Scenes of Winter

Doug and Regina

Snowshoeing with friends and dogs

Jim and Will and Burgers and Beer

Tailgate BBQ parties at the ski resort

March Morning Snow #1 (all taken in our yard)

March Morning Snow #2

March Morning Snow #3

March Morning Snow #4

Me & Ed (Hawaiian Day)

Volunteering at the ski resort with the Adaptive Sports Association

Stown

Volunteering at ASA


Winter brings so many days of activities it's hard to find the time to take pictures or post new blog stories. Those of you who follow us know that every year we fall of the map until the snow starts to melt. So I hope you enjoyed the brief recap of the last few months.

LOVE TO ALL.

Holidaze...

December always seems to go so fast. It is such a busy time at work with long hours and late nights and the shorter daylight hours don't help. However, I am thankful for all that December brings - good cheer, visits from family, dinner parties, etc.

Doug helped get us in the Christmas spirit, as Aspen watched with a bit of worry fearful she was next for the dreaded antlers.

Grandma Brandon and Stown decorated our small Christmas "bush". Perhaps I should have told them the ornaments were not edible.

Snug and warm in his new "Yooper" hat,
Stown was ready to settle in for a long winter's nap.

Grandpops and Willy

Of course it wouldn't be Christmas without time spent on the slopes.

Grandma looking stylish in all her toasty warm layers.

Stown hanging and catching a break while the others catch up.

My In-Laws come every year for a week at Christmas time. We eat, laugh, ski and play games. I look forward to this week every year. I guess we all had such a great time that we forgot to take many pictures.

May your Family Time be well spent!!

Where Have We Been?!

Well, the snow is starting to melt and we are coming back to reality. The question remains... Where have we been for the past few months?! March brought a visit from Stown to celebrate his 13th birthday! (Whoa! I'm the mother of a teenager!) His birthday is in February, however we celebrated with him in March. We flew him to Durango on a Wednesday night and he stayed until Sunday. Jim and I both took vacation while he was here. No work and all play made for a great time. We spent three days on the slopes together. After all the eating out and snowboarding at high altitude, Stown returned to California to rest and catch up in school.
Between work and sleep, Jim and I spend every Sunday together on the slopes. Usually, we are tearing down the mountain creating high speed havoc and on occasion stopping in the trees for a snack break. On my other day off (if I get one), I spend it volunteering with the Adaptive Sports Center teaching skiing to those with disabilities.

On Jim's other day off, he can be found with his best friend Will throwing smooth tricks and mad style across the slopes. If you ever catch a glimpse of these two flying down the mountain together, stop and stare! They weave in and out so close together that they look like the Blue Angels on snowboards. I have to admit that sometimes when they click boards and bump off each other but continue like nothing happened it makes me a bit nervous. Yet, knowing that they both have crazy skills, I know they can pull it off with flair.

Stown isn't the only birthday in February. Aspen (on the left) turned 3 and Doug (on the right) turned 1. We took them in for a birthday weigh in at the vet and Doug topped the scales at 90 lbs!! He's a big boy full of muscle. Aspen, however, got put on a diet because her lard butt was 76lbs... almost 20lbs heavier than last summer when she got fixed. I suppose getting a puppy, my job change (longer hours) and shorter days in the winter didn't help. The good news is that the days are getting longer which means more hikes, we've cut back on her food and at the 30 day check in she had lost over 3 lbs. The vet was happy with her progress.

(Not the best picture, but trying to get these two to both sit still is not easy.)

Last but not least... Pablo!

We love entertaining friends for dinner - or having entertaining friends for dinner!

Pablo is quite the character. Here he's making his famous mushrooms and sporting a very flattering apron. What a figure, Pablo!!

Well, that's the gist of why we haven't returned phone calls, emails or letters.
We can't help that when the ski season starts we disappear.
If anything was truly important, I figure people will call twice or leave a message.
We love our family and friends and those of you that love us understand.
As the season comes to close, we will be coming back to the reality of emails and phones.

But not for too long...'cause as the roads and trails dry out - motorcycles, mountain bikes and running shoes will find their way out of the shed!!

Love to all and may you find your happiness outside!!