Weekend Hiking

We spent a lovely day yesterday with friends in the Sandia Mountains. They live in a fantastic area, close to skiing and hiking. We went for a snow hike. Our best winter kid-innovation recently is pulling Rhys along in a sled. We can actually get out for a little hiking, and Rhys has a blast riding, then getting out and playing in the snow, then riding again. And of course, hills and speed add to the thrill.

Below is a group photo: Krista, Ryan with Emma in the pack, Aaron, and Rhys. I wanted to get the big view behind them as well, but the light wasn't very good so it washed out.

Bread!

I've been on a cooking and baking kick this week, and have been immensely impressed with the results (not to be humble or anything). I've been using a cookbook I got from the library, but I may have to acquire it, because the 4 recipes I've made aren't just good, they're.... grrreat! The cookbook is The Everything Low Cholesterol Cookbook (Aaron's cholesterol is elevated and since I'm in charge of most of what we all eat, I figure I'm the one who needs to change our menus. I don't think we ate too terribly before, but now we're eating even better. For Christmas I asked for and received The Moosewood Cookbook, a fantastic vegetarian cookbook. So, I'm working in even more vegetables and grains, reducing the butter, and being more conscientious about eggs and meat. So far, so good). Rhys wanted to make cookies earlier this week ("We need to make cookies now, Mommy"), so we made the chocolate chip cookies from the low cholesterol cookbook; they were the tastiest cookies I think I've ever had (I'm not a real cookie fan, but I couldn't stop eating these– which also kind of defeats the point of them being low-fat when you eat as many as I did). I also made a couple of dinners that were tasty and easy. Today, I baked bread! All of my previous experiences with baking yeast bread have resulted pretty much in taking a brick out of the oven at the end of it all. I could have built an adobe style shed in the back yard from some of the loaves I've made. Not these! They were soft, they rose above the sides of the pans, and man, are they tasty! They're 1/2 whole wheat, and also have rye flour and ground flax seeds in them. Yum!

"You need to comb your hair, Mommmy!"

While looking back at recent posts I've realized Rhys doesn't make as much of an appearance as Alanna. I think that's because he has become so much more verbal in our interactions, whereas Alanna is quite physical still, so it's easier to take pictures to post here. The only recognizable things Alanna says are "mum mum mum mum" when she wants me and "dta dta dta dta" when she sees Daddy. So, here is a post about Rhys and some of the funny things he's said recently:

....."and the chipsymonk went up into the tree," said while looking through a book with forest animals in the pictures.

....."Fantatasia" is what Rhys calls the movie "Fantasia". He recently discovered our VHS copy in a drawer. He likes the dinosaurs and the Sorcerer's Apprentice.

....."Rrraawww! Here comes the ty rexie!" when his tyrannosaurus rex appeared at the table.

....."You need to comb your hair, Mommy!" said one morning this week as we were sitting at the table eating breakfast. (I had planned to wear a hat to take him to school, but I sure didn't feel good about the state of my hair after being told that by a three and a half year old!)

He's a pretty funny guy.

"Keep crawling, keep crawling..."

This afternoon's sibling party happened in Rhys's room. You'll notice Alanna is now crawling (which makes life even more exciting). Rhys spent several minutes encouraging, demanding, enticing, and cheering Alanna on in order to get her to come into his room. She happily complied:



Now if only Rhys will remember the days when he tried to get Alanna to come into his room and that he was thrilled when she made it and they could play peek-a-boo, which they both love playing. Instead, I envision a lot of Rhys trying to keep Alanna out of his room in the upcoming years...

Happy New Year!

.....Playing in the late afternoon January sun in the living room.....

The holidays are over– and we had such a great time– but it's time to return to the daily grind. Some of our recent exploits:

.....Christmas morning. Santa and our families left us lots of wonderful presents.....


.....New taste sensations: avocado.....


.....and sweet potato.....


....."Playing" together. Alanna enjoyed what was under the table while Rhys played with what was on top.....


.....and finally, Alanna is ready for a winter hike.....

Bath Time!

This is why Alanna now takes baths in the bathtub. I had to get out the mop after this experience!

Thanksgiving

This post is a bit late, but certainly no less special for us. We spent Thanksgiving in Idaho with Aaron's family and had a wonderful week. Cousins were a main source of fun, and Great-Aunt Ginnie was indispensable. Rhys hardly noticed Daddy and Mommy were around what with Grandma, Grandpa, cousin Kylah and Aunt Ginnie keeping him entertained. Aunt Ginnie went home on Thursday evening, and Friday morning the first words out of Rhys's mouth were, "Where's Aunt Ginnie?" He kept asking for her throughout the day. 'Tis the season: we are so grateful for all of Aaron's family!

....Cousin Kylah and Rhys eating a snack with the ponies....

...."Posing" on Thanksgiving morning...


.....Cousin Ivy Jean, Alanna, and Kylah watching a movie....

We even managed to get in a good hike at the Little City of Rocks. Rhys is a spectacular hiker and he and Daddy did some rock scrambling, too. Alanna (in the pack on my back) slept through the climbing we did.

.....Rock formations, looking southward.....

.....Rhys, Daddy and Rusty triumphantly summited the rocks...

.....Daddy and Rhys after climbing up into a hole in the rock....


.....Descending (the large crack above and behind the boys) after the hole in the rock.....

.....Rhys and Mommy (and Alanna in the pack- you can just see her little pink foot).....