Well, here's last winter's photos and video clips. We started the winter off with a ski trip to Red Lodge the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, they already had enough snow. Annisia did very well her first days back on the skis. She started skiing Spring 2010, but only got in probably 6 hours before the end of the season. So we were impressed with her skiing. We did sign her up for a group lesson right off, and she did well. In her words, "It was easy." Succinct. That's my girl.
Then, after our Special Meetings in early December, we geared up for Christmas. I had the kids buy each other something this year so they know it's not just about receiving, but also about giving. They liked the gifts they received from each other. Kayla was home and stayed with us a couple of nights which was fun. The kids enjoy having her here too. Michael bought me skis! They are beautiful. I got myself a helmet last year also. We enjoyed Christmas Day with Michael's family at the ranch.
Then Dawnita, a friend and former roommate of Leilani and I, came from CA, via ID, where she rode with Kristi, a friend she played BB with at Clark College in Vancouver, WA. (Do you think I could fit a few more abbreviations in that sentence? Let's try...), and we all met in Bozeman, MT, for some skiing and R&R for the wk between C'Mas and New Years. ;-) We met up on a Tuesday eve, skied Wednesday, it got super cold Thursday (like 0 at the base and -9 at the top of the mt!) so only the diehards, (ie. Bret, Michael and Kristi) skied, and Dawnita, the kids and I hung out at the hotel and did a little shopping and got Starbucks. Well, I got Starbucks...while I tried to recover from my accident with the snowboarder the day before. Yup. Sure glad I got a helmet last year.
Then we all parted ways Friday, New Year's Eve. We drove home where Leilani had camped out while we were gone, had some chill time, got the kids to bed, then Michael noticed the generator wasn't kicking on in the mountain home the guys had just built. He did the solar system for the home and was keeping watch on it remotely through the winter. It was blizzarding, about 8:30pm, and he was worried because the family was up there and were using a lot of power. So he sent an email of what they needed to do hoping they'd get it before the power went out. Then he called Bret and they geared up to go up there. Now, this place is off the road, no paving through the winter kind of place. So they were prepared to hike in a mile through fairly deep snow, hauling in tools and supplies. Luckily, the man of the home got the email, they got the generator going, met Michael and Bret at the road, and all was well. But what a way to ring in the new year!! What did Leilani and I do while Michael was gone? Besides me worry because I didn't know any of the good things that were happening?! Well, Leilani said, "Do you want to play Farkle?" and I said, "We don't have it." and she said, "I wonder if there's an app for that?" and there was! So we played Farkle! on the iPod...Whee!
The pics of the kids at Gramma and Papa's are from one Saturday we decided to go sledding out there. Unfortunately, it was getting warm, so the snow was sticky. But the kids tried. Jonathan was funny, standing on the sled and riding it down like a snowboard. Michael brought his snowboard along and gave the kids a ride. Fun winter times!
