Someone found their spine!

After a few years of broken backs (mom and dads) I now present to you......

 Silver Bullet Munson.

This was the first year Brady made it down the hill upright without assistance and with confidence.

Every time, off the lift, straight down with only one turn at the end to slow it down in order to get back on the lift!

All spines were singing a happy dance!

With his arms out for balance we couldn't help but sing "Ski Ski as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!  as we trailed behind him.

 

So we spent valentines day out on the slopes. Cuz yeah the kids had yet another day off of school (why not) and we had a groupon to spend! 

A balmy 25 degree day, couldn't ask for anything more!

wasting time on the lift. Brooke liked to spend her time in the snowboard park going over all the big hills and ramps they have built.

Heading out for more after lunch!

With visions of getting back to the slopes of Colorado, perhaps another year and these turkeys will be ready!

"Ice" sight to see....

This winter has been nothing short of relentless, but at the same time its really amazing what a little bit of frozen water will do, quite spectacular actually. We ventured out to Grandma's beach and took in the sights.

 

Icicles from her back window.

 Yup, Brady is standing on top of her snow piles and reaching the roof!

 These guys made it a mission to have not one icicle left hanging

 Making the treck out to the lake.

This was a playground for Roxy!

Grand Haven Everest.

Summit.

I know doesn't look that big, but imagine walking on straight ice...it was harder than it looks.

Goofing off

Taking in the sights.

Brady getting ready for the ice slide.

Taking a breather.

Ice wave formations.

Winter 2014.

Roxy proved her agility as she scaled that ice wall in 2 seconds, while one Brooklyn Munson spent about 20 minutes trying to get up it.

Freedom outweighs the cold.

Brady unlike Brooke was smart and accepted an arm to get up and headed back for the heated house!

The Pier.

Hard work...ice walking.

But at least the sun was shining. (any non gray is considered shining folks!)

This was to show you the depth we are standing at the beach.

I don't know how she stands it but she digs for ever. I mean i guess she is just searching for what we all are warmth.

The Pier.

Chris and Greg witnessed a rescue on the channel. I'm glad the three of us choose hot chocolate at the house instead.

And that my friends was the ice.

I'm just a bill....

 

I was able to join Brooklyn on her trip to the Capitol. Not having grown up in Michigan, it was just as fun/interesting to me as it was to the kids. But the whole day I couldn't get this little ditty out of my head? Anyone else remember the Schoolhouse Rock song....I'm just a bill?

I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee
But I know I'll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will
But today I am still just a bill

So while Brooke and all her classmates were singing Katy Perry and Taylor Swift on the bus I gently jammed along to my schoolhouse rock tune.

 

 

 

Brooke adn Maggie....

Girls happy to be off the bus and heading to the Capitol.

The govenor's office.

Trying really hard to pay attention to the facts that were being spewed at them.

They actually got a chance to meet the Senator, and go down on the Senate floor, since he found out we were from GR. It was pretty cool and the kids thought they were getting something special. Brooke looks like she is actually paying attention!

Mrs. Bedi's fourth grade class and Senator Hilldenbrant.

Its actually a beautiful builiding all hand painted .

This is what the kids were looking up at in the previous picture.

House of representatives floor.

Can't be all legislation, we ended the day with a trip to the Michigan museum

Thank you....Thank you very much......(hopefully spoken in Elvis voice)

Love/Hate Relationship

The recorder.

I definately had a love hate relationship with this small green noise maker.

I loved that I never had to "force" her to practice.

I hated that she choose to practice at 7:01 am and every hour after that.

I loved that I never had to challenge her to try for her next belt (level). 

I hated that with each new song there was more playing and practicing and noise.

I loved that she's excited about music and finally hearing songs and melodies that she was playing.

I hated the cringe I felt every time I would hear the first note being whistled.

I loved that she was so care free and tooted this thing with wild abandon.

I hated how my head would pound and my shoulders would tighten every time I heard "oh when the saints go marching"

So when the recorder concert came.

I loved that it was here so it would soon be over.

I hated the thought of 80 kids tooting on it at once.

Surprisingly I loved the way they all sounded together and

I hated that I was such Debbie dower about it the previous six months

But secretly I love that she hasn't picked it up once since the end of the concert. 

I hate that I had to write that.

 Here is Brooke tooting her own horn.