The Keene Family

Last year, we spent one weekend a month camping at Crystal Mountain, which we love to do. This year, we've been a little busy (ha) and haven't made it up there until this weekend. The kids love playing in the snow after the ski day is done. We also went on a "snow walk" to the lodge and back, most of which the kids spent trying to find the largest snowballs possible to throw at their parents.   Haley and I wore our new "ski like a girl" sweatshirts together too. 💕 I am so proud of Haley. She doesn't love love skiing like the rest of us, but she has a great attitude about it anyway. She challenges herself frequently, and puts forth huge effort to improve. (She is already a great skiier!) This trip was no exception. She had trouble coming down a black diamond mogul field thick with snow, and lost her ski twice. The next run, I suggested we try a different way, and she responded, "Or we could do that again and I can do better....

I told someone the other day that this was likely the best winter break I've had in a long time. I felt like it had a nice balance of time at home with nothing scheduled, outings and fun activities, family events, and friends. Sometimes we get to the end of break and wonder what just happened! This year it felt like we did a lot and yet were rested and ready to start the new decade. It started with the NASA Gymnastics team holiday party and gift exchange. Then we had a two-day tournament for basketball. Surprise! Cousins who flew in for Christmas showed up at JT's game - so fun! Day two, JT and his friends ended up getting matching hats at the local outlet shopping center. Monday we went skiing and brought Preston along. Tuesday was Christmas Eve, and I served flank steak, steamed baby red potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. Then we went to candlelight service at our church, a highlight of the year for me! For dessert I made my annual crumb-t...

We spent New Year's Eve doing a few fun things we love... first, we took the kids to see Rise of Skywalker with the Drew family (well, three of the six children in the Drew family, and their parents). Then we headed home to get some things done, and ended up at the Drew house with the Lee family and the Shipp family, to close out the night. We laughed and talked and snacked until 10:30 pm... when we headed home and went to bed!

We spent four straight days out of the house at sporting events. We are tired! Friday last week, we went to Haley's gymnastics meet in Kent. She did an awesome job and took 5th in her division! Then we spent two days at basketball in Buckley. Jim is the team's assistant coach now, and he enjoyed being on the floor with the boys! Finally, we took Monday off school/work and headed to the mountains. Haley stayed home sick with Grandma Keene, but the rest of us enjoyed sunny skies and rocky snow. We need a little more cover before the skiing can really begin! First run of the year... wiped us out!