Spring Break in Reno

We wanted to get away for Spring Break but didn't want to go too far away.  Reno it was!

First stop after we checked into the hotel, Steak 'n Shake!  We enjoyed some delicious 1/2 price shakes and yummy steak burgers.

Next, we had to try out the sweet indoor pool at the hotel.  The first morning the girls were up at 5:30 ready to hit the pool again.  These are the same girls that sleep in until at least 8 if they can.  For the rest of the week, we went to the pool every morning and evening.

One day we headed over to California to visit Donner Memorial State Park.  They had a nice little museum with a video and then a little nature trail with a few landmarks.

 

Ryleigh fell asleep in the car on the way over and slept in the stroller the entire time we were there.

The next day we headed over to Circus Circus.

 Bailey fell asleep in the car on the way there and slept the whole time we were there.  She missed out on the fun games and prizes.  When she woke up and saw Ryleigh had won a purple stuffed fish, she insisted that we go back and get her a blue fish.

Lucky for her, the shows weren't happening until that evening so we left for more 1/2 price shakes and came back.  The whole time we were gone, she kept asking if it was time to go back and get her a blue fish.

We made it back and Bailey won herself a blue fish and we watched a few shows.

We headed up to Virginia City the next day. 

We took a trolley narrated tour of the town.

The story behind these two houses was pretty entertaining.  There were these two guys that were enemies.  The one guy bought a new house.  The other guy didn't want him to ever see the sun set again so he bought the lot next door and had his house moved to it right on the property line.

This school was the first building to have central air conditioning west of the Mississippi and the first building to have a drinking fountain on every floor.  It had about 1100 students.

That night we met up at a buffet with my Uncle and Aunt that live in the area for dinner.  It was fun to see them. 

We drove by this prospector outside of our hotel numerous times and each time Ryleigh asked to stop so she could get her picture taken with him.  We finally stopped the last day so she could get her picture taken with Last Chance Sam.

We also hit In 'n Out a few times.  Yummy!  We had a great week and were not ready to come back home.

Sledding Adventure

We finally had a free Saturday with no commitments so we decided to head up to the mountains to play in the snow.  As we were driving further and further up the mountain we began to question if there was going to be enough snow to play in.  I had found a spot on the internet outside of Idaho City.  When we got to Idaho City we were still wondering if we were crazy for not checking the snow levels before we came up.  Then Devin saw the sign for the sledding hill I had found on the internet.  We found it with no problem and there was still enough snow to have a great time.

While Bailey finished her lunch, Dad and Ryleigh headed for the hill.  Bailey and I headed over just in time to see Dad break the saucer on his way down.  It broke in several pieces so we were down to one sled.

 

Bailey was pretty excited for her turn on the sled. 

 

Ryleigh loved it every time. 

 

Not a very good picture of the two girls going down but it was the best I got with the both of them. 

 

Ryleigh insisted on pulling Bailey back up the hill for another round.

 

But Bailey opted to bail out and try building a snow castle.

Dad and Ryleigh

 

Mom and Ryleigh 

 

Ryleigh was quite the trooper.  She went down and climbed up probably twice as many times as the rest of us combined. 

 

 Bailey and Dad

 

 Bailey taking a rest with Mom

 

Bailey tackling Dad.

 

Bailey was ready to head back to the car before Ryleigh was so we went and had a snack. 

We couldn't have asked for better weather.  It was nice and sunny and we were taking off gloves and hats because we were getting too warm.  There were multiple hills that were being used so we didn't even have to share ours very often.  We are excited to go back again next year!

It's a Boy!!

Christmas

Uncle Travis and Auntie Ann came over for Christmas Eve and we played The Night Before Christmas game and the kids opened their pajamas.

 

Madison, Zachary, Ryleigh, Brynley and Bailey

Bailey came down with a head cold and fever the day before Christmas Eve and didn't do much but watch Curious George on the couch and sleep so I am surprised we got her to smile in this picture.

 

 Christmas morning the girls found Santa had brought them bikes!

 

Ryleigh got a plasma car or as she calls it, a wiggle bike

and Bailey got a "big bike."

After she got off her bike, she wanted nothing to do with her other presents because she still didn't feel well.  So she headed to the family room to watch Curious George while the rest of us opened our presents.

 Ryleigh on the other hand, was very excited to open gifts.

 

I apparently didn't get hardly any pictures opening gifts since I was dealing with a little sick one in the other room.

 

Later that morning, Ryleigh brought Bailey her gifts one by one and helped her open them.  I don't think she actually played with any of them until Sunday afternoon when she started feeling better.  We ended up taking her to the doctor Friday afternoon and she had a double ear infection. 

 
Christmas afternoon we headed over to Uncle Travis and Auntie Ann's for a yummy ham dinner and some fun with the Wii that Zach got from Santa.

 Ryleigh with her pile of gifts.  I think there are a few behind her bulletin board that you can't see.

 

I wanted to take the tree down on Friday but still hadn't taken Bailey's picture.  You can tell she was so excited about me making her sit there, not feeling well, while I took her picture. 

Sledding at the Park

After Ryleigh had so much fun playing in the snow with her tube, we decided to buy a few sleds and hope for some more snow.  The weekend before Christmas we got another snowfall.  After our ward Christmas breakfast we headed to the park with some great sledding hills.

 

We started on a long, not so steep hill and decided it wasn't fast enough.

 

So we headed to a shorter, steeper hill.  The girls got a ride over there.

 

I only had my phone with me to take pictures and the sun was so bright I couldn't really see the screen to see what I was taking a picture of.  So these didn't turn out the best.  I wish I would have zoomed in a lot more.

 

Dad and Bailey 

 

Ry had no problem dragging the sled back up the hill after coming down. 

 

I don't know how many times Ryleigh went down but it was way more than the rest of us. 

After Bailey had had enough of the sledding, her and Dad played in the snow. 

 

We can't wait for more snow!  We might have to head to the mountains one weekend.

Tree Decorating and the First Snow

Thanksgiving was later than normal this year so we didn't get to put up our tree until a week into December.  We bought it from one of the local tree lots that we go to every year.  It was late enough when we brought it home that all we did was put it in the stand and string the lights that night.

Everyone, including Lizzie, was right there helping Daddy out.

 

The next morning Ryleigh was very eager to get it decorated until she looked outside and saw that it had snowed.  The tree decorating would have to wait.

 

All bundled up ready to go at 8:00 in the morning when it was 18 degrees out.

 

 

Snow angel on the driveway

 

Trying to make a snowball...not the right kind of snow. 

 

 

Sand buckets work for building snow castles too.

 

 

And water tubes work in the snow. 

 

Bailey lasted out there a lot longer then she ever did last year, but not near as long as Ryleigh.  After Bailey went in the house, Ryleigh and I went over to the commons area at the front of the neighborhood to try out the hill there.  She had a blast!

After we came in and warmed up with some hot chocolate, we started decorating the tree.

Bailey took the job of giving everyone a hook for their ornaments.  Even if we didn't need one, she insisted we use one.

 

Ryleigh loves to be the one to put the star on top.

 

 

Tis the Season

Downtown had their tree lighting Friday night so we ventured down their to join in on the festivities.

The girls were so excited to see Santa.  They have never been brave enough to sit on his lap before.  Ryleigh kept telling us all day that she was going to do it this year.  Devin didn't believe her so he bet her a dollar that she wouldn't.  As soon as she got off she said, "Ha, ha, you owe me a dollar Dad!"  

Bailey was even brave enough this year!  Mrs. Clause painted stars on their faces while they waited for Santa's lap to be available.

They were also excited to ride the train that they have lit up every year too. 

We didn't get any pictures of the actual tree lit up and all the lights they have due to there being a ton of people.  We will head down another night and get a better look at all of the lights.