Snipped Strings and Snow Covered Hills

Today Hot Rod hit a milestone I guess you could say, he lost his first tooth.  I suppose there's no denying it, he's growing up far too quickly.  First words, first steps, first word read, first sport played and now first tooth lost.  It's a bittersweet adventure we parents journey through.  For everyday which passes is one day closer to the day they move on with their own lives, with their own families.  I know it's not like he's asking me for the keys to the car, or going off to college yet; but that's just it - yet.  So I take a picture, smile and praise him for a job well done while inside I know that's one more string snipped.  So I just cherish the little moments, try not to get too upset about the big moments, and love every moment I have with Hot Rod and Princess. 

Also, at Christmas I never updated so here goes.  While we were visiting family at Christmastime as predicted Hot Rod and Princess loved the snow.  Princess adored sledding with or without another passenger, if a sled sit upon the top of the snow covered hill behind the large red-painted barn and was vacant, she would plop down and take off.  Letting the wind blow through her blonde curls, wind lightly kissing upon her cheeks a smile was plastered on her tiny face with nothing but enjoyment and delight twinkling in her bright blue eyes and a giggle floating in the air.  She had it rather easy I must say.  For each time she went gliding down the hill with a fellow passenger she managed to get pulled up the hill by said passenger, as though she had her very own conveyor belt.  All of the fun and none of the work - that worked for her. 

As for Hot Rod, he had fun with everything.  From attempts at building his very own snow fort, to flying upon the rope swing with legs flailing in the air in anticipation of the ground below, sledding, and snowboarding he was in his very own Winter Wonderland full of fun and excitement.  This year his uncle, aunt and cousins came with entertainment en tow...snowboards.  Hot Rod likes to try just about any sport, as long as it doesn't involve him standing and waiting before it's his turn to be active, he's all for it.  After sailing down the hills on his bottom he decided standing might be a more enjoyable experience and was ready to hang with the big guys (okay, so his cousins are beautiful girls, but you catch what I'm saying I'm sure?  right?).  He loved it!  And he did surprisingly well.  While he's not Olympic snowboarder I am quite proud of him, he made it down standing the whole time until the snowboard stopped.  Schlepping the snowboard upthe hill wasn't the most fun, but like his sister he seems to be quite charming.  So much so, that oftentimes one of his cousins, or uncle would go down to dislodge his feet and drag the board back up.  Suffice it to say, they had a blast, and we all had a wonderful Christmas with family.