Brent and Cindy

We had such a fun Christmas. This year we spent Christmas with Brent's family. We had lots of fun spending time with the Murray's... and I have to admit, one of my favorite parts of Christmas was shooting BOWS Christmas afternoon! I had a good time WATCHING everyone shoot bows because I was NOT strong enough to even pull the bow string back to launch an arrow. Pitiful! So much for my Katniss dreams! I wish I had brought my camera with me to the bow shooting... it was pretty entertaining to see the expressions on every one's face as they strained with all their might to pull the bow string back! I have a new respect for Jessica and Kaylan's family and their bow skills!

After Christmas I went up to the Clayton Cabin for a day (and did remember to bring my camera). Since there was no snow in the valley this year (probably a blessing considering how many people lost their roof in the windstorm at the beginning of the month)... it was fun to go to the cabin and play in the SNOW! There wasn't a lot of snow... but enough to go sledding and snowmobiling!

I love this picture of JoyAnne, Joni, and Mel laughing as their sled took a sudden surprising turn on their way down the hill.

We started out sledding on our driveway and then hit THE BIG HILL. Before going down THE BIG HILL Alana decided to find some head protection... She disappeared into the cabin and came out several minutes later wearing this huge helmet (not to worry, she actually does have a helmet that fits HER head... she left it at her house). Good thing she wore the jumbo helmet because the first time down THE BIG HILL she ran into these trees at the bottom of the hill.

It took a little coaxing to get Ellie to go sledding (down the driveway... aka, the Kiddie Hill). She would sled ONLY if someone carried her to the top of the hill (the loud noises from the snowmobile scared her enough that she ABSOLUTELY refused to ride on or behind it! She also complained that the snowmobile was "bumpy"... she is very right, but I'm not sure how she figured that out without ever taking a ride behind it).

Ellie and Grandpa coming down the driveway.

....Joni and Ellie coming down the driveway! This picture makes me laugh over and over. I love that Joni looks like she's on a thrill ride and Ellie's chubby face looks like she can hardly keep her eyes open... probably cause she was white washed in the face most the way down the hill! (Don't worry... no matter how intense they look in this picture they really weren't going fast at all! )

(Top)Alana has her own sled that looks like a mini snow machine (without a motor). Alana has informed her parents that she is now wanting an ACTUAL mini snow machine complete with a motor. Alarming to think of her behind a power machine. Anyway Alana LOVED popping wheelies on her mini sled as she would ride behind the snow machine.

(Mid Left) Ellie's personal QUIET snow machine (Grandpa's shoulders).

(Mid Right) Mel and Alana on the snow machine.

(Bottom Left) Wow... can you see where Alana's genes come from?! I love that Mel is having so much fun sledding and JoyAnne, the nurse, is concentrating and looking a little concerned.

(Bottom Right) Alana on her sled

And this is Causey. Every year there are LOTS of ice fishermen. Looks like a COLD sport if you ask me. This is an ACTUAL photograph of the ice conditions on Causey as I was leaving the cabin. Can you see all the water on top of the ice and the ginormous cracks IN the ice?!! Yah... scary! If you look closely you can see lots of little holes drilled into the ice from the ice fishers. Although this picture doesn't show any... there were actually ice fishers on the ice at the time this photograph was taken! Dare Devils! I'm sure they know what they are doing... but from an amateur's perspective the ice looked stinking dangerous!