Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

The other day we had the second real snowstorm of the entire winter, enough so that there was actually enough to play in. Nothing like a good March snow, what with our 70 degree February. This winter has been weird. Anyway, Finn wasn't really big enough to do much snow-playing last year, and this year he got gypped with the total lack of it, so when he saw it blizzarding outside, the first thing he said was, "Can I play in the snow?"

And of course, that means building a snowman. Teag once again showed off his awesome fatherly skills as he helped Finn build.

He taught him how to roll the snowball to make it big enough.

And then he let him carry the head over and put it on top.

Then they patted it all down to make sure it was secure.

As you can see, Finn was quite pleased with the result.

The snowman melted a day or two later, but I was so happy Finn got a chance to really play in the white fluffy stuff at least a little this year. I doubt will see anything this substantial until next winter.

Swan Lake

As I mentioned in Maisie's birthday post, Maisie has been participating with a group out of Ballet West that allows her to work with a bunch of kids from many different schools in the district. As such, she gets tickets to some of Ballet West's productions, like the Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. We weren't able to attend the Nutcracker, as that time of year is so hectic, but Maisie really had her heart set on attending Swan Lake. You had to jump through a few hoops to actually get tickets in hand, but because Teag is such a good dad, he made it happen. He and Maisie had a little Daddy-Daughter date to see the show.

Neither of us knew, however, that Swan Lake is a three hour production. I hadn't ever heard of a show that included two intermissions. And that alone makes Teag a candidate for dad of the year. That's a WHOLE lot of ballet. Maisie was excited to go, and seemed to enjoy it for the most part, up until after the second intermission anyway. She was quite irritated with the ending.

It's interesting to see her growing up and witnessing her evolving perspectives on life and love, and especially romance. She's very practical at the moment, we'll see how much that alters as she grows.

Zumba!

So a few years ago I was introduced to Zumba, and quickly fell in love with it. I had yet to find any kind of exercise regimen that really appealed to me, and more often than not, I couldn't keep myself interested in anything long enough to really maintain it. I've already blogged about how Teag and I took up biking and tennis over the summer, but unfortunately, both those activities are fairly weather dependent. Zumba, on the other hand, is very versatile. I can do it on the Wii at home, or do it in a class at a rec center, a church, a school, whatever.

I've had several instructors, but the one I go to the most these days is with my friend Natalie. She has been a Zumba instructor for something like five years. The more I attend, the more I become a bit of a diehard. A few weeks ago, Natalie told me about a Zumbathon charity even with an actual Zes, Lindsey Taylor.

It was two hours straight of high-intensity dancing, complete with loud music, yelling, and incredible energy. In short, it was a blast. Here are a couple of not great pictures of me dancing.

Natalie and I had such a great time, I was riding on a high for the rest of the night.

I slept for the next three days though, I think. A few weeks later, Natalie herself was hosting another charity Zumbathon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Not many pictures from that, but I did get one of us afterwards when we're all red-faced and sweaty, but very happy.

I blog about all of this for two reasons. Firstly, this has been something that has become a fairly regular part of my life, and I want to have documentation of that. And secondly, I want my kids to see me doing these things, remember me being healthy and happy and active. I'm grateful that my body allows me to do these things, and that I've found something I enjoy to help me stay fit.

Getting Dunked: Danyn Style

The day after Teag's birthday was the day of Danyn's baptism! She has been very excited and nervous both for this very special day. A day that was made even more special by the fact that Danyn was the only kid being baptized that day. She got to decide the whole program, and knew that everyone there was there specifically for her. It was a very great day for her. I'm cursing myself that I didn't get any pictures of her in her dress; a dress that was subsequently destroyed after the event. One day of wear, and it already had tears in it. Oh well.

I did, of course, get pictures of her in her jumpsuit.

She looks so radiant here, and that smile is endearingly sweet. She had asked her dad to both baptize and confirm her.

It was sweet to see them practice a few days before, and the actual event was very touching. It made my heart swell with joy to see her taking this next step to be closer to her Heavenly Father, and to have her own father be the one to help usher her there.

We're very proud of you Danyn, and the choice that you made to be baptized. Keep being the awesome kid you are!

Beagle Birthday!

Teag is now the ripe old age of 34! We got to celebrate with him as a family, first with a trip to the bowling alley. Maisie and Danyn are the only two of our kids who have bowled before, but the other two seemed to take to it rather well. Finn insisted on carrying his own balls up to the head of the lane.

Then after he had sent the ball flying, he would cover his eyes, like he couldn't bear to watch the result.

Rory was a little frustrated at first to be the only one who didn't have a strike, but I convinced her to keep trying, and she managed to get two, which I think made the whole excursion worth it for her.

Dany and Maisie were old pros, and with the bumpers on, they managed to get higher scores than both Teag or I.

Though the birthday boy didn't have too shabby a game himself.

When we got home, we got the kids squared away for dinner, and then Teag and I went to Texas Roadhouse so that Teag could get some Prime Rib. Funnily enough, we ran into a member of our ward there who was celebrating his 88th birthday. After dinner, we returned home for cake and presents. Rory was especially interested in helping Teag open them, and the interplay between the two of them in these pictures is delightful.

Teag got a bunch of airplane books (of course!), an aviation biography on BluRay, and a Pilatus hat, since that's the main bird he flies at the moment.

He also had a great deal of help blowing out his candles, so much so in fact, that I had to relight them twice so we could sing the birthday song. Finn got a little carried away.

Happy birthday to the dad we love so much! He truly is an amazing man, and our lives are blessed because he is a part of them.