This blog post is rated PG-13 for strong language. Earmuffs.

When my dad finally gets to come visit, we're going to make up for the crappy year he's had, that's for damn sure.  Seahawks game?  San Juan Islands?  Space Needle?  We're doing IT ALL!  And we're flipping the bird at Winter '08-'09 while we're at it.  

I do think Dad needs to think about hibernation.  The months of October thru April are just not kind to him.  We could fatten him up in August and September to get him thru Winter, roll him up in some cozy quilts, and put him down in the dark basement to sleep for a few months.  When the snow starts to melt he could slowly re-emerge.  Come out when it's safe.  When the months aren't such bitches.

I'm really really bummed that he's not coming tomorrow.  Love you, Dad.   

A girl's guide to boys

Yesterday Amelia was telling me about how  James-from-room-one (she never refers to anyone  by first and last names--just first name + room number) always gives her noogies when she walks by him. When Madeline overheard this conversation about the noogies, she said very sensibly, "Oh, he has a crush on you. That's how you know when a boy likes you.   They usually tease you and pretend they don't like you and give you noogies and stuff so that nobody knows they like you.  But pretty much everyone knows that's how a boy shows he likes you." 

 I hope Kolby gives me a noogie when he gets home.  

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.