St George and January Fun!

I figured I better talk about January now or before I know it we'll be in the middle of February.  January has been a super busy month, which means it should be flying by.  But somehow I keep thinking, "I can't believe its still January."  I think its because of the snow and lack of sun.  We've gotten so much snow this month.  Like more than we have in years.  We've had some big storms, but mostly it just seems like it snows every day.  Poor Jake is so sick of plowing and moving snow, but since its still January he's probably got a lot of that left.  The good part of the snow is the skiing, and I've definitely been trying to enjoy that.  I've had some amazing powder days where the snow is over my knees.  Too bad I can't figure out how to ski in it.  Either way its been pretty amazing.  The kids have made snowmen and are trying to build a big tunnel.  Good fun all around.

Sage begged to play basketball this year.  Since it was only a month long I decided we could squeeze it in.  If you ever want a good time I suggest you go watch little girls play basketball.  So entertaining and so stinkin' cute.  There are usually a total of like 4 baskets made per game.  It's awesome.

Greg and Tracy were super nice and let us tag along with them to St George.  It was so nice to get away from the snow and cold!  They were extra nice because we brought all kinds of germs with us.  Zack started out sick.  Then Kate started puking, and Sage coughed the whole time.  Yes, we were THAT family that got everyone else sick.  Despite that we had a great time.  Jake and I were able to go mountain biking.  Again, so nice to not be in the snow.  We did some hiking and even found some fun caves to explore.  Minus the sickness a great time was had by all!

We got to go visit baby Savannah.  So cute!

First basketball practice

Fun with cousins in St George

Gotta love that red rock

Zack loves to climb up anything

Zack won student of the week!

We came home one night to this note from Sage

So much snow

Zack experiencing his first powder

Ski day!

Piles of snow by our house

The First Annual New Years Adventure!!

I have to admit that New Years Eve is generally not huge at our house.  I've never loved it or done anything big for it.  But this year that all changed.  I decided we were going to take advantage of the Eve Celebration that happens in Salt Lake and have some fun.  I pretty much planned it all and told Jake what was happening.  He wasn't sure what he thought of the idea, but he was a good sport and went along with it.

So on the 30th we headed to Salt Lake and checked in to the Marriott at City Creek.  Then we proceeded to have lots of fun with our passes.  We went to the planetarium and watched a movie about black holes on the dome.  Super cool looking, but Zack was the only one who understood anything.  I learned that the phrase "space time continuum" is a real thing and not science fiction.  Although I still can't explain to you what it means.  Ask Zack is you have a free hour.

For dinner we went to Crown Burger.  Zack already knew it was his favorite place on earth, but the girls were skeptical.  Needless to say, they're now huge fans.  I think there's something in the Spjute genes that makes you a Crown Burger fan for life.  After dinner we headed to the Salt Palace where they had all kinds of fun games set up for families.  I thought it would be packed, but there was hardly anyone there.  Good thing because the girls talked me in to doing karaoke for my first, and last, time.  It was a disaster and I was grateful it was dark without many people.  We got to play big huge jenga, atari games, life sized bowling, and there was a room full of bounce houses.  It was amazing.  When we got back to the hotel we told the kids we were going swimming.  They were amazed that we would allow them to swim at 9:00 at night.

Saturday morning we woke up and went swimming again.  The kids surely thought the world was ending.  Then we headed to the children's museum.  Sadly, Sage is the only one still young enough to enjoy it there.  Zack and Kate impatiently waited for her to see everything.  Then it was on to the Leonardo Museum, which we all loved.  It had some really great exhibits.  From there we met Grandma Tracy and went to the new aquarium at the Layton Mall.  That was really cool and we got to touch iguanas, starfish, and all kinds of other fish.  Sage got to talk to a mermaid, which made her life complete.

By the time we got to April and Toby's to celebrate the new year everyone was pretty exhausted.  But we rallied to have a great time.  We had pizza and then played all kinds of video games, including an old school power pad from the good old days.  Why don't they make those anymore?  And why didn't I get a picture?  Spjutes really know how to party late into the night (not at all), but when everyone started heading home at 8:30 my kids were so tired that there were no complaints.  We made it home by 10:00 and were in bed shortly after.  Yes, party animals I know.  We did party it up though in Salt Lake.  The kids loved it and are hoping that its our new tradition.  And I think I'm down with that:)

Zack doesn't look happy at all...

playing huge jenga

They really were having fun

Bounce house fun

children's museum

awesome aquarium

Sage's dream come true (how would you like that job?)

Jake and his best buddy Sam

Waiting for the dome movie to start

Horrible karaoke because the girls decided not to sing

Zack getting his first taste of real powder

Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year!  I don't know why, but I really enjoyed it.  It was really nice having Christmas fall on a Sunday.  I loved going to church in the middle of the day.  It felt like a good thing to do on Christmas.  Too bad it doesn't happen every year.  And then it was really nice to have Jake home (mostly) the next day.

Christmas Eve was good.  We continued our tradition of Christmas Eve skiing.  There was a big storm this year so it was a little treacherous, but we were not about to miss our tradition.  Spjutes are taught at a young age that traditions are to be kept at all costs.  No matter what.  Even unto death.  And when we slid into the middle of the road with a bus 10 feet from us I thought it just might come to that.  Despite the near death experience and having to get pushed out of a parking spot we had a great time.  Really, these are the things that make traditions memorable and worthwhile.  Anyway, I let Sage set the table for a fancy dinner.  After that Jake pulled out his guitar and the kids were amazed at what Mom and Dad could do together.  We read, and watched, the nativity and shared thoughts about the Savior.  Another wonderful tradition.  And then we got to open the Christmas pajamas.  The kids are always so excited for these and Grandma Tracy never lets us down.

Before I go any further, I have to announce that we have officially entered a wonderful new era in the Jorgenson household.  This is the era of Zack assembling gifts, and its a Christmas miracle.  For reals.  For some reason Jake HATES, assembling toys of any kind.  Even he admits that his hatred is extreme.  So every time we have toys to assemble I brace myself for 'working words' and frustration.  This year there was none of that.  None!  Now, before you think we're horrible parents for making Zack assemble things during Christmas, let me assure you that he loves it.  Its like we're giving him an extra gift.  For reals.  There were a lot of gifts to be assembled this year, so thank heavens for Zack.  The girls got a huge american girl dollhouse.  And all of the kids got an air hockey table.  Zack and I assembled the doll house, and Zack assembled the air hockey table pretty much by himself.  Its the gift that keeps on giving.  Jake has decided that next year Zack should offer his services to others, for a fee of course.  So let us know if you'd like to be a recipient of Zack's assembly skills.

Back to Christmas.  The theme this year was 'things that will keep the kids busy and away from the tv'.  So we got an air hockey table, awesome laser tag, a basketball hoop (Zack still needs to assemble this), and a fun frisbee game.  The kids were all excited and sufficiently grateful.  Jake is working on mud room cabinets for my Christmas, but also managed to get me a nice ski coat.  What I got Jake has not been used yet, so I sense failure.  The agony.  After opening presents we got to go to church and remember what Christmas is really about.  Then we headed up to visit grandparents and cousins.  The perfect Christmas I think.  You'll just have to take my word for it because of course I didn't manage to take many pictures.  I must up my game in this area.  Merry Christmas and on to the new year!!

Sage and her BFF Kami

Skiing in the freezing cold while Jake and Kate were in Steamboat

Sage randomly came down dressed as a witch, with Snoopy tied on the back of the broom

Making graham cracker houses

Christmas Eve!

Huge doll house

The aftermath 

Christmas day plowing.  The family that plows together stays together...

Sledding fun

Steamboat

Jake has always wanted to ski in Steamboat, Colorado.  Not sure why, but its true.  This year for going to the Warren Miller movie you got a free early/late season pass to Steamboat.  Jake mentioned to Toby that they should go, Toby was down with it, so off they went.  And they were nice enough to take Megan and Kate with them.

They happened to go during a really weird storm where it rained a ton, and I mean a ton.  So I got to deal with a lake in front of the barn and they got to deal with skiing in the rain.  Neither of those is awesome.  But they managed to get up high to the snow and had a great time.  All reports are that Megan and Kate giggled the whole time.  I think it was funny at first and then mildly annoying.  It is rather amazing how much those two giggle.  Kate is the instigator I think, but she doesn't have to work too hard to get Megan to follow along.  Anyway, it was a fast but fun trip for sure.  Gotta love ski trips!