Housebound

I had foot surgery last week. This is probably a good time to remind the Pauley kids that a Morton's Neuroma is probably in their future - it's a hereditary thing and so far Pop-pop, great aunt, aunt and mom have all had it removed.  As far as surgeries go, it hasn't been too bad, just a lot of couch time and staying off of your feet. I've had some sweet nurses taking care of me.  Reina offers to help me up the stairs.  Will brings me sprite a lot, which is so sweet and not at all because he wants to open up the bottle and get a few sips for himself.  Glenn brought me chocolate.  Vicky has brought me snacks and much needed company and entertainment from toddler cousins.  Friends and co-workers have stopped by which has helped break the monotony of lying on the couch for days.  

Coco has been more snuggly than I expected.  Each night I wake up to find her curled up close.  Is she being sweet or just waiting to see if I expire and she can assume her rightful throne?  

Coco has also helped me knit.  Glenn had to grab her as she made a dash for the stairs with that giant ball of yarn in her mouth.  

T & T have been sofa companions and I think they are happiest that I'm home for another day.  It's much more comfortable to watch the neighborhood from the warm living room instead of the cold backyard.  

My view. Thank goodness for George Clooney movies to pass the time.  

Christmas piano recital - a little late

Last month, last year, feels like quite a while ago, Reina played the piano at the mall to help promote the Tree of Hope ceremonies.  She played last year, too.  This year, I think she was a little less nervous, but not completely nerve-free. She played three songs as duets with her teacher.  Jingle Bells, Up on the Housetop and my favorite, Silent Night.  She did a great job!  She was very poised and serious but played beautifully.  I'm amazed at how much she's learned and she's raced by what little piano knowledge I had.  I usually have to google base clef notes to even begin to help her out.  She's working on reading notes in both base clef and treble clef, learning sharps and flats and the coolest part (to me) is that she's getting that left hand to play along.  It's not always easy to get her to practice but boy do I love to listen to her play.  

Reina and her piano teacher 

My favorite piano girl

Skiing!

The monsters and I headed up to Snowy Range Ski Area for a day of skiing on this three-day weekend.  I combined all of my birthday money (thanks parents and parents-in-law!), bought us all new ski gloves, packed some lunch and headed over the hill.  Glenn still doesn't ski but we have hopes to drag him along next time.  For the last few years, the kiddos and I have managed to squeeze in a ski day or two and Will and Reina are turning into such great skiers.  I wish we had the time and the unlimited ski passes to go more often.  Today was a little windy and chilly at times but we had a lot of fun.  Will skied down a few black runs by himself and spent a chunk of time skiing on this own because he and I had different definitions of what "meet mom at the bottom of the hill" means.  (He thinks you wait about 30 seconds and when no one appears, you take the next lift up and just ski.)  Reina and I tackled some new runs - or at least some new-to-Reina runs and we made it to the bottom of the mountain each time with no crashes and smiles on our faces. Seriously, these two are getting better each time we go and I know it won't be long before they leave me in the dust, or at least take a few easy runs with mom for old time's sake.  

Reina/mom selfie at lunch break.  

Will eating lunch and trying to watch the AFC playoff game over my shoulder.  

Will chilling (ha ha) at the end of the afternoon.  He took a hard route down to the bottom and was ready to be down.  

Reina decided to take the last lift up for one more run after Will and I were done.  

Someone keeping herself occupied on the long drive home.  

New Year and how we spent our winter break

Our Christmas break has officially come to an end.  The backpacks are sitting by the front door, kids were in bed at a relatively normal time and it's back to the grind in the morning.  We didn't take a trip or have many big adventures, truthfully there were a few days when we barely left the house, but I think I can say that we had a really nice break.  

What did we do?  We watched some movies, played "The Oregon Trail" card game and laughed and laughed, spent time with cousins and other relatives, read books, had a few playdates, cooked and cleaned, shopped, played with new toys and just hung out together.  

Coco spent most of her break in my new Broncos-themed bag from Vicky.  If it zipped on top, I could use it to carry Coco around town.  Luckily for her, it doesn't.  

We shopped and some of us found other ways to entertain ourselves while shopping.  

The temperatures were bitterly cold the past few weeks.  Luckily, the dogs sleep inside.  On fleece blankets and a couch a few feet from the pellet stove.  Trigger has a rough life.  

Will and all three pets.  The chickens were snug in their coop or I'm sure they would've found room on the couch too.  

So that about wraps it up.  Oh, we also watched a lot of football and cheered on the Wyo Cowboys in their bowl win (yah!!) and survived the end of the Broncos season.  It'll be a little tough to get back to reality tomorrow but we can't wait to see what 2018 has in store for this crazy household!