Family Ski Day

I've been waiting for this day for four years--our first day skiing as a family.   Felt every bit as good, maybe even better, than I had hoped.   It was lots of work skiing with kids and schlepping more gear, but was still so much fun.  As the kids get more confident with more time on the mountain, I know it'll just get better.  

And I bought my season pass today, which is something I've always wanted to do, but even as we were driving up today I was talking myself out of it.  Maybe I won't get up enough, maybe I won't like the ski resort, blah blah blah.  But I did it, and I'm so happy I did.  It's a great little resort, a gorgeous drive, and so close to our house it almost feels like driving up to Brighton for the day.   So close we can go up Wednesday after school.  

Amelia's first time on the lift.

Our skis.  Found these cute used froggie ones for Mia.

Soggy, exhausted, and happy.

Highlights

Madeline finished her homework tonight, and since I haven't finished mine (that @#$! slideshow/movie), I thought I'd use her essay instead to accompany a few photos from Sunriver. 

My Winter Vacation by Madeline Blackham

On my winter vacation I went to Sunriver. I stayed in a house with a one roomed upstairs with one bathroom, one closet, a balcony, and two bunkbeds (also a bottom bunk was a queen size). We were their with another family who names are Kristin, Nellie, Zoe, Cooper, and Mason.  At one point we whent to the outside mall. I got 2 bags of candy and that's it but that doesn't mean my trip wasn't totally AWESOME! And that's why I had a totaly fun winter vacation.

Games with Nelson's cousins on New Year's Eve

Sadie, the puppy.  I'm surprised Madeline forgot to mention her in the essay.  The girls played with her constantly.

Skiing in our circle after the bummer day at Mt. Bachelor.  The goggles were purely an accessory at this point. 

Kolby performing the soundtrack to Nellie's football games.

Kristin and Nellie with Shorty, the cute one, and Lucy, the retarded one.

All the kiddos playing Wii Sing It.  Except mine.  They're afraid of the microphone.   (Wonder where they got that?)

The ever-patient puppy Sadie with her captors, Mia and Mason

Mother Nature thinks she is quite the comedian

And she laughs at her own jokes.

Isn't that a laugh?  The mountain pass is shut down because of avalanche danger, and as of this morning, they still aren't saying when they'll reopen the resort.  Luckily, this landslide was on just one of the four ski areas at Summit where the kids are taking lessons and where I was planning to finally get my pass for the season today.  Not sure what this means for lessons this weekend, but I'm pretty sure it means I'm organizing my pantry today.

Hermit tendencies

I just think that making new friends is hard.  And kind of sucks.  And I wish I had my old friends here.

That's not to say that I'm not making friends.  I am.  I'm just not enjoying the process.  It feels like work.   And work sucks.

I'd much rather just stay in my house.

Pandora's Box

I'm trying to get back in the swing of things.  The usual January frenzy of organizing, decorating, and  cleaning has replaced the December frenzy of baking, wrapping, and shopping.  I'm trying to get a little movie together of the holidays, but I'm using iMovie for the first time and it's taking me longer than expected, especially since I'm busy organizing, decorating, and cleaning.

But I'm having a love affair with Pandora right now.   We bought decent speakers for the computer a while ago, so I turn on Pandora while I'm cleaning and I'm in heaven.  If you haven't discovered this website yet, you must.   I'm loving my Band of Horses station.  And Joe Purdy.  And Brandi Carlile.  Which is why Quick Mix is so awesome--it blends them all together.

Sunriver

We're having a super relaxing week in Sunriver, despite a crappy day skiing today--actually the worst weather I've ever skied in with winds up to 65 mph on top.  It was so bad they shut all the lifts down at noon (no refunds, of course).  But the kids absolutely loved ski school, even with 30 mph winds at the base, which made the day worth it for me.  I cannot wait to take my first run with them (in much better weather).

Happy New Years!  Hoping 2009 brings wonderful things.

Bliss

I wish there was a way to bottle this day.

This probably won't be news to you, but I am a girl with an "anxious temperament."  A compulsive worrier.  Always have been.  Jodi and I like to call it OCD (because she shares the same genes as me) but really, it's just your garden variety anxiety.  Sometimes it's in remission, and sometimes it's with me like a fly on crap.  

When Kolby and I were engaged, I worried.  Like ya do.  Especially when I was trying to fall asleep.  He gave me a wonderful little trick.  He told me that when I was laying in bed worrying, just daydream about our first little Christmas together--all the wedding craziness behind us, our first tree, our little apartment, the music playing.  And it was perfect.  It calmed me and put me to sleep every time.

I have used  Noel Therapy every since.  I don't know why it works, but it does.  Last year was probably the most stressful Christmas of my life.  I don't care what you say,  unemployment SUCKS!!!  (Granny Coons, if you are reading this, I'm sorry and I'll take an IOU on the mouth-washing).  We had decided that if Kolby didn't have a job by Christmas, we were expanding the job search beyond Portland.  So last Christmas, all wrapped up in anxiety and assuming we'd be moving, I started daydreaming about our next Christmas in Seattle (because it's almost Portland), in a little house (because homes are so expensive here!), hunkered down with just our little family, enjoying a lovely little worry free Christmas.

And here we are.  Today has been perfect.   Tomorrow I'll post some videos and pics.