Finishing Off the Year at Priest Lake!

We just returned from a five-day trip to Priest Lake to enjoy some time with family and the winter wonderland we found up there.  It was so fun to be all cozy in the cabin and to get outside and play in that beautiful snow.  Everyone in my family was able to be there, and with the exception of several people having the flu, we had a great time!  As always, can't wait until next year!

 

We arrived on Friday, December 30th, and celebrated Callie's 9th birthday that night.  Here she is about to blow out her candles.  I can't believe she is really that old...I can clearly remember seeing her as a newborn in the hospital.  Crazy how time flies!

 

 

One of the funnest things we were able to do outside was sledding down our road over and over again.  We spent some quality time out on the hill on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  The snow was a perfect, compact condition that lent itself to endless fun.  Eric was at his typical post, driving the motorcycle up and down the hill, providing a free ride to any sledder that needed it.

 

 

Garrett and Spencer getting a lift.

 

 

Ron and I were able to slip outside all three days during Logan's naps to enjoy some sledding.  I honestly felt like a kid again.  I LOVE playing in the snow!

 

 

Logan had fun playing amongst his cousins.  Here is Spencer, fifteen years his senior, rough housing with our baby.

 

 

A close-up of our cutie!

 

 

Although Lia was still getting over the nasty flu, I was able to convince her to come outside to play in the snow once each day (although she refused to wear a hat).  Here we are on Saturday enjoying the snow around our cabin.

 

 

Silly Spence blowing on his silly, elk horn.  Oh, these Montana boys...

 

 

Lia actually enjoyed some sledding with me until she got some snow in her face on Sunday and refused to ever go again!  Here we are having some downhill fun.

 

 

Mommy and daughter pose for a pic.

 

We wandered down the lane to a neighbor's cabin where we found some great icicles hanging by their front door.  Spencer graciously agreed to get some down for the group.

 

Lia and the triplets posing with their icicles.

 

Lia enjoyed lots of "indoor time" with the triplets playing with their American Girl dolls and making blanket forts.  Here they are watching a movie from the protective walls of one of the forts they made over the weekend.

 

 

On Sunday, I bundled up our Logan and took him outside to play in the snow for the first time in his life.  He was the cutest snow bunny around!  I couldn't get over how adorable he looked.  Besides not being able to sit down because his clothes were so bulky, he actually did pretty good in the snow and barely made a peep!

 

 

A close-up of our snow bunny.

 

 

Spencer and Chris posing with Logan.

 

 

The Hartland fam in the winter wonderland.  Look at all that snow!

 

 

Lia and Sarah playing in the "snow cave" at the top of the driveway.

 

 

Father and son all bundled up and ready for some sledding!

 

 

Ron and I decided to take Logan down on the sled one time thinking that he would not like it. However, much to our surprise, he never made a peep and so we kept on taking him down the hill over and over again.  It was so funny and so cute!

 

 

Ron and Logan on their inaugural run together.

 

 

The other thing that Logan did that was so funny while we were outside in the snow was that he would lay back in the sled and not move an inch while Ron or I pulled him back up the hill.  He never fussed, squirmed, cried, or anything.  He just laid there as still and as quiet as can be every single time!

 

 

My three brothers and their daughters getting ready for a double-decker sled run!

 

 

Logan quietly laying in his sled while being pulled up the hill!

 

 

Getting ready for another mommy-and-son run!

 

 

Lia and the the triplets playing in their individual blanket forts (notice Vivi and Callie in the background).