snow down 2016

Durango does a week of snow down each year. Snowdown is an event that started 38 years ago with the intent to do something fun in the winter during the big snow month. Each year is a theme and this year was the 80's.. my kind of theme. There is a parade each year but I felt it was always a little too raunchy for lilja. Usually it is a lot of drunken people and skimpy clothes. However this year they advertised the parade as being kid friendly plus with the fun theme I decided to take lilja . Aran would not be able to make the parade with a time crunch .

Lilja was so excited .. plus she got to sit on my friend Matt ' s shoulders 

The parade is at night and all the floats are covered in lights , add so great 80's music and everyone dancing 

Not sure how long I can still put her on my shoulders 

There were ghost busters, Madonna michael Jackson and pacmans.  Great floats 

It w a aran's birthdsy and his parents got us a gift certificate to a great sushi restaurant . After two salmon rolls, edemame and salad ,they give you cotton candy for dessert .. yep, lilja ate it all !! Her favorite !! 

She also got to try some fish eggs and really liked them 

We got lilja a new passport as lilja and I are going to visit my parents for their 50th anniversary next month .. this was her first passport photo 

We had our second parent/ teacher conference this Friday. Well, lilja is doing great in class. She is reading at first grade level, knows all her numbers, letters, shapes etc.. the teacher told us she was going to call us to not come in, because there was nothing to discuss . However, lilja does have a tendency to get distracted which we think is just being bored. ( lilja's own words) well our motto is, if you are bored go find something to do , in this case ask your teacher if there is something else she can do. I guess there was a math activity she had to do; count the blocks and write the number of.blocks down.. lilja wrote 16 blocks under all of them and told the teacher she just did not want to do the activity so she write 16 on all of them.. she luckily did not get away with that.. from Mrs basey and from us..  We talked about the teachers for first grade and which ones would be good for lilja.. Mrs basey said:" I will choose a teacher that is sweet, soft spoken and very artsy .. yep, it seems she got lilja pegged .

Monday fun

instrument discovery day

Lilja has had a love for classical music since she was very little . She listens to flute music when she goes to bed and will put classical music on when we are playing at home . So when there was a instrument discovery day at our concert hall, we did not hesitate to take her, eventhough she was one of the youngest. It was a great morning . They showed the kids what each instrument was and then each child got a small one-on-onr lesson with a teacher and the instruments . Lilja got to learn about a piano, flute, drums, bass, tuba, clarinet , violin and cello. She even was in a little mini class for piano lesson.

The bass was a very huge instrument for such a tiny kid, but she said she lived the sound 

Drums she felt were too loud, but she did like the congas 

She wanted to do the biggest instrument and even made some sound 

 

Trying so gard. I actually think this one was one of the best lessons . Lilja liked the tuba 

We were laughing at her feet off the ground .. cello would not be in her future .

Violin also not so much 

Great teacher though 

She really wants to learn the flute, but was very dissapointed that she could not make the sound . 

The clarinet of all instruments was her best lesdon. She made huge sound and even surprised the teacher .

Listening to the speaker , a little nervous about the unknown .. holding daddy's hand 

The piano lesson was the best one. There were ten kids in the class and had a little mini lesson hoe to hold their fingers and use the keys 

What a great day and experience for lilja .
We did talk about the flute with some of the teachers and will wait until lilja is 8 . In the mean time we will listen and enjoy classical music all the time 

first real ballet class

Opa and oma gave lilja ballet classes for x-mas.. what an amazing gift !! She was so excited and could not sleep the night before . When we arrived she introduced herself : hi , I am Lilja, I am from a tribe ...so cute !! I was unfortunately not allowed in the class, but you could see outside. They went right into some techniques of her arms and she had to introduce herself and show the teacher she knew what a plie was. She did great ! Then they did more fun dancing with scarves stuff, then back into technique . The teacher seemed really good with about 15 6 year Olds .. lilja wished it was balket day every day . I hope she will love it just like I did for 15 years !!

The scarf dance 

Waiting for directions .. is she looking big to you ??

She had to show the teacher that she knew first position with her feet and a plie .. she remembered !! 

A little nervous .. but oh so excited 

Oh yes, there is the nervous smile ;))

Love this photo.. a little Ballerina  is hidden in there 

so much snow 2

so much snow

Well, I think the big storm is on his way out .. and wow, it left a lot of snow !! Lilja is in heaven . We even had two snow days . Unfortunately Lilja woke up everyday at 6 am wondering if it was a snow day

She got stuck in the snow , yep stuck..

Smiling because of the snow .. best day everrrr!!

If that isn't the face of bliss I don't know what is 

Because of the snow day my friends had a dilemma with chikdcare, so two friends came over for the day . I had left my snowboots at work, so I watched the fun from our front window .. yes, that's how much snow we got!!

Sliding head first was lilja's favorite 

They  came in like this three times during the day 

Look at the dark sky, yes the second storm was on its way 

Thank you daddy... maggie was a happy dog !!

Still in deep snow they try and swing 

First day of the big storm !!

Silly girl

She definitely has fun

ski videos

Lilja wanted to go around the whole loop yesterday and she did !! It was so beautiful next to the lake and we really got some speed. So fun to see her loving what we love to do

ski videos

first part of the weekend

We are trying to get as much fun in as possible as lilja will start back at school again on Tuesday . We had to take care of jt on saturday and had a fun filled day .. bowlibg, playing pool and swimming .. yes all in one day ! Then we went skiing with some friends of ours and wow the competitive girl came out . She was showing off !

Jt was such a gentleman, setting up her bowling helper . After a while, lilja would say.. jt!!! It is my turn.. with other words .. set it up please ;))

So excited !!

Bowling , lilja's style 

I have know jt since he was born.. such a cool kid !and growing up beibg so sweet to Lilja !! 

Skiing with friends...well, this was the end of the longest ski trip .. all the way up the hill 

Lilja got a box from her birthmom jasmin and there were some very special things in it. This is a sparkly kuspuk made by jasmin ' s aunt in Anchorage Alaska . 

And some loveys!!some beautiful hand made jewelry , books and some beaded clips for her hair . Lilja really seems to appreciate beautiful handmade things and especially from Alaska . She loved each and everything .. thank you Martha and Jasmin!! 

And another kuspuk made by a friend of jasmin ' s mom from St Mary's Alaska. Lilja loved that she could put her hands in the pockets and feel the other hand . 

Two 6 year Olds competing to the top  

Bald eagle was watching the commotion 

This just made me smile .. 

My friend barb went dog walking with us .. lilja was styling !!

First time that lilja made breakfast .. "oma" eggs. Just the white part of the eggs like oma makes them  

And bacon ofcourse !!