The Month in Pictures!

This month has literally flown by...it's almost March and I feel like the past month has been a blur of busy, busy, busy.  A lot going on with usual family life; school..homework...math team...sports...basketball...wrestling starts tomorrow...track...husband starts coaching HS track this week...birthdays...Valentine's Day. 

The school months between Christmas Break and Spring Break are like the dead zone...we are pushing our students to learn so much in preparation for our state testing in May, while trying to keep them jazzed, excited, and motivated to learn.  Thankfully I'm endless entrainment for my class (kidding), but I always manage to keep them on their toes.  I also teach my math team during this time, which is heaven because it consists of 16 high achieving, well behaved students who love MATH!!!  This year is especially fun because TJ is on the team-it's my one chance to teach my own son and I'm having a really good time.  We made the choice not to have TJ in my homeroom class simply because I was afraid it would be hard to balance the mom/teacher role; so it's really nice to have him on my math team and have the chance to be his teacher.

 TJ turned 10 at the end of January!  I can't believe my baby is double digits!  He's such a great kid!

 Oh yeah...I turned 33 on the same day.  Always really special to celebrate this day together each year!

 With a little help from Sissy

My son is still young enough to wear matching t-shirts to school with his mommy!  I know this time is slipping away quickly so I'm taking full advantage of my sweet 4th grade boy whose face lights up each time I see him in the hallway!  I always get a wave and a smile...sometimes a hug!

 I can tell it's almost time to "Spring forward"  It isn't pitch black when I wake up anymore...love it!

 Casanova on Valentine's Day!  Poor Beau ended up getting sick and had to leave school, missing Montessori and Kindergarten parties. 

 Never met a girl who loved Fancy Nancy more than Finny!

 The final Diary of a Wimpy Kid book...TJ gets a kick out of these books and reads them over and over!

I got a chuckle out of the candy I received from my class this year.  This pile is not including the box of Godiva chocolates (I ate them with a coworker during lunch) and a Star$ Mocha.  I know I'm loved!

 My kids are oh-so-lucky to have such great friends!  It also works out quite nicely that their best friends are all siblings, so getting together to play is super easy.  The best thing about all the kiddo's who we are friends with is they play so well and so naturally...they build forts, play dress up, run outside for hours...and don't need mommy or daddy to plan elaborate formal "play dates."  They play...like kids should...and I get such a kick out of catching them in moments like this!

 And this...

 Paityn and Finley heading up the sledding hill at the cabin.  Finley would flop herself onto the sled about 1/5 of the way up the hill...and then Paityn would pull really, really hard and it was like they couldn't quite figure out why the sled wasn't moving. 

CJ racing down the hill.  The older boys scare me!

 TJ flying on his sled! It was cold and the snow was packed and icy!

 CJ and TJ heading up to the corrals.  Sigh..love that the outhouse in the background is now decoration and not where we have to "go" when visiting the cabin.  side note!

 Halle and Beau warming up after sledding. I heard a giant tub of peanuts always does the trick.

 TJ heading out on a sled with Husband

 Zach and Taylor joining Husband and TJ.  Zach loves anything with a fast motor!  I'm not sure that smoke is a good sign.

 Finny and Diesel taking a ride in the back of Papa's new quad. 

Buckle up kiddo's! Papa's new toy is fast and loud!

 A meeting of the minds...Diesel and Finley. These two are a crack up!

 Beau is fearless...look at the intensity in his face!

 Big air!

She thinks she tough! 

Hoops and Slopes

Saturday we watched this....

and this...

and this...

a little bit of this...

Some of this...

and finally this!

 While Sunday we enjoyed this...

 and this...("Daddy...the magic carpet is for babies...let's go!")

and this...

Squeeze together to stay warm!

Let's go brother..today the boys skied the top of the mountain together!

Warming up with a hot chocolate

Always a smile!  The operator of the Magic Carpet would wave and smile at Finley on each trip, while getting a large chuckle out of her random conversations, "Do you know you can't eat yellow snow?"  "Santa Claus rides a snowboard!"  and my personal favorite..."Did you know the first one who smelt it dealt it-that means you farted!"   

Heading in for the day.  Mt. Baldy has a very nice Magic Carpet and Sissy and I had it to ourselves for most of the day 

Now it's time to make snow angles!

And eat some snow!  We had to kill about 1hour while Finley was "Done" skiing, but the boys were still up on the mountain. 

Hitting the Slopes

We enjoyed the long MLK Jr. weekend with a trip to our favorite Canadian skiing spot-Big White, BC.  We skipped this annual trip last year as we were on our 'Husband student teaching budget plan' so it was nice to get back and enjoy this yearly adventure.  It was also a GIANT FIRST for the Sackman family as we all skied!  In years past I'd stay behind with Finny and/or Beau in the morning and then skied in the afternoon while Husband stayed with the little kids.  This year Finley and Beau enjoyed ski school in the mornings (While the adults skied with the older kids) and then the little kids skied with us in the afternoons!

Now, I've said it before and I'll say it again-vacationing with children is not relaxing...at all.  A ski vacation with children is the furthest thing from relaxing in the universe!  Not only does it require the most extreme organized planning, preparing, and packing...the total amount of 'stuff' required for a family ski trip in order to ensure everyone can tolerate the cold weather is insane! Thankfully I suffered through this with my two BFF's who also had to pack for their children, so we made sure we had a large supply of beverages to thaw us out after the long days on the slopes.

Overall, it was a super weekend-we skied, stayed in a beautiful penthouse, enjoyed a lot of fun with our friends, and left feeling really proud of all the kids!  Our goal is to get the little kids on the slopes a few more times so they don't totally forget all the stuff they learned, but this winter weather hasn't exactly been 'snowy' and TJ has a full schedule of Saturday basketball games...so we will see!

 Cannon, Finley, Taylor, Coley, Beau, TJ, and Brayden!  Getting this crew dressed and out the door was an act of God..our condo was a disaster zone!

The Sackman, Christoph, Meyer Crew

 After a hard day of ski school...a smile!

 "LET'S GO!" Tanner had a ball skiing and had little patience for his slow mom!

 Beau waiting in line for the chair lift!

 TJ, Mommy, and Husband enjoying a morning at the top of the mountain

 Sissy getting a tow from Husband

 Zach, Taylor, TJ, and Jodi

 Sissy marching in after a morning of ski school

 Zach and Husband

 Manny & Minny did so great at ski school-both moved up levels!

 Finley, Cannon, and Brayden dethawing after a long day! 

 A snapshot into what it takes to get 7 kids and 6 adults out the door...

 Yes...someone must cry.  Today it was Finleys turn!

 TJ and Coley playing Farkle

 Now this is what I call relaxing!

 Coley and TJ anxious to get going!

Finley's ski school class

We all commented that we hope the kids realize how lucky they are that their parents 1.  Have the sanity to take them skiing 2.  The funds to take them skiing 3.  The patience to take them skiing.

 If they don't realize it now...they will someday...when they are wrangling their own children into their ski bibs, boots, gloves, helmets, and jackets...while sweating profusely and cursing under their breath!

Welcome 2012!

We enjoyed our fourth annual trek to Lake Chelan to ring in the new year!  Not really fancy or exciting, but for our children, swimming is a luxury during the winter.  The adults enjoyed some beverages, Phase 10, and hot tub time. 

Happy New Year!

Mama and her favorite girl!

Bobbing Beau Beau

TJ & CJ

 Finny and Paityn were wrinkly raisins before the night was over!

Movie time...as we tried to play cards next door.  The kids room looked like Tommy Lee and his band had blown through it.  What a mess!  But if mess=fun, they  had FUN!

Beau is so charming!

We are going to make it to midnight..we are...we are!

Sleeping with their eyes open!