Opening presents - Paige's birthday

I can't believe this big one is for me


Just what I wanted a carrying seat for my doll


A big surprise - I got a new bike with gears!


Grandma got me the doll I wanted


Did I mention that I love when it is my birthday!

I just downloaded these photos from Paige's actual birthday when she was opening presents and you can see she was quite happy with her haul.

Spring Skiing!

Don't let the sweet smiles fool you, these girls can rip on the mountain


Family photo


All the girls


Sisters excited to ski together


Yippee, we love Spring skiing



Paige is ready to hit it


A little snack while riding the gondola






We all agreed that Sunday was the best day we have ever had skiing as a family. The girls are officially shredding it up out there and we skied hard all day in the beautiful sunshine and 50 plus degree weather. Since Summer skis with her ski team much of the time, we do not get out as a foursome as much so this was a treat and the weather was perfect! It felt so wonderful to ski in lighter gear - yippee! The girls swam afterwards to cap off a perfect family Sunday. Everyone was tired at the end of the day and had no problem getting to bed despite the time change. We love March!

Happy Birthday Paige!

I can't believe it has been 6 years since that gorgeous little blonde baby was placed in my arms and what a fun ride it has been. Ohhh Paige, it is your world, we are all just visiting. Happy Birthday to one of the funniest, smartest, sassiest and hilarious little girls I have ever met. You make our house fun and BUSY. Paige is constantly in motion, keeping us on our toes, negotiating for a better treat and making sure all is fair in the house and the world. Paige has had a great year with soccer - she was the star of her fall league scoring 8 goals in one game (it is all that practice in the backyard keeping up with big sister - Paige will not be left behind.) She played in a coed league this winter that was mostly boys and she did great. She had a great summer learning to golf and swimming with her friends. She is skiing every weekend and starting to make some beautiful "french fry turns". She has skied in sunshine, in blizzards, in freezing temperatures, high winds and deep snow and she is hanging tough with mom and dad and we could not be more proud. Paige started Kindergarten and has blossomed and excelled academically. Paige reads up a storm and her Kindergarten teacher who has been teaching for 20 plus years told us she is head and shoulders above any reader she has ever taught, not surprising from the child that talked at 14 months old. I remember my mom's best friend saying to me when Paige was a baby, "I can't believe I just had a conversation with a 14 month old." That's our Paigey. Paige is reading at a high 2nd grade level and cannot get enough. She loves math and has done very well in school, keeping her teachers entertained along the way. One of her teachers told me that Paige is the kind of kid you want to go have coffee with at Starbucks, I could not have said it better. She is very social and when we walk down the hall, everyone knows her - I do mean everyone - teachers, the head of school, middle school kids are giving her hugs, it is hilarious. She is a confident kid and it is wonderful to watch. Happy Birthday to the best finder in our house, the sweetest sleeper and our little baby who tries our patience and melts our heart everyday. We love you Paigey! Happy 6th Birthday!

Paige's Tubing Birthday Party!

Sisters


Paige picked a snowflake and snowman theme



Check out my candles


Paige and Piper


Can't believe I am 6


Hanging in the yurt


Thinking about my wish


Making a wish


Paige and Piper ready to hit the slopes


Here is some of the gang


And they are off



Paige and the penguin hat


Summer and Genet

Paige celebrated her birthday today with a party after school at the local snow tubing park. We rented a yurt and had cake and hot chocolate and it was a blast. The kids were running and yelling and smiling, it was so much fun to watch. We even had a surprise visitor, our former babysitter Jennifer who came in from New Orleans. Paige was so excited to see her, it made her day. I overheard Paige and her friends talking and they said it was the best day of their life- ah to be 6! Happy times.

PS. Thanks to Grandma Shirley for the adorable and hilarious penguin hat that Paige had to wear :)

Mountain Girls

Fun Day on the Mountain

Summer and friends with Ashley Caldwell, US Ski Team aerialist


Paige with Jim Shea, Jr. 2002 Olympic gold medalist in Skeleton


Riding the lift with Jim Shea, Jr.

Last weekend, there was a freestyle World Cup event at the ski resort. Summer and her friends got to meet Ashley Caldwell who is one of the top US aerialists at only 18 years old. They thought that was pretty cool.

Meanwhile, Paige, Brook and I bumped into Jim Shea, Jr. in the lift line and he rode up with us. We had met him during the 2002 Olympic Games after he won the gold medal in skeleton. He signed an autograph for me during the games and he was letting everyone hold his Olympic medal which was cool (not sure I would have done the same). It was fun to see it up close. He is now married and two children and lives down the street from us. Paige thought it was pretty fun.

All ski season Paige has been wanting to toss Mardi Gras beads on a tree while riding the lift. She happened to remember to bring them with us and happened to toss them on the tree while Jim was with us - coincidentally they happened to be gold :)

Fun in February

Paige showing off her art work - the prayer flag


Summer showing off her art work - the prayer flag with the rainbow



Summer and Samantha on twins day at school


June and Paige on twins day


Paige hanging with her buddy Brian at the ski lodge


More tubing fun











Elk in the neighborhood