Sledding and skiing. More firsts!

All we wanted for Christmas was a White Christmas.  I don't think I have ever prayed for weather as much as we did for our tip to Utah, and Adam prays for a long, cold, brutal winter every year.  Adam LOVES the cold, and I do NOT.  I don't mind it so much but in all reality, I just love 70 degree weather all year round.  I'm not sure why Adam loves the cold so much, maybe he was just too hot his whole life living in Texas, but he would probably rather live the rest of his days out in the cold mountains.  I would like to live my days by the beach ( I mean who is the weird one here?!) I guess a beach house and a winter cabin are in our future :)

Well enough about our dreams...

They actually came true while we were in Utah.  And because of all the snow, we were able to show Solana what it is.  She LOVED it, loved to play in it, eat it, lay in it, whatever it was she just loved it.  So we were pretty excited to take her sledding, and even though I could not take her, it was just as wonderful to watch her and Adam go.  I think Adam even had more fun than she did.  Good ol' Liberty Park in Salt Lake was perfect for the little first timer. She went a couple runs, but mostly just wanted to sit down and eat the snow (Solana - "I like eating doe!")  and watch daddy go up and down the hill. 

Probably one of the best New Year's Eves we could have had.  

Since my Dad flew up from California, he really wanted to go skiing.  

A little history: My dad grew up in Ogden and was a profesional downhill ski racer in his early years and before he had kids.  My parents even lived at the lodge at Snowbasin that my grandpa built when they were first married and worked there.  And Snowbasin is where all of us kids learned how to ski, and it has always been a big part of Ross history.  So heading up to the mountain with my dad and my family was such a fun experience.  And having my daughter learn where I learned was pretty neat.  Solana does not get to see Papa Ross often, so I was pretty excited for the experience of him teaching her how to ski.  Also Adam had just learned to ski a week earlier from his best friend (he has always snowboarded) and so he was also able to take Solana down the bunny hill once or twice.  

So being 9 months pregnant I waited by the ski lift and played family photographer, I actually had so much fun, I just wish I could move around faster to get more pictures. 

Waiting in line to ride the lift, which was actually her favorite part because it felt like flying.  I have yet to figure out what this little one is scared of.  Because it's not heights, and not speed. 

Birttany, Fred, and Addie also flew up from San Diego for New Years and they were able to teach Addison how to ski.  She did great, she was able to balance all on her own.

Haha, I love this photo.  She looks scared, but she said she wasn't.  It was probably the icy cold air on her face.  It was below 20 degrees that day. 

They got some speed and I was amazed how quick she picked it up.

Logan and Carol waiting in line for the lift.  The kids were not the only first timers, Carol took her shot at the mountain for the first time as well.  I'm not sure if she loved it, but new experiences are always fun to some degree (except for your first time snowboarding, Adam mentions, which is categorically always an awful day of face-planting and struggling to stand up again.)

Nothing better than these girls chowing down pizza in the lodge. I can just picture all these cousins as college roomates and doing the same thing. 

Merry 3rd Christmas

Solana's 3rd Christmas was so wonderful!  She really understood the whole concept this year and it was so much fun to watch all her excitement.  For about a month before we busted out all the Christmas music and movies we could think of and read lots of Christmas books to her.  It gave us all the extra Christmas spirit, but it was so fun to re-live your own childhood excitement through your child. 

The sad part was that during the trip she got sick, and Christmas day was probably her worst day for it. She was pretty happy for most of the morning, then she got pretty miserable and cranky, so lots of napping. It was also great to spend Christmas with both of my parents.  I haven't done that in who knows how long, so it was great memories!

My dad flew out from California to spend a week with the whole family, it was so much fun, and Solana loved getting to know her Papa Ross. 

When we first asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she said a pink princess dress, we thought it was odd because she doesn't really love the whole princess thing, but she was so excited to put it on, so maybe her taste is changing. 

Utah for Christmas!

Once finals were over we headed out to Utah for 3 weeks!! The three of us have not been able to spend so much time together since last Christmas, and we were very excited for all the things we would get to do together.  We were also looking forward to Solana playing in the snow and we had our fingers crossed for a White Christmas.  (Every year, Adam reiterates that he prays for a long, cold, brutal winter...)  I was a little nervous to travel 9 months pregnant, but I survived and it wasn't so bad—I was just pretty tired most of time.  We stayed at my Mom's in Salt Lake and we thought for sure she would be sick of us by the end, but she is the best host ever, and we always felt loved.  Here is what we did before Christmas arrived:

The first day we went out, we bundled up and had so much fun in the winter gear

I love this photo of her, she is growing up so fast

The new addition to the family: Piper June was born December 13th. 

We waited to get a Christmas tree until we arrived in Utah. So even though it was picked over, we found a great place and all the trees were only 25 bucks, even for a 7-foot tree — sold!!

We picked a huge tree! 

Solana putting up the lights, a natural Christmas decorator! 

I'm embarrassed to say we spent way too much time here at City Creek Mall in downtown Salt Lake.  We do not have great shopping available to us in Williamsburg, outside of the outlets, so we lived it up at Fashion Place and City Creek.

She loves her Gigi.

All Solana wanted was a snowman.  She repeated that for weeks counting down to Christmas.  (Adam: "Solana, what do you want for Christmas?"  Solana: "A snowman!" (Pronounced: do-man)).  So on Christmas Eve it snowed and we finally headed out to make that snowman.  She loved every moment, and it was also Adam's first time making a snowman as well, so we were all very excited. 

The final result: She of course named him Frosty.  Adam said it was harder than he thought it would be, but when the snow is so fluffy, it does make it difficult to shape a snowman, in case you're wondering.