I had a birthday recently and the highlight of the day marking the anniversary of my birth was going on an awesome hike with my little companions. We hiked towards the Rabbits Ears, visible in the distance in the first photo, and we passed by tons of wildflowers and picked some as well.
Back in April we hit the road for a week and a half, headed west. Chris was nervous that it would be too chaotic but everyone did great, this window art was as crazy as it got.
First stop was Zion Natl Park:
Lovely hikes and scenery, it was tough to pack up after just two days there, but we had to head to Claremont, California to see Mary and Dan.
Then out to the coast to visit the Santa Monica Pier and camp on the coast north of Malibu:
On our way back east we visited Joshua National Park to check out the funky boulders and trees, as well as wildflower "superbloom":
Last stop was a couple nights in Durango visiting Dan and Erin and Ethan and Elliot and then home.
What a weekend we had, packed full of fun. There was a three day music festival in town and some friends came to stay with us and boogie. We had moose in and out of the neighborhood. The ski area hosted their annual Mardi Gras celebration. And we got a ton of new snow after a week and a half dry spell. Fun and excitement at every turn!
Audrey and Julian started getting used to their equipment as soon as we got it home from the rental shop back in October.
The we took it outside to the front yard when the snow started falling. Here I am grooming the slope.
Julian was fearless on the ski runs, so much so that a launch off the side of the cat track didn't shake him up much. So he went on the the Rough Rider Basin where you ski past the jail and through the tipis and trading post.
A grown up ski outing to celebrate our buddy's birthday
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Lovely horse-drawn sleigh ride. The driver said it was the first time he had 5 across the front up there with him.
Here's a bit of unstable snow that Chris and pals saw after they decided not to ski a similar near-by pitch. Way to go Safe Skiers!
And here is Audrey getting set to do her first ski "race": the Soda Pop Slalom. She was mostly in it for the goodie bag and was giving herself pep talks that "I don't really have to go fast".
Here is a collection of pictures from some of our favorite celebrations over the past handful of months.
Halloween:
We dressed as a Frozen Crew, Chris (taking the picutre) was Kristoff, Audrey is Elsa, I'm Anna (its hard to see in the picture but in person my silver streak in the braid really completed the look) and Julian is a little Olaf, he refused the carrot nose.
Thanksgiving:
We feasted with our buddies, the Urbick family, including the dog, Zoey (the cat had to stay home.) Everyone loved the bananas.
Christmas:
The preschool pageant was precious. Audrey was up front on the mic to sing Silent Night and Julian's sweet little class of lambs looked adorable while the piano played in the background.
Everyone tried really hard to get Santa to grant our Christmas wishes, and our Elf must have positive reports because we were all happy come Christmas morning.
New Years:
Kev's Birthday:
Grandpa was very generous with his birthday cake and everyone enjoyed their slice.
