Max didn't have school on Friday, instead we got to meet with his teacher to discuss how he was doing and than spent the rest of our day celebrating the start of Max's spring break. (Max's conference went great. He isn't graded yet but he's on task or ahead for the majority of the goals they have set for their students at the end of this school year. That's my boy!)

We did a few fun things for the day, including the family tradition of heading to the farm to help out as greenhouse season is upon us!

Naturally the kids got filthy while they helped us clean out a greenhouse, climbed on tractors and got into everything they could.

Uncle Jeff had some huge snowbanks for the kids to climb. Max had to lead me on an expedition to the top of Mount Jeffrey.

We also went to the gym where they got to do bouncy houses, made banana muffins (with pecans and butterscotch chips for a little something extra), and of course got some more sledding in. When Daddy got home the kids played some more with him while I took off to try out a new ski trail before the sunset. It was a great little escape.

I'm looking forward to our week together with no school interruptions. Spring break here we come!

We've been sledding a lot lately. I mean, with all that snow and the temperatures being in the lower 30's, it's been almost an everyday occurrence. So I finally pulled out my camera again to take photos instead of sledding with them.

Maya and Remi are constantly wrestling and they could care less if they get in the kids' way or not. This is worth documenting on my blog because I do love those crazy pups.

My boy, showing off his mad skillz!

My girl, crying, because she lost her sled down the hill.

My boy being told he is the "best brother ever" by his ever adoring sister as he gets it for her, holds it for her to get on,

and then pushes her down the hill.

Yup, she loves him!

And Mama loves her compassionate little man too!

Now we'll see how our sledding hill holds up to all this rain they're predicting for the weekend.

My mom points are soaring this week as I've had the patience to let the kids help me make dinner for a few nights now. Last night the kids helped make oven baked fish, my first attempt at this, and it went well! They took turns dipping the fish into the milk and bread crumbs.

Then they laid them out on the pans, ready to go into the oven.

Now, if I was going for blogging points I would have also taken a photo of the cooked fished, but I didn't, so you'll just have to trust me it was good. Max had 5 pieces!

Yesterday we got hit with more snow. Like 9 inches of it. See, here's my boot next to a spot I shoveled on my patio, it's deep!

So deep in fact that my Sunburst Orange Pearl Minivan got stuck - three times! Two of which was in my own driveway. Thankfully I have great neighbors with trucks and tow straps!

And that patio I spent well over an hour shoveling off? Yeah, the kids decided that today would be a good day to try out some mountain climbing. Do you see that snow falling down, back on to my shoveled patio?!

At least we've got a little more winter to enjoy before it all melts and turns my gravel driveway into mud. Spring is great and all, but only after everything has started to dry up!

This weekend Grandma, the kids and I made a visit down to the waterfalls. We've never seen it during the winter when most of the waterfall is frozen!

The kids had fun throwing snow into the river and Grandma kept a tight hold on our unstable one.

As for Max? Well she encouraged him to throw bigger and bigger pieces...right next to the river. Grandma!

I kid, we had fun, and Max was really enjoying his energy burn.

Now I just have to figure out how I can get out there to ski, the trails looked like so much fun!

Our neighbors moved out this week. It's sad to lose them but I know they're going to be really happy in their new home. During their move they asked if we'd keep their pet geckos over night which of course we said yes! The kids pretty much spent the whole time, right here.

The geckos pretty much spent the whole time, hiding under their rock.

And my kitchen became a zoo showcase as they had chairs on both sides of the island (you know, the middle of my kitchen) so they could see them from all angles.

Oh well, it was only for a short period and the kids sure did enjoy it! Thankfully, they haven't asked for some themselves. We don't need any pets right now.

OK, I have some old photos that I've been meaning to post from the last time it snowed. Chris plows our driveway for us and with every snow he's been coming over and loading the kids up in his truck so they can plow with him. Of course, they love it and this last snow fall I was able to snap some photos as the weather was warm and their windows were open!

Yes, I'm aware, I'm a terrible mother because I'm taking pictures while he's plowing our driveway with our kids not buckled into booster seats. And their windows are open too! I must just be asking for trouble! (Ha ha, beat you to it, now you can't judge me.)

As you can tell, they love every minute of it. And Max? Well he's just a professional now and explains how they move the snow every time he thinks of it. That pile over there? Well they had to go from this side and push it this way...

This winter has been a fun one, lots of snow giving us lots of things to do, but I'm ready for spring! Well, actually I'm not ready for the first part of spring with all the mud, Rory already has me dreading that part.