Coming Soon....

Brains!

My boys are some smart little cookies.  Sure they are still boys and can be really annoying and smelly, but they have some good book smarts.  And while their friends have showed a little interest in girls, my boys have remained more interested in ESPN and haven't seemed to notice much about girls, at all.  Except Tyler.

A couple of weeks ago the boys came home from school saying they had seen Tyler with a library book about brains.  They thought it was silly, so I asked Tyler why he picked a book about brains.  He said, "because I like to show the girls because they get grossed out."

And then, just today he told me a secret about a girl in kindergarten and he did not want me to tell his "bruders".  He said I couldn't tell anyone, not even Grandma.  I am not really sure what I am in for with this kid.  Let's hope he learns to use his brain!

My Legs Are Claustrophobic

Yesterday was pretty warm.  Warm enough that I put on a pair of shorts and my legs rejoiced at the freedom!  My kids have been wearing shorts on and off for a couple of weeks.  It really isn't that warm, but maybe their legs are claustrophobic too because I couldn't bear the thought of putting on jeans today.  Shorts, skirts, capris, anything but pants!  It is not really warm today, but my legs need some fresh air, I can't wait for summer!

Pictures From My Cell Phone

David hurt his eye sledding last year.  He doesn't know what he hit because he closed his eyes:)

Our dinner table at Christmas time....

Driving to Zion

Ethan at the school spelling bee

The Manti Temple the day I went through with my sister

Tyler in his 3D glasses

Me hanging out at the hotel in London waiting for my room to be ready, enjoying a bottle of water

David and Jacob trying to do laundry

The End of a Really Good Chapter

There is a movie out there right not called Born to Be Wild.  And I really wanted to see it.  But Kirk didn't want to, the tickets were expensive (3D and IMAX), and my older boys weren't interested either.  I said, "Fine, I'll take Tyler during the day and we will go to the movie!"  And that is exactly what we did.  It was a lot of fun, Tyler's first 3D movie.  It was fun to see him reach out for things and jump back once in awhile.  He sat at the edge of his seat and asked questions during the whole movie.  It is a short film, less than an hour, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  As we walked into the theater I got thinking about how much I am going to miss having Tyler around during the day.  Soon he will be in first grade and then I won't have any kids at home to use as excuses to do kid like things.  Who will go on picnics with me on warm days?  What about silly movies that I want to see?  I remember dragging all my kids to high school musical 3 just because I wanted to see it:)  What if I want french fries from McDonalds and there are no kids at home who "need" happy meals?  It will be an adjustment, but I thought of one idea.  It was great to have a little "date" with Tyler yesterday and it would be great for each of my kids to have that experience, so I am just going to check them out one at a time while I can.  Good grief, by twins are almost too cool to be with me at their age and I know it is going to get worse.  I have been busy with babies at home for just over 10 years.  Next year I will be entering a new stage of motherhood because kindergarten doesn't really count for anything in my book.  It was easy to give up diapers, bottles, formula, high chairs, baby food, pacifiers, etc, but this is harder.  I am officially going to be an empty nester for more than half of my day.  Now what?

The Horse/Grandkid Whisperer

That is my dad with his pets.  He loves animals a lot.  Especially dogs and horses.  When my dad is around, we are dead to Reggie.  He wants nothing to do with us.  Sometimes he will obey us, but NEVER when my dad is around.  My dad has the same draw when it comes to the grandkids.  He always has one with him on the riding lawn mower, the tractor, in the garden, or on his lap eating (you never know what he will feed them, he seems to know when they want ice cream, even if they are only a couple months old).  When we were home for Kaitlin's farewell, it was freezing cold and snowing on and off, but he still went over to his field and saddled up a horse for the kids to ride.  I am so glad for the fun times he makes for all the kids.  

Weekend Wrap

We had a great weekend that kind of started on Thursday.  We went out for sushi with my brother and his date.  It has been awhile since we had sushi and it was yummy!  We have found one roll we like so much that we order 2 of them and it still does not disappoint.  Friday night we went to the temple.  I love that I can leave my house at about 5:25 and make the 5:45 session, it's awesome!

Saturday we finished painting a bedroom downstairs.  We are getting ready to re-arrange the kids and all their stuff.  Since it snowed big huge flakes all weekend, it was nice having an indoor project.  Kirk was rolling and I was touching up with a paint brush.  He had to leave for an appointment and passed the roller to me for the last little section.  So I finished up and then I couldn't stop.  I painted the bathroom and kept going down the hall and then we did the baseboards later that day.  Painting gets old really quick, but it is fun for a minute and there is nothing better than a fresh coat of paint.

Did you know that my new favorite movie is You've Got Mail.  Of course I saw it years ago, but it was on tv all weekend and I sat and watched it.  It was so enjoyable!  I don't remember the last time I saw a chick flick and liked it that much.  So after watching that, I was feeling the love for my sweet husband.  Besides doing a little painting this weekend, he also tried to fix an electrical problem in our laundry room.  We have a crazy outlet in there that only works when it wants to.  Just when he got it fixed, another problem occurred with the breaker box downstairs.  No big deal we thought.  Until I tried to dry my hair on Sunday morning and realized that the little switch that was "broken" was connected to every single outlet in every bathroom!  He suggested I could dry my hair in the kitchen and see my reflexion in the microwave, gross!  I think he was kidding.  Anyway, we figured it out.  Good thing church is at 1:00!

Sunday night we watched Tangled as a family.  We turned up the fireplace and all cuddled on the couch.  I love my boys and I'm so glad that they still like to cuddle with their mom and dad.  Tyler has been begging Kirk to watch Tangled ever since he got home from London.  It seemed like he was gone for a month that week.  It was so bad in fact that when he got home and we realized how many frequent flier miles and marriott points he had, we decided we must take advantage.  So next week the 2 of us are going to Hawaii!  It has been a long time since we have gone without kids.  I really wanted to go to England for the big wedding, but no one else seemed to express any interest in that and Kirk isn't ready to head back over there, especially when Hawaii is on the table.

Which brings me to my last thought.  If I had to describe myself, I might say I am a pessimist.  Kirk has always been the optimist.  You would not believe all the things I have heard about different possible scenarios and outcomes!  He is a dreamer and I love it.  But a funny thing has started to happen.  I think I am becoming more of an optimist.  I can't tell you how many times in the past 2 years I have thought or vocalized things that have actually come true.  I am learning the power of my own thinking and it is powerful!  And there are no limits!  I mentioned this to Kirk and gave him some examples.  He gave me some ideas of more things to think about:)  But seriously, I can't believe the results!

Oh and one more thing.  I am grateful for the spirit.  Last night I was saying my prayers.  And let me tell you, it was one of those hurry and pray and get to bed prayers.  One that I am not proud of.  But as soon as I was done, I thought, "Did we shut the garage door?"  So I got up and checked, sure enough, it was open.  I know it was the spirit.  And it is a good lesson to me to always be obedient even when I am not really in the mood.  I am grateful for all of my blessings.  Every time that Kirk travels, he always comes home safely and things at home are taken care of.  And I know these things to do not happen just by luck or chance.  I know we are being blessed and watched out for, because there are a gazillion things that could go wrong.

My Sister Went to the MTC

Things have changed a lot since I went on a mission, now you just get dropped off at the curb!  So instead of sitting in your church clothes for an hour or so, listening to speakers, and bawling your eyes out, they made it a little better.  We met for breakfast and didn't even have to wear church clothes!  We said our goodbyes in the parking lot and she was off-to the mall, to get a few more things and then to the MTC.  I am jealous of the experiences that await her.  I truly LOVED the MTC.  I loved the spirit, the happiness, the learning, the schedule, the temple across the street, my teachers, my district, etc.  I know she is having a great time and I can't wait to hear about it.  In the meantime my sister said I could blog for her while she is gone!  I am sure she is going to be regretting that.  I am grateful she is serving a mission and for the example she is to my boys.  They love her and will miss her too. 

Listening to General Conference is Kind of Like a New Year, Only Better

Is it just me or do you all have new goals and priorities?  I loved listening to conference this weekend and thought a lot about some changes that I can make.  The first one is kind of obvious, but I think I can do a better job at it, and that is to simply put the Lord and his work as my number one priority.  I know that if I continually put Him at the top of my list, the rest will fall into order.  I know I spend too much time worrying about things that I don't need to worry about.

Another thing I need to work on is seeking out opportunities to serve.  I am sure there are a lot of people around me that need help.  But we all try so hard to be perfect sometimes it is hard to know how to help.  I need to make more of an effort in my prayers so that I will be in tune and aware of needs around me.

There was a lot said about marriage during conference as well.  I do not have a perfect marriage, but I am so grateful for the spouse that I have and how good he is to me.  I need to be more grateful for all the goodness in my marriage.  It is hard to have him traveling so much.  I wish I was stronger and could handle it better, but I think if I focus on all the good that we have, it will help.

My last area of improvement is my family.  They are growing up so fast and there are so many things I feel like I have not done.  We read scriptures and we pray and we have family home evening, but they sleep in church and can't sit through conference without fighting and wrestling.  They are knowledgeable, but that has not yet translated into action.  I look forward to studying L. Tom Perry's talk when it comes out in the Ensign.  We have lots of improvement to be done.

And now off of the subject of conference and back to other things that have been weighing me down.  I have been working out for a couple of years.  I like going to the gym and I like breaking a sweat and mostly I like the chats with friends.  If you saw me in real life you might expect me to look better after reading that, but I also like to eat.  I made a couple of trips downtown recently and saw a billboard with a woman that says "All I want for Christmas is my two front..." with a plastic surgeon's phone number.  There was also another one that talked about "re-shaping" Utah.  And they just make me a little sick to my stomach.  Because I do go to the gym and have friends who like to work out, I am always hearing about some kind of diet or how this person only eats that and she looks amazing and so on.  And I have seen friends who question their worth because of their bodies and consider changing them.  And it all bothers me a little.  I am not going to judge anyone for what they do or don't do, but as I was contemplating all of this and conference while I was running this morning, a quote kept coming to mind from Sister Hinckley.  And what she says helps me put it all in perspective...

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

So here is to a new year and all my resolutions!  I hope they last at least until next conference.  

Inside My Head

Westminster Abbey 

I ran 3 miles yesterday!  I know that is not much, but seriously, my legs hurt so bad after surgery, I wondered if I would ever run again.  But I did and my legs feel just fine.  Maybe someday I will be able to wear shorts again....can't wait for all the bruising and marks to go away.

My sister is leaving this week.  I am so excited for her to serve a mission, but I am sad that she won't be in our home anymore.  We have already experienced her moving out once and it was sad, so I know what I am in for.  She helps with the dishes and I HATE dishes.  So that makes it even harder.  My boys adore her and will miss having her around too.  

Oh how I wish I could be in London next month.  I keep seeing all of this coverage for the upcoming wedding and I want to be there!  I think it would be so much fun to be a spectator on the street and watch the procession of horses and the new couple go by.  And I would love to get one of those tacky plates or mugs with their picture on it.  I don't know what I would do with it, but I kind of want one.  Mostly I just want to be in London for their big day. 

Last week I got a bad case of cabin fever and had to flee the area.  We went south in hopes of blue skies and sunshine, but we were disappointed.  Of course it was a great trip, we just wanted a little more warmth.  The weekend ended in Richfield where we went to my home ward.  I think I grew up in the best ward ever.  I love going back there and seeing so many familiar faces.  Most of the same people are still there.  I love how everyone has just stayed put.  And they are wonderful people who always greet you with a smile and a hug.  So over all it was a fun weekend.  

Before I got married I am not sure I even knew what March Madness was, but ever since I married Kirk, it has been a part of our lives.  I mostly remember the year the twins were born.  We were in the hospital with 2 brand new babies and a clip board with all of our brackets.  Now we are all fancy and online, but I remember when we used to fill them out by hand.  I know nothing about the teams, but I always fill out a bracket.  Sometimes I get lucky.  So far this year I have been really lucky.  Go BYU!  

Here's To More Happy Endings!

Last night I settled in to watch some reality tv.  I know it is not really real, but they do such a good job at making you believe that it is, and I like to believe.  It is a fun escape.  I always go to bed so happily married!  And Tuesday's workouts always have lots of conversation.  But last night when it was all over, I just wasn't feeling it.  I found myself really sucked into this season, but I still couldn't get over the ending.  Funny thing about it is that really, Emily is so realistic!  But I just wanted them to be in love and say they were getting married for the cameras.  I would have felt better about that.  We all know they will break up in a couple of months anyways, right?  Turns out I like happy endings.  I like them a lot.  And I don't really like the alternative.  But I think that is ok as well because even though realistically everything won't have a fairy tale ending, we can make happy endings in our lives.  So I guess the bachelor has been a blessing in my life, just kidding.  But I am going to make more of an effort to have happy endings.  They just make everything better.  

Double Digits

The twins turned 10 on Sunday.  We had a fun weekend celebrating with lots of friends and family.

I love these little boys and can't believe that they are 10 years old.  They are great boys who despite all their goofing off, make me really happy.  I remember how excited I was when I found out I was pregnant.  I had wanted to be a mom my whole life and bringing them into the world made my dreams come true.  Happy Birthday silly boys!

Ten years old and they still love legos, yipee!

They had a little party with some friends, we went and saw Rango.  Don't waste your time or your money, it was a dumb movie.  

Looking Ahead

Did you get a chance to see Les Miserables last weekend?  It was on tv all weekend and on Monday as well.  It was part of a fundraiser event for public television so we recorded it.  At the end of the production they brought out the original cast and sang a few more songs, it was amazing!  It was fun to be able to show our kids.  Someday we will take them, but I don't think it would be worth my money, yet.  Les Mis is coming to my town later this year and I just got my tickets.  I can't wait!

March Makeovers (Warning! This post contains graphic pictures)

I grew up going to boutiques and fabric stores with my mom.  And then I helped paint and stuff things that she had made for her boutique.  You would think I would have a vast knowledge about all things decorative for my house, but I don't.  I think it sort of had the opposite effect where I mostly have never really cared to decorate my house.  I appreciate good design and I admire the homes of friends and family, I just haven't ever done anything myself.  Funny story I just thought of...last time we were in Rockville we played Taboo with Parker and Chelsey.  The word was Feng Shui.  It was Kirk's turn to give me clues so that I would guess the word.  He starts by telling my I probably don't know this guy because he doesn't know him either (I am really bad at names and history), then he gets me to say fang and miraculously I guessed feng shui!  Anyway, my house has never really looked like it was pulled together.  I have needed lamps for my front room for about 9 years now.  One day while at hobby lobby for pine wood derby supplies (because I don't usually go there unless my mom sends me to get something for her or I need a picture frame) I bought a lamp.  When I got home I decided it wasn't what I wanted and had to take it back.  But it got the wheels turning about finally decorating my home.  I then went to pier one to look around for a lamp, I came home with a topiary.  But on the way home, I decided it was time to get serious.  I came home, consulted with my husband, and even though he was very concerned about our bank account, he agreed to let me hire a designer.  So far the results have been wonderful!  Expensive, but wonderful!  For the first time our house feels like a home and somewhat put together.  There is still work to be done and it will be awhile before I get curtains, but I am loving it!

I will post more pictures as soon as I take them! 

And now for the graphic part.  Last week I had my legs operated on.  In fact tomorrow it will have been one week exactly.  Ever since my last pregnancy I have had terrible varicose veins.  They are pretty bad, but they have become a part of me.  I had one surgery a couple years ago that relieved a lot of my pain, but the big ropey veins have still been there.  This summer after a lake powell trip, my brother kindly offered to photo shop a pic of me and take out the vein.  What vein?  I forgot it was there I am just so used to it.  Anyway, the veins are gone!  For reals!  And I am not really sure it was worth it.  We will see how my legs looks if they ever get back to normal.  You may never read this blog again after you see the next picture, sorry.  

Trying to Figure Out Life

 Does he look ready for Chinese or what?  Our school just started a Chinese Immersion program.  Tyler will be my first and only child eligible to participate.  I am pretty sure I am going to try for it, but once in awhile I start to doubt myself.  My other boys are doing just fine, so why should I switch it up?  Or why should he do it?  Chinese is not really useful at his age, or why should he not do it?  I don't know the answers.  

If you do, I would love to hear about them. 

One time I came into the kitchen and saw this, I thought it was hilarious.  He is probably playing angry birds, I am not sure.  Most of the time he makes me happy.  But last week when he was gone, one day I got really mad when I had to fix the washer by myself and couldn't figure out the right tools.  I was thinking, "dumb husband just needs to come home."  I might have even said it under my breath.  What is the use of being married when I have to do everything myself?  But that was Satan talking to me.  I love my husband a lot and when I said my prayers that night I told my Heavenly Father how grateful I was to have him and while it was hard to have him away, I was glad there was an end in sight and that I didn't have to be a single mom forever.  And then I had a lot of compassion for single mothers.  Now he is gone again.  So far, no throw up, no broken appliances, and no pinewood derbys.  We are doing just fine.  Until yesterday when he was in London and told me how hard it was to be there without me.  He talked about riding the tube and our favorite English word "picadilly,"  then I was sad and wanted to be there with him.  If only it were realistic for us all to join him.  I can't wait to take my boys to London someday and ride the tube, see the museums, and walk around the sights.  I guess that means Kirk will have to keep working because it will cost a lot of money.  

The last thing I can't figure out is why is it so hard to lose weight?  I think Satan talks a lot to us (women) concerning this.  The world obviously puts pressure on us to look a certain way.  We don't have to listen or adhere to what the world says, but we do it to ourselves.  Or at least I do it myself.  Some people have great genes and that is just it, the rest of us can't have them and it stinks.  I am fairly happy about the way that I look.  I would love to be thinner, prettier, etc, but I am learning to be happy with what I've got.  But the diet and work out talks are all around me.  I see it affecting women around me and it bothers me.  I think the world would be a lot better place if we could love ourselves and quit comparing.  The same goes for blogging.  Does anyone else wonder how there are so many "perfect" women out there who shop at Anthropologie, are a size 0, a professional writer, and photographer.  Sometimes I get annoyed.     

Good News/Bad News

Good News-we had in-n-out for dinner.  David wanted a double double, but I told him not until he was taller than me.
Bad News-David later left his burger in the hallway in the form of throw up, so glad he didn't get a double double


Good News-the carpets are super clean, I have been meaning to shampoo them
Bad News-I really hate cleaning up throw up and I didn't want to clean carpets in the middle of the night


Good News-I had a great Valentines Day despite Kirk being gone.  I went on a date with my kids.  We went and saw Gnomeo and Juliet and had heart shaped pizza for dinner, it really was a lot of fun
Bad News-I really missed Kirk tonight when I had to do all the clean up myself


Good News-I am not going to the gym tomorrow and can't wait to sleep in.
Bad News-It is 1:13 am.  So much for catching up on my sleep

Wordy Weekend

First of all, it is Valentines Day and my husband is working out of town.  That is a bummer, but it seems to happen to us a lot.  The first Valentines Day we celebrated together was back in high school.  My best friend Kim and I made dinner for Kirk and his friend.  We had heart shaped pasta and red jello cut with heart shaped cookie cutters.  I don't remember the rest, but I am sure we had dessert and something else.  We ate in my camping trailer, it was fun. They boys teased us forever about the "Utah" shaped jello.  The hearts didn't turn out so well.  Then Kirk went on a mission, then I decided to go on a mission and it had been a long time since we had been together for Valentines Day.  So one night before my mission he surprised me.  He made me dinner, well actually I am sure it was his mom, and we ate it in his trailer.  It was fun night.  Even though that wasn't really Valentines Day, I still remember it as being Valentines Day.  The next one we spent together was after we were married for just a couple of months.  I don't remember it.  I don't really remember any of the others either, I guess that is kind of sad.  But we grew up and moved to the city where going out is like the last thing you would want to do on the 14th and we don't a camping trailer, and I guess we aren't that creative anymore or more likely we are too tired to be creative.  I will remember this year though.  I didn't get anything for Kirk.  I knew he would be gone and I figured, oh well.  We planned to go out for a yummy dinner Saturday night, but guess what, apparently that is when the rest of the world was trying to celebrate and we ended up at Cafe Rio, which made us both happy anyways.  But just before we left, Kirk surprised me with a gift.

He had gone and bought this perfume for me.  Not only was I really excited because I love it, but I couldn't believe he remembered and then picked out the exact scent that I liked as well.  You see Jo Malone has a lot of scents.  When we were in London back in November I found her scents and was mesmerized and Kirk wasn't even with me.  They were all so yummy.  I picked out a few favorites.  More recently Kaitlin and I were at the Mac counter in Nordstrom and found ourselves sampling the yummy scents again and picking up a few samples, which is my favorite thing to do at department store perfume counters.  They are great for traveling and to try things out before you buy.  Anyway, I had found a new favorite and it was the Nectarine Blossom and Honey scent.  I didn't even mention this outing to Kirk.  When he gave me the gift, I figured Kaitlin must had told him about it, but she did not, he did it all on his own and picked out the exact same one that I would have.  Yes, he is a wonderful husband and I am so lucky and very undeserving this year.  I especially felt this as I had to listen to my family (siblings and mom) recount all my old boyfriends and dating experiences for the millionth time this weekend.  Did anybody else in my family ever date?  Can we please talk about them?  I should have planned better and got him something.  Any good ideas?

Sunday we had a great lesson in Relief Society about sacrifice.  The question was asked, "What sacrifices do you make?"  I had a hard time thinking of one.  In reality I guess I make a lot of sacrifices, but so many of them are simply habits, that they don't really feel like a sacrifice.  As I thought about this throughout the lesson, I realized I need to be better and saw there was a lot of room for improvement in my life.  Good grief I have been blessed with a lot, my life seems a little too easy at times.  And I think it is a huge problem.  I worry that in our world of instant gratification we will continue to see a lack of sacrifice.  Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven-I need to think of that more often.  

To top off the weekend, the grammys were on tv last night.  I love listening to music.  It cements memories for me and is the background for good times.  But the people who make that music are nut jobs.  I watched about 1 minute of eminem and rhianna sing a song that I listened to last summer.  They introduced eminem as having already won 2 awards, really?  Surely it couldn't be for his music.  The song was unrecognizable, probably a new fancy version, and then most of eminem's lyrics were silent because they were not appropriate.  And we won 2 awards, for reals?  I had to change the channel, it was too much.  So we channel surfed for awhile and then tuned back in near the end.  It was eminem accepting another award.  I couldn't believe it.  Who decides that stuff anyways?     

Curtains? Just Maybe

Last year I repainted the part of my house where I spend all of my time, the kitchen and family room.  I went from warm and intense colors to cool and light colors.  It was a big change and it has inspired me to get some help with decorating.  

This is my kitchen color, it is much more blue in real life.

This is the color in my family room.  The rooms are connected.

So for the first time since we have lived here, I am looking to get some curtains.  I am excited and think it will brighten and warm up my spaces.  Today I am leaning towards the green...it might be different tomorrow.

My Little Boys

My boys are big and tough and smelly and know everything there is to know about sports, but really they are just little boys in bodies that are starting to grow.  And I am so glad they are still little inside.  I love to see the twins (especially) get out their legos and play on the floor.  I know these days are limited, but I don't want to forget them.  I don't want them to grow up too fast!

While they were off track, there were lots of sleep overs too:)

Route 66

Maybe it's because my husband has been talking about it for over a year, maybe it's because we have been listening to the Beatles this week on the way to school, maybe it's because my kids are older, but I have got the itch to take my kids skiing, I've got it real bad.  When I was a teenager, I got skis for Christmas and even had a season pass.  We went to Elk Meadows to ski.  Most of the trails, maybe all of them, had the same names as the Beatle's songs.  There was one hill called Route 66 that I used to love to ski down.  It was a big steep hill that was groomed, I was never any good at moguls.  When you were at the top, you couldn't see the bottom.  It always scared me a little, but I always loved it.  And it always felt good to be at the bottom and look up at what I came down.  Then we would zoom down the trail to the lift again.  I used to love to ski and I went enough that I could ski most anything.  I am afraid it would be very different today.  I haven't been skiing since I had kids, that was over 10 years ago.  And I am sure I would not be so brave as I used to be, but I still want to go.  My twins are almost 10 years old and have never been.  It seems like the people who ski around here start a lot earlier than that.  And now I have 4 kids and I am thinking it might be nearly impossible to take them all at once.  I found a great little deal at Park City Mountain for first timers.  Now we just need to get basketball over with and set a date!  Any advice for taking kids skiing?