Ice Skating

What do you do when Junuary hits the ski slopes?  Go ice skating!  This is the second time the boys have gone to High Camp at Squaw this month and tried ice skating.  I can't remember the last time I went ice skating, college maybe?    I wouldn't say any of us are any good, but it was fun to try something new and the views are amazing.

Happy Birthday Josh

The birthday crew (and Nora) at Alpine Meadows.  Josh turned 7 today and his toothless grin was smiling ear to ear as he spent the day telling us where he was going to ski and at the end of the day said his legs were a bit tired.  Happy Birthday Megan!  Josh dragged Grandpa over to F tree, took some laps on South Face and Sherwood Face, decided that now that he was 7 he needed to tick High Beaver off his list and after he managed to make it over the cornice and live to tell the tale he decided that "was the scariest thing I've ever done, I don't want to do that again."  I went looking for some early photos, click here to see the photos of Josh from his first 24 hours in this world.  Oh how times has gone (1st birthday, 2nd birthday, 3rd birthday, 4th birthday, 5th birthday, 6th birthday).  His favorite birthday present was his new bow and arrow and he's excited to put together his My Monopoly set and go ice skating at Squaw.  All in all I think he's a pretty happy kid and while Megan, Dan and I were slightly traumatized by Josh going down High Beaver, he held his calm under pressure (even with shaking legs).  He also decided that since it was his birthday he was going to get as many snuggles as he wants, so he asked for hugs all day.  Gotta love this little guy.   

The birthday Beaver run, at the top...  

December cheer

Happy holidays.  I'm not sure where the month has gone, but I know we've been doing something?  Josh lost his front tooth, love the toothless grin.  Dan returned from his trip to NZ (I should steal his phone and share the photos here).  I did a crazy giveaway on the Outside Inn's blog, below is the photo we staged for the winner's post.  We started ski season!  Oh the joy.  I'll admit our first day was not the smoothest, but we've since recovered our a-game and got our act a bit more together.   Photos from some sunny and not-so-sunny ski days. We celebrated family togetherness in Tahoe with Miles, Lisa, Peg, Mom, Dieter, Emme and us.  Love the vintage photo from a prior family trip to Tahoe (circa April 1982).  We've spent some time hanging out with Nora and despite what her parents think we're not at all phased by short periods of screaming.  We do feel bad that she gets the hiccups when she's been crying too hard, but nothing was permanent.  On a whole it's been a lovely month... the boys both declared this year's Christmas "the best ever,"  I like the photo of Josh and Dan playing with Josh's new toy, who do you think is more excited?   We enjoyed our walk to the Deer Creek Tribute Trail with David, Pam and Tavish and a meet up with Peg & Mom in the middle of Christmas.  And we're ready to ring in the new year, "only 6 more sleeps till my birthday" exclaims the youngest member of the family.  Merry Christmas.

November blessings

These two trouble makers....  this photo is an outtake from our Christmas card photo shoot with my friend Georgette.  I think Josh's expression says a lot.  I talk a lot about blog agendas and I often mention about how consistency is important.  And while I've been actively blogging on the family front for the longest, it's the blog I update the least, but my personal goal is twice a month (whereas the motel blog is a 2-3 time a week agenda).  So on the eve of the last day of the month here are a few random November tid bits...  

We're currently all missing Dan, who's in New Zealand.  He'll be back on Wednesday, but 2 weeks is a long time for the rest of us.  Josh keeps saying how he "really, really, really, really loves Dad" and loves him a lot and needs 10 snuggles a day to help him cope.  I'm currently suffering from the chronic over achiever syndrome.  Ben has had a few moments, but on a whole I'd say we're all coping.       

We went to Tahoe for Thanksgiving and got to hang out with Megan, Dan and the adorable Nora.  I took a new head shot for Megan.  Hopefully the family photos will work for their holiday card?

A photo of us on a family walk before Thanksgiving dinner.  

Playing the game of Life.

Reading "Dummies for Mine Craft" while walking through a parking lot.

And another teaser from our holiday photos....  Excited about what December brings...

Camping and Cabot Science Museum

We went for a final camping adventure for the year.  Thanks to the Clarkes for inviting us to join them at the Anthony Chabot Regional Park.  Before we went camping we spent the afternoon at the Cabot Space and Science Museum. 

Ben & Josh, fall colors

The tree in my mother's yard is at its peak fall color prime, so somehow I convinced the boys to take "only 3 photos" (laughing, because obviously I got in a few bonus shots).  We have used this same set up/shot for many Christmas cards (click here or here).  

Inn Town Campground

A photo of us from earlier this year taken by my friend Kat Alves.  The Inn Town Campground was approved for our use permit yesterday.  Here's a link to the Outside Inn blog post I wrote about it.  We have so much work ahead of us... but we're excited!!!!