Jeep sledding '09

We had a late snow this year, and the kids enjoyed "Jeep sledding" with dad. Since we have no hills here, Todd pulls the kids around the hay field behind his jeep.

Peyton and Dani

Peyton and Kelsey

Kelsey

Peyton, Kelsey, and Hunter

Kelsey after she shoveled the deck with an ice scraper!

Our ice overed house

Hot chocolate after fun in the snow!

Great Plains Nature Center

After we picked Peyton up from Shocker baseball camp today we met our friends (the Hamby's) at the Great Plains Nature Center for some hiking and exploring. The kids had a great time.

Peyton, Preston, Kellyn, Dani, Breckyn, and Kelsey

Preston and Peyton watching a beaver

The beaver

The Leinen and Hamby kids hiking through the woods.

Kelsey, Dani and Peyton

Kelsey

Dani posing with her hiking stick

Kelsey and Dani

skiing Steamboat 2009

Peyton and Kelsey at the top of the gondola in beautiful Steamboat.
riding the gondola

We just got back from our ski trip in Steamboat. We stayed with our friends Kim and Jason who have two girls, so the kids had a blast even when they weren't skiing.

Peyton skied one day and snowboarded one day, he did great both days.

Kelsey skied one day and planned to take snowboard lessons on the second day, but woke up with a fever and had to stay home (but I got my money back...yeah!).

Dani skied 2 days, and even took a nap after lunch on the second day she was so worn out!

I, on the other hand, skied one day and for some reason thought I'd try snowboarding the second day. I fell more on my first run than I have in the last 10 years of skiing (I am not kidding!). Even Peyton was waiting for me at the end of each run... and usually I'm the first one down taking pictures of everyone coming down! Thank goodness no one takes pictures but me!

Todd did great until Peyton talked him into cutting through the trees for those fun jumps, great pics below of that!

Peyton

Peyton getting a little air!

Peyton going down West Side (a black run), and doing great.

Kelsey going down Why Not, a green trail that every young skier in Steamboat loves (and parents can't stand... I remember torturing my dad by going down it!)

Dani showing off her "pizza" stop.

Dani after lessons eating her giant chocolate muffin while on a gondola ride.

Todd thinking about it...

Uh oh!!

Maybe that wasn't such a good idea!

My cool dad?!

I love my dad to death, he is the funniest person I know. Here are some reasons why....

Who boxes with a doberman??? You're scaring me!!

His idea to have all the guys hold cigars (including my 8 year old!)

Steve Urkel

Steve Urkel with coffee.

We just got back from Great Wolf Lodge. The kids had a great time, especially getting to see family. Grandma Diltz went with us, and cousins Ross and Abigail, Aunt Ashley, Uncle Josh, and Anna came to see us.

The three of us getting pounded by water!

Dani snuggling with Uncle Josh, Aunt Ashley, and (future) Aunt Anna.

Josh, Dani, Peyton, Kelsey, and Anna.

Kelsey and Abigail.

Todd, Ross, and Peyton.

Grandma Diltz and Kelsey.

Tracy and Dani.

It's the end of January, and I'm finally updating our family blog (it's been since Oct!)

We have had a great fall and Christmas season. God has really blessed us with a healthy family and fun times together.

This is the birdhouse that Peyton and Gramps made for a project Peyton had to do for school.

Dani's 4th birthday at preschool.

Her birthday party with friends at Build A Bear.

CRAZY COUSINS!! (They were supposed to be sleeping)

Dani's Christmas ballet recital. She thought she was a superstar!!

Cutting down our Christmas tree, and Kelsey helping cut down grandma's tree, 2008.