Cabin with the "other" Kettles

Saturday we went up to the cabin with Nick's parents and Nick's cousin's cousin (Steve) and two of his kids (Elizabeth (8) and Jared (4 - he and Boston are about 2 months apart)) - we missed Miriam and Audrey and hope they can join us next time.  Miriam is an accountant and it's that time of year ... lots of work and no play until after April 15th.  (Speaking of ... I really need to call and make our appointment - always dread trying to get our business taxes all put together with expenses, receipts, etc - such a hassle but that's another conversation).  

It was a really fun day at the cabin seeing that it was the real first snow storm up to the cabin that dumped a ton of powder to play around in.  We got up there around 1 or so and played on the sledding hill first and then on the swingset and zipline.  Then we went in and had lunch.  I have to get Boston out at first or else he just begs to stay in the cabin and drink hot chocolate and watch movies!  This time he played a good two hours outside before asking to go in so he must have been having fun.  We were exhausted from going up and down the sled hill that we finally piled everyone and their sleds in the back of the pull sled and pulled them up the hill and turned around and did it again and again and again.  I could go for hours like that without having to haul myself, the sled, and at least one kid up the hill over and over :)  We went in for some sandwiches and a break.  Brad and Kathy left early while Steve and Nick took the sleds out (got stuck about 5 times) and had to pull themselves out of the powder but said it was a blast.  I stayed inside the cabin with the kids and worked on my primary lesson while they were watching movies and making each other laugh.  It is so nice to be able to go up to the cabin (just an hour away) and play for the day and come home.  We are glad we have so many friends that will join us up there for a day and/or night.  

As you can see from some of the pictures, Boston does not like to get snow in his face - we have on a neck gater and some sunglasses to keep him happy.  He doesn't like playing in the snow too much at this point in his life but at the end of the night when we were loading the sleds into the trailer, he started playing with Jared in big huge snow banks in the parking lot walking up them, sliding down them, and doing it over.  It was fun to see him having fun in the snow.  I put Easton in his carseat with a movie on while we were loading and he was fast asleep in about 2 minutes.  They sleep so well on days we play so hard!