Snowy Spring Break

This week is Spring Break in Whitefish and Team Peppmeier is taking the Oh-not-so-exciting Staycation. Our home is in complete chaos from our recent move. Yesterday after moving the last remaining items from the old house I managed to cover every surface in the new house including our dining table. Today the boys will be "picnicking" on the floor until I can get the table cleared off. Anyhow...Monday it rained, Tuesday was warmer and today we woke up to snow. Where's all the spring-like weather and sunshine we've been having for the past two weeks??

Annemarie in her weather appropriate attire.

Peppmeiers at the Park

On Sunday the kids were so rowdy they were practically bouncing off the walls. Doug and I packed everyone up and headed to the local park...

Getting so big. Annemarie loves being outside.

Doug of course had to get in on the action and try everything out.

Jack enjoying the park.

Bike, Bike, BIKE!!

Annemarie loves to get outside and ride her bike with the boys. If the boys just say the word "bike" she starts pointing outside and yelling "bike". She doesn't use the pedals, instead walks the bike around the driveway trying to avoid the boys. The hand-me-down tricycle is only temporary until her birthday when she has a fun surprise coming her way.

Ice Skating or Hockey?

Being able to ice skate is pretty popular out here. Whitefish even has their very own rink. Will had asked me if he could take lessons and this month I signed the boys up for a beginner class. It's only a four week course but Will is loving it. When I asked Jack if he likes ice skating he said he needs to think about it and he'll get back to me tomorrow (that was a couple of days ago). I love ice skating because the boys are contained to the rink, they have an instructor and all I have to do is watch. I'll try and get some action shots next lesson.

St. Patrick's Day

I haven't been out on St. Patrick's Day in probably six years. It was our friend Scott's birthday and we had planned to celebrate. Unfortunately Scott was sick and the get together didn't happen. That didn't stop Doug and I. Erin watched the kids and we still celebrated, just the two of us.

So Cool

Will modeling Erin's sunglasses and practicing his tough-guy look.

Bunk Beds!

Doug converted the boys' twin beds into bunk beds this weekend. And he built the ladder Annemarie is standing on. The boys are thrilled with the new configuration but I think Doug is the most excited.

Night Skiing

Doug took the boys night skiing last Friday. Here's a picture of Jack getting ready for a run.

Big Jump

Doug thinks this is so funny. I'm not sure if I completely agree but it is entertaining. I promise there were no tears and no one was hurt.

Tuck and Go

Another ski video of the boys. They're so fast!

Skiing Big Mountain

Doug took a few videos of the boys skiing this weekend. They are so good and continue to get better and try new things each time they go up. Will is in the black helmet and Jack is in the white one. I plan to post a few more videos later this week. Enjoy!

Sunny Days

We've had a couple of really sunny days here in Whitefish. Is Spring in the air?? I just had to post this picture of Gus getting time in the sun. He loves to be anywhere warm.

And then, this is what happens when Doug goes looking for sunscreen. I have a seasonal box and on Saturday when Doug took the boys skiing he asked where the sunscreen was. He found it but he also found Annemarie's life jacket and sunglasses which she was thrilled to have on. She's so silly!

Basketball

Check out our little basketball player! This is Will's first year on a team. Doug is his coach and they have practice/games every Thursday. Last week was my first time watching Will (I'm usually at home with Jack and Annemarie) and it was so fun. As Doug says it's like "herding cats".

Warm up
Look at that shot!

Defense!

Let the Games Begin

We hosted an Olympic party on Sunday. It was so much fun and some of us even dressed up for the event. There was lots of food, drink and we watched the Men's USA Hockey team beat Canada. That was a lot of fun. Later after half the guests had left we even exchanged some Winter Olympic trivia.

Me in my Evan Lysacek/Vera Wang snake costume.
Annemarie the darling ice skater wearing Matthew's shoes.

The delicious cheese ball in the shape of the Canadian Maple Leaf, courtesy of the Peschels.

Stefanie as Julia Mancuso and Scott as Apollo Ohno.

The Speed Skating Team.

Matthew, Laura, Chelsea and Sima having some snacks.

Watching the hockey game.

Doug with his beer and Annemarie with her flag.

"Ski Family"

We jokingly refer to this group as the ski family. You know, the group that goes up skiing each weekend and looks like the perfect little family. Erin was telling me Doug gets all flustered when he introduces her to people who think she's his wife. Doug prefers the awkward, "umm, this is, umm, my wife's sister". I've suggested saying "this is my sister-in-law". Anyhow, they have a good thing going. And aren't they cute??

A Sweater - for Me!

Look what I knitted...a sweater for me. This is the first adult sized sweater I've completed (I have another one that's in pieces and needs to be finished). I'm so happy with how it turned out. It's really warm and is perfect for wearing around the house. For those of you who know knitting terms I used a 10 inch needle and about 13 balls of yarn. The majority of the sweater is in a moss or seed stitch (knit one, purl one) and has ribbing around the arms and edges. It doesn't have any buttons so it's just open in the front. It took two+ weeks to finish and I'm really happy with the end result.

Christmas in February

Sometimes Christmas arrives early, but in this case it arrived late! Thank you Uncle Steve for all the Christmas presents and birthday gift for Will. Because it's Steve and because we love him so much we feel we can give him a hard time about the late arrival. Sources tell us the gifts have been sitting on his kitchen table since before Christmas. After all, it's the thought that counts, right? And in this case the presents eventually made it to Whitefish. The boys were thrilled with the LEGOS and Annemarie loves her baby. Thanks again Uncle Steve!
Calling Steve to let him know the gifts had arrived and are about to be opened.

LEGOS!

Annemarie with her new baby.

Annemarie feeding the baby.

Winter Carnival

This past weekend was Winter Carnival here in Whitefish. Lots of activities and lots of people. On Saturday the boys and I went downtown to watch the parade. It's so fun and it feels like the whole town is there plus more. Once we arrived at the parade route (we parked a long ways away and had to walk a few blocks) I realized I had forgot my camera. And what a perfect picture opportunity! Thankfully Stef took pictures http://lifeolarkin.blogspot.com/2010/02/winter.html There's a picture of the boys and I at the end of the posting.

Will - Playing the Guitar

Will began guitar lessons in January. He's doing really well and is enjoying it. His teacher is absolutely thrilled with Will's progress the amount of practice he puts in each week (approx 15 minutes per day) and his overall eagerness to learn. This week along with learning some new chords Will is practicing using a pick which he's excited about since Grandpa plays with a pick.

Will playing "Spanish Theme"

Sledding

Here are some recent pictures of the boys sledding. The weather the last week has been warm, in the 40's. Most of our snow has melted and is a sloppy wet mess. Hopefully we'll get some colder weather soon and possibly some new snow?

Jack with his sled
Ready to go!

Will on the quarter pipe in the front yard.

Pink cheeks!

Doug's turn.

There he goes down the hill in our back yard.