike made the best hamburgers for the party. I got to hold Tanner for the first time today (that is Alysha and Mike's baby). He is a little cutie. We all had a good time today. It was a busy day, but a good one.

First Mardi Gras Parade

Tonight we went to our first official Mardi Gras Parade with the kids. Barrett and I are not parade fans all of the time, but we thought it would be a good time to let Elena go to one. We went to the Covington parade tonight with moma, daddy, Krissy, Anthony, and all of the kids. We got there early and had dinner waiting for the parade. We had enough time to walk the streets for a little while. Elena saw lots of little friends down the parade route. She was so excited by the time the parade came our way. When the parade came, she got on Barrett's shoulders and yelled for them to throw her beads. When someone did throw one to her, she would put it on and then just sit there and not ask for another bead until the next float came. I guess she thought she could only have one person give her something on each float. She wouldn't dance with the bands or dancers. She just sat there wide eyed watching. Even Landon loved the parade. His usual bedtime is about 6:30 or 7:00. He sat up, wide awake until about 7:45 until he just crashed on my shoulder. He was watching all of the lights. He even felt like he was dancing a little to the music. He is going to love a party just like Elena. Krissy's kids though, were old pros. They go to parades all of the time so her kids knew the routine. Everybody had a great time. We are definitely going to take the kids to another parade before the year is over.

"My Turn Day"

Today is Tuesday, February 10th. My Turn Day. I have already blogged about what this day is all about. Today I am making my announcement.

I am volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana Area. Now it's your turn.

Announcement about "My Turn Day"

Ok guys. I am spreading the word here. February 10th will be "My Turn Day". This is going to be a new annual day where you decide to help others. I got this idea from Kiddlive.com and the Kidd Kraddick show. What Kidd is proposing is that everyone make a decision to help someone else or a cause. Take the next few days to decide what you want to do (i.e. Cleaning a park, working in a homeless shelter, become a big brother, bring food to the elderly, etc). After you decide something you can do, it doesn't have to be a lot, contact the organization and sign up. Then announce it to the world on February 10th. Announce it on your blog, on your myspace, facebook, whatever media you use to contact family and friends. Your statement should be like this, "Gary is going to help his neighbors paint a disabled man’s home tomorrow. It’s Your Turn!". By ending it with "It's your turn" others will, hopefully, join in as well. When I heard this I thought it was a great idea. I have already done my research and made my decision as well as contacted my organization. I will make my announcement on the official day - Februrary 10th. I am publishing this now in hopes that others will join in. If you want to read the official page go to http://www.kiddnation.com/profiles/blogs/kidd-nation-i-need-your-help . Good luck and I hope everyone makes a great announcement on "My Turn Day".