Hello Sprinter Van

No, Matt did not start another new business... it just happens to be the very large logo wrap that came on our sprinter van that we recently purchased.  Luckily, the wrap can be removed and underneath should be nice white paint.

What do we need this big vehicle for?  The plan is that it will become our camping/traveling wagon.  We tried to decide what to do about camping trips so that everyone would be comfy and get decent sleep in spite of cold or hot weather.  We decided the sprinter van was the best option so we could use it for camping and Matt could use it for work if needed.  Right now it's just big and empty but Matt has grand plans for insulation, beds, cupboards, wiring, heating, cooling and more seats.  We hope to have it completed before our Moab trip in May and then we'll really see how much we like it when we drive it to Michigan this summer for vacation.

Bye Bye Super Duty

I sold my truck this week.  I really haven't used it since October and it didn't make much sense to keep it around.  If I need a truck bigger than our Tacoma then I can borrow or rent one, it would be cheaper than owning it.  I am looking for a sprinter van that we can use as a family camping wagon and work truck if needed.  I have my eyes on one, I should know within a week if I get it.  I will post it up if I do.

Our house - 23" Winter Park - 1"

Yep, that's usually how it goes in Colorado.  If there is good snow in the mountains then it will be dry and sunny in town.  And, likewise, if there is a big storm in town then you may as well stay home and enjoy shoveling because there won't be any on the ski hill.  But this year I picked up a great pair of snowshoes at the Sniagrab and am using them right here in town! 
Mandy and I out snowshoeing this morning.

 I took this photo last night of our deck.  I like how the snow is hanging on the top of the chairs.

Logan went out yesterday too but only across the street to play at the neighbors house while Matt shoveled.  He can't move when he's in his snowsuit but he can still smile!

Lately Matt has been spending some time fixing up his dirtbike.  I would say it is to get ready for the coming dirtbike season but in his world, it is always dirtbike season.  I can say that with confidence because the last thing he said to me today is "I think I need to go outside and do something crazy on my dirtbike in all this new snow..." then he disappeared into the garage.  Here is Logan helping him get ready.  He even gets his own hammer.

We have managed to get up to Copper Mountain twice this year for some skiing.  The first trip we each went on separate days so the other could stay home.  Then we decided to try it family style.  Here is Logan hanging out at Copper Village with daddy.  He was a big hit as they walked around to all the shops while I was up skiing.

 After a couple hours of skiing for me then we traded and he got to eat and take a nap in the truck.  Overall, it was a great day for everyone.

Up until this weekends storm, the weather has been exceptionally warm here.  We try to get out for walks and ended up walking around the town and neighborhoods of Morrison.  Here we found some pretty horses for Logan to check out.

What We've Been Up To

After visiting our friends in Laramie over Christmas, I decided that Logan might benefit from having tummy time on the wood floor so he could get a little more grip and maybe learn to crawl.  Well, no crawling yet but he has learned to spin in circles pretty well to see what is going on all around him!

I've also discovered that it's true you don't need fancy toys for your kids because they find the simplest things so much fun.  He loves this plastic cup and always wants to drink out of it.  I don't put anything in it but he drools so much that every now and then he gets a little drink of, well, you know...

It also leaves a great cup mark around his face!

This January has been particularly mild so we've been able to go on a couple of hikes near our house.  It's too muddy for the stroller but he enjoys being carried in the pack and waving his arms at everyone who walks by.

Awww, do we have to leave so soon!

When it's not warm enough for a hike then we'll just sit outside in the back yard and play in the dirt.

Yep, he likes the dirt!

Pictures over Christmas

Logan has found it lots of fun to play in the mirror.  We have a mirror on the floor in our bedroom that he likes to sit in front of and bang on.  I'm sure he can pass hours at it if we let him.

 Logan in his moose hat. He seems to enjoy it.  And he always has something dangling that he can put in his mouth.

Over the week of Christmas, we traveled all over Wyoming.  First we went to Cheyenne to stay the night with my sister, Theresa, and her family.  From there we went to Casper to Aunt Sharon's house for Swick family Christmas, then we went up to Worland to Pam's parents for a few days, then on our way back to Denver we stayed the night in Laramie with our friends Christie and Mark.  Christie has a daughter just a week younger than Logan whose name is Lily.

My nephew, Lane, got his grass camo for Christmas that he has been wanting. I think he just needs some shoes to go with it.

 For Christmas all the Swick kids were together with their mom.  Pam's dad is Chuck, front left and his mom, Lucille is in the front row too.
Back Row: Bill, Chancy, Sharon, Jess, Ann. Front Row: Chuck, Tom, Lucille, Jim

Four Generations here.  There were about 10 cameras flashing away during this pose, so we didn't know where to look.

Logan wants to be like his daddy, pounding nails.  Except at this stage of the game he is just chewing on the hammer.

It's easy to keep an eye on the little monkey when you keep him close and confined.  Here he gets to help Grandma Debbie out with cooking.

Logan has lots of fun unwrapping presents, but we need to be quick with snatching the paper away before it ends up in his tummy.

 Logan is trying to play twister with Lily, but she thinks he is just trying to tickle her foot.

And at home Logan was happy to play under the tree and try to grab the lights anything else he could get his hands on.  Notice the drool  dangling from his lip, that is a pretty common sight with him.  He still doesn't seem to be having any teeth coming in, but he sure makes everyone think he does with all the puddles he leaves behind.

Moto on Donner Pass

This past Saturday we had the bright idea of heading into the hills to find some single track to ride.  We went about 30 miles west of Loveland.  It had been warm in Denver and much of the snow had melted, so we thought it was worth a shot.  As soon as we parked the trucks it started to snow.  There by the time we left about 3 or 4 hours later there was about 2" of snow on the ground.  I met up with 3 guys I had never met before, but they were friends of my buddy Ken and I had heard good things.  We had a great time, but as you will see, there wasn't much single track to be found.

There was hope for a brief amount of time for some descent trail riding.

But it didn't last long. We soon found ourselves in 6" or more of snow pretty much everywhere.

As were were riding up a jeep road we found some hidden ice!  It took 2 of us out in a hurry.  It turned out that the whole section was covered. It was about 10' wide and 50' long and on a slope.  Chris made it up without falling, but Jared and myself weren't so lucky.  Jared fell at least 4 times and I had about the same luck. Every time we would fall we would slide down past the bikes and down the hill.

 Here is a view looking up at the long slide Chris took on his butt.

All in all, it was good to be out riding and a fun time. But I think that might be enough snow riding for the season, unless I have spikes on my tires.

Pictures!

Life always seems to be so busy that we forget to take pictures so now I have determined to try and keep the camera in close proximity and capture a few more of the fun times that we are having.

In the last week or so Logan has started sitting up on his own.  He can sit there for about a minute or so before he gets distracted and topples over but I think he likes it!

We have also started feeding him a little bit of cereal. I think he wants to hold his own bowl already!

He seems to enjoy eating but sometimes I think he would be just as happy chewing on his toys!

Aunt Elizabeth has been a fantastic babysitter!

And I just love this picture of our handsome little boy sitting in church!