Midway Ice Castle

In the company of practically all the DeMartini cousins, we went to Midway to see the ice castle.  This is a man-made structure, with passages, tunnels, and even an ice throne.  The kids ran around in the deep snowy ice covering the ground, and enjoyed being together.  We bundled up well and started early enough in the evening--5:00pm--that it wasn't too cold.  And afterward, we all went to dinner.  It was a super fun time.

Brandt, Olaf, and Blythe

None of them is looking at me.

All the children

Blythe, Crew, Brandt, Griffin, Luke, Collin, Blake holding Brick, Makenna, Ava, and Lyla

And all of us

The children with me, Guy, Mikayla, Tysen, Eugene, and Sharae added to the mix.

And then just the adults.

It's almost impossible to tell, but I'm sitting on the ice throne.

The ice all blends together, so instead of appearing to be sitting on something,

it looks like I am posing strangely, with arm and foot in the air.

But really, I'm sitting on something!

Brandt, Griffin, and Luke

Blake, Guy, and Brick

Collin

Coming out of the ice tunnel.

Love! Love! Love!

My feet in the thick, broken up ice.

Brick

Reading

Kent is away this week at World of Concrete.  While I was getting myself ready for story time, Brandt pulled out several Elephant and Piggie books which we love love love love love and read to Blythe.  She wanted to read parts too, so he read Gerald (the elephant) and then whispered to her what Piggie says.  Made me so happy to see them so sweet together.

Prayer From a Funny Child

Kent left this morning for Las Vegas.  He will be there at World of Concrete all week.  I don't do well as a single parent, something apparent to all members of the family.  Tonight at dinner Brandt prayed, "Please help Blythe to be, like, less bad and more good.  And please bless Mom not to be mean to us."

It's going to be a long week.

Scooting Jedi

Saturday was Kent's birthday.  This post has nothing to do with that except to say that for his birthday, Brandt insisted there be a viewing of Star Wars episode 2.  Again, no correlation at all, but Brandt felt strongly about it.  He woke up and almost immediately turned it on.  By the time I came down for breakfast, it was already half over.  This early in the day exposure led to a day filled with light saber fights, lots of Star Wars quotes and droid beeping noises, several disturbances in the Force, and of course the super cool Jedi robe from Halloween.  In fact, Brandt went out to ride his Razor and wore the robe.  Fortunately he has been well trained and wore his bike helmet underneath the hood.  Watch out for scooting Jedi!

Down the street in the snow.  

I think he is using the front wheel to chip away at snow,

but he is far enough away I can't really tell.

I love that cape flying out behind and the helmet under the hood.

And speaking of Jedis, Brandt has been growing a Jedi tail like Anakin Skywalker's for some time now.  Today we went for haircuts, but he wanted me to make it understood to the woman cutting his hair that the Jedi tail was to stay.  To ensure she didn't cut it off, but still give him a short cut, she braided what would stay and worked around it.  Brandt thought it was both super cool and really irritating.  He isn't used to having his hair braided and in a hairbob.  I'm indulging my son by letting him have the tail because it is a little thing and as a child, he doesn't have much control over what he has to do and where he has to go.  If he wants a Jedi tail, he can have a Jedi tail.

Again I warn, watch out.  The Force is strong with his one!

Sledding

Guy got off work early today and called to ask if Brandt wanted to go sledding with him, Crew, and Griffin.  We had been looking at a pretty dull Friday afternoon until then.  Brandt did want to go sledding as did Blythe.  So although it wasn't super cold, we bundled up and I took them over to Guy and Mikayla's house.  Turns out Ava came too, so Blythe had a girl to pal around with.  We walked across the street to Centennial Middle School that has a small hill in the front, just perfect for the kids to sled down.  It is steep enough to give you a thrilling (though short) ride, but not so steep that the kids can't pull the sled back up the hill themselves.

It was all great fun.  The kids were super good about sharing sleds and taking turns, there were trains, efforts to sled into the shrubbery, and Kila racing up and down the hill barking at everyone and trying to nip at those whizzing past.  I even took a turn or two, mostly because Blythe wanted me to accompany her.  It was fun to be outside, to be with cousins, and to play in the snow.  We were glad for the invite.

 

Here is Brick in his new snow suit. 

He's a football.

I kept saying, "Go long, Mom!" and trying to throw him to Mikayla.

I'm not sure she thought it was funny.

He certainly is yummy.

Blythe and Ava

Brandt and the Dudes playing King of the Mountain. 

It was a fierce competition.

I love this picture.

The boys are fiercely wrestling each other and Ava is looking on in disbelief.

Her thought bubble: "Boys are so weird."

Not be daunted by the three boys fighting for top position on the small hill,

Blythe intrepidly moves in with her sled to slide down.

Ava follows suit.

Wrestling continues unabated. 

At the top of the hill preparing for the first run.

Lots of pictures to follow of one and all whizzing down the hill.

Me at the top taking a picture after everyone slid down.

Look at them all carrying their own sleds!

It's a train!

Griffin, Crew, Guy, Brandt

and Kila who will run alongside them all the way to the bottom, barking like mad the whole time.

The following pictures are all pilfered from Mikayla's blog.

Thanks Sis!

Did I mention that the hill is long enough to be thrilling?

See how thrilled I am?