Starting to hit our stride - kind of

With January behind us, we started to gear back up once again. First up was the Blue and Gold Banquet.  If we did this last year in Florida, then I must have slept through it.  Either that or Jim was out of town and we did not get the word.  It was the annual Boy Scout awards ceremony and we think Ben may have transitioned to the next level but I can't be sure.  At any rate, it was a fun evening and we were glad Daddy was able to join us.

Back in December when the cousins were in town and we hit up the Mexican markets, Lucy convinced me to pick up one of these swings.

In her happy place

I really should have bought one for each child.  It gets a lot of use and there is usually some type of fight going on about who gets to use it.  I am sure I will have another opportunity to get a few more with Mexico just down the street.

Our next visitor was Nanny!!  This is her first visit back to Yuma and it quickly came back to her.  The cross country flight, the changing time zones, the ALL DAY travel.  Fun times.  Gone are the quick inexpensive flights to East Coast destinations. Now we are making you work REALLY hard to visit us.  Sorry about that.  

Nanny and Wesley got along famously - Ha!  No seriously they did get along. But Oscar is still clearly her favorite.   

Track for the kids is starting to slow down.  We only have a few meets left. Nanny was fortunate be able to catch one and the kids did not disappoint. While they did not win every heat, they did do extremely well and moved on to the finals in quite a few events.  My old track coach will be pleased that all three placed in the hurdle events.

Lilly started a new school this month!  We were happy with our 1st choice for school here in Yuma.  However, with 6th grade looming and no fail-safe prospects for success, we were able to get her into another Charter School that has a 6th grade program (our current school did not).  It was a gamble, but so far it has paid off!  She seamlessly transitioned and we could not be happier. We are so happy that we are trying to switch the other two!

For Presidents day we I, decided that we needed to go snow skiing!  The kids were all over it, but Jim needed some convincing.  Finally we talked him into it and he was glad once we got him up there.  This time, Ben did not ski.  He was adamant that he was ONLY snowboarding.  Since he has only done it one other time, we were a tad concerned.  My plan was to take him on some green runs until he got his legs under him and Jim could take the girls further up the mountain.  Well Jim had other plans and we all headed up the mountain.  Oh boy!  Ben ate it several times but to his credit, he did not get discouraged and I am proud to say by middle of the day he was well on his way to actually snowboarding rather then sliding down the runs on his butt!

Ready to attack the slopes

Chair lift selfie

Not really a wipe out, but certainly looks like it

Goofing off at lunch - she is over dressed!

Go Ben GO!  

We spent the last two hours on the terrain park watching the kids attack the jumps, rails and other obstacles.  All in all we had a blast!  No one (even Jim) wanted to go home.  Yeah!  

The following weekend was Ben's birthday!  We decided to celebrate by taking the kids out to Picacho Peak to do some kayaking.  Even Wesley got into the act, not that he had much choice in it.  Crazy dog.  

Bye!! Don't forget to write

Ben got some really cool presents including a guitar!  I am not sure how we are going to pull off adding guitar lessons to our already over scheduled schedule, but I guess we are.  My personal preference is Father-Son lessons.  
He requested a Minecraft cake and this is the best I could do.  Ben was thrilled. Not my best work, but since I am not a fan of Minecraft I am doing my best to care.

Guess what people?  We had another visitor!! Yes, you read that right, another visitor!! Even though it is incredibly not easy or fun to get here!!  Jim's sister Sallie came out for a long weekend.  His mom was supposed to join her, but life happens and she was unable to make it.  We will get our visit with her and Jim's Dad and Brother in May for the Change of Command.  Sallie got the full Wellons treatment of going to about a zillion events all over the course of two days!! She attended a function on base with Jim, the Pinewood Derby, an airplane-less air show, a concert and brunch!  Whew!  I bet she was happy to get back on the plane and rest!