The One With The Tenth Birthday

Yesterday was Kiff's 9th birthday. And was it an adventure. We had a fun day.

We had breakfast that I made - pancakes of course.

We visited the Go Karts in Salem. Always fun....and quiet.

We ate at Applebees.

We went to the park.

We had Jade's brought in for supper.

We opened gifts and did cake.

Overall, an awesome day!

The One With the Father Daughter Dance

Last Friday - February 13 - was a father daughter dance in town. Bri and I went to it.

What a blast. It is the second year we have attended this event and we had a ton of fun. We both got dressed up and had some fun.

When we arrived, we registered and had a picture taken in front of an imaginary sky line. Then, we walked in, and joined in the dancing. Fathers and daughters were doing some fun, side to side dance. After that, there was another jazzy dance to Let It Go from FROZEN, then it was time for a Hoola Hoop contest.

We followed that up by playing a few games and then watching Cotton Eyed Joe, which was being taught to all of the kids - and dads - who were there. Fun times!

Bri encountered plenty of kids from school and some from dance who recognized her.

Then, we did the YMCA - always a blast, and went downstairs to get some water and do a few crafts. We made a key chain, frame, and colored some pictures.

We wrapped up with one last jazzy dance and took off into the cold night...which was like 10°F outside.

It was a fun time and one I will never forget! The type I know I will remember decades from now.

The One Where We Go Sledding

Two days ago, we had the chance to enjoy the powdery snow that blanketed the ground this past weekend. We went sledding!!!

What fun. We were able to break in our new sleds, which always leads to a great time. Luckily, with some guidance, I had cleared a spot to situate ourselves ahead of time...so there was no trudging through snow like a Griswold Family Christmas Tree Cutting to get to our spot.

Once there, I did an initial test run and - crack - I heard the solid snap of plastic as I crescendoed down the hill. However, upon close inspection, it looked like I did little to cause any problems.

After that, it was fairly smooth sailing for Bri and Kiff. They each took turns going down the hill as I guarded the base, where a pole is placed perilously close to the run we typically take. But, sure enough the kids did great. They did run after run with smooth sailing. Bri preferred to take off her hat to feel the snow spray in her face. Kiff, meanwhile, enjoyed launching himself off during the runs. Good times. In between runs, I tried my best to mold the powdery snow into snowballs, though I would have had an easier time with glue. But I got a few good shots off, and one that got Emmie, whose irascible glare told me to stop immediately.

The end culminated in a quick run by Emmie and me. Emmie did a great launch down the run while I had to bailout quickly before I almost ran into the pole that I had so carefully guarded.

What a wonderful day in the snow!