Tory helps his old man build up The Frog

My first job as a kid was a paper route. The thing I got up so early in the morning for? A 1/10 scale RC car called The Frog, by Tamiya. A couple of friends and I saved up for months to buy these cars (Eric had The Hornet, and Steve had The Ultima) and we tinkered and raced and loved them. Putting them together was part of the process – The Frog came as a big box of parts and a book on how to assemble.

I have no idea what became of my old beloved Frog. I suppose I grew out of it and left it behind when I went off to college. Nostalgia.

How excited was I when I heard that Tamiya had reissued The Frog (and a few other models like The Hornet)? Well I was even more excited when Eric sent me an entire Frog kit – with the radio, battery, and charger too!

Tory and I had a blast putting it together. Maybe I should make him deliver papers for a few months first…

For the most part, it’s been a pretty disappointing winter. You know this is so when people start talking about spring skiing when winter never really started.

Anywhoo, it has been warm enough to think about going to the park. We met up with Heather, Josh, and Serisa at Willow Creek park for some park time and sledding. It was a pretty nice afternoon. Watching the kids go off the jump was pretty funny. Glad they always came up smiling.

While we thought it took a long time to get to Tory’s first haircut, it was over three years until Tegan’s. But she’s a girl so it’s different, and she’s got her mom’s awesome thickness too. Not much was taken off so you can hardly tell, but apparently doing this makes hair healthy.

Tory got a quick trim too. Judging from the results, it’s time I stopped cutting it for him and let the pros do what the pros do. I should probably stop cutting my own hair too.

Heel Edge

Tory has been asking all season if he could snowboard. We finally caved and rented one for the afternoon. I was hoping that he wouldn’t like it*, but turns out he really did. Even though he just rode heel edge all day, I was still amazed at how quickly he picked up the balance.

Here’s a quick video:

* Why? 1. Don’t want to buy both skis and snowboard gear every year and 2. He’s a good skier, and I wasn’t looking forward to the learning curve on High Meadow again. Selfish me, I know.

Roll!

Bowling was all the rage for this years Tory and Tegan Birthday Week™. Tonight we went to Jupiter Bowl in Park City. Josh, Heather, and Serisa showed, as did Sam and Sophia. Jarrett and Mel were there, and Uncle Nate too.

Watch as Tory nearly picks up a split:

Cupcake candles! Blow Tegan, blow!

We’re still holding combo parties for Tory and Tegan’s birthdays. At least until they scream uncle about it. This year we headed down to Heber City’s Holiday Lanes for a little bowling session. Gutterballs and $2 everything ruled the night ($2 shoes, $2 games, $2 food). Lot’s of friends showed up, and I only got these few crappy shots to show for it. Sorry ya’ll.

Tory and Tegan had a lot of fun, and are very thankful for all their friends coming and for the awesome gifts!

The best part of decorating cookies.

It’s becoming somewhat of a tradition in our family to make sugar cookies for Christmas and let the kids paint them up. Tradition as in, this is the second year in a row we’ve done it. Sugar cookies happen to be my most favorite Christmas cookie so I can see this continuing.

The kids had fun with the frosting, and especially the sprinkles. There were as many on the floor as there were on cookies :)

Riding the Orange Bubble Chair

We haven’t got a lot of snow yet this season, but I don’t mind as it gives us all a chance to get our legs back under us riding the groomed runs. Here’s a few pics and videos of this early season.

Forced smile aside, I think he's pretty happy about these books.

I picked Tory up on Wednesday and his teacher, Miss Sylvie, asked him to tell me what he did today. Typical kid, he’s says something like, ‘What? I don’t know.’ Turns out he read his first two books. They’re Bob Books, Mat and Sam. Pretty simple of course, but Miss Sylvie was pretty excited, saying he picked them up and started reading, bam bam bam without having to sound out the letters. Apparently when they get it, it comes like a flood. He’s been reading a few others since then.