Wednesday, January 21, 2009



We arrived back into town from Tucson in time for a New Year's ski trip with some friends. We picked up Matt in Spokane and drove over to Missoula to get ready for our trip. Tommy arrived New Years Eve just in time for the celebrating. We had a few really good days skiing on Lolo Pass, but the avalanche reports were scary for the Swan Mountains, were the yurt is located. We ended up canceling the yurt trip at the trailhead because the 12 mile snowmobile in was too dangerous. Not to mention we wouldn't have really been able to ski. Instead we explored small mountain ski areas and hot springs. It was a great trip!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Thanksgiving in Montana

This Thanksgiving Bill, Jan and Julie flew out to Missoula to join me, Billy, and Amy. We spent a night in Missoula and the sped out of town to Seeley Lake. We had a little cabin at the Double Arrow. It was perfect. We loaded up on food and wine and cozied up in the woods for a few days. We played lots of cards, drank wine, and went for walks in the woods. Billy and I only did a little bit of homework. It was so nice to be together and to have the whole family in Montana.



Dinner our first night at Biga Pizza. What a lovely mustache, it's MOvember!



Our cozy cabin in the woods outside of Seeley Lake, MT.






Thanksgiving Dinner at the Double Arrow



One of many evening strolls







Sisters watching Superbad.



We played lots of cards. I think Julie was taking a picture of the deer out the window.







Family hike around the lake.







Back in Missou. Dinner at the Oldpost





We saw this Christmas tree and knew that Jan would love it, so we had to take a picture for her.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Backcountry skiing in Tucson

Because I didn't have skis, I was the official photographer. It turns out it may have been easier on foot through the woods of Mt. Lemmon. We had a fun adventure, ate way too many Rolos and got one very quick sort of illegal ski run in at the ski area.





Manuevering through the trees.





Billy sported his MO-vember stache through New Year. He wanted to keep it for the yurt trips. His new thing is to shave every day now. He has such a nice face, I was missing it after two full months of mustache.





We have probably been skiing for 2hrs by the time we see the radio towers in the distance. That is where we are going. It was a pretty long, cold, interesting haul.




The most southerly ski area in the US - Mount Lemmon





After scouting the situation, we decided not to buy a ticket to the ski area. Instead, we toured around behind the resort and climbed up the backside.

Christmas!

Merry Christmas



Santa brought Mark a new bike!



Billy got a book he gave to Mark earlier this year. We don't really give gifts anymore, but it was really fun Christmas morning to look through our bags and around Mark's house for things to wrap up and give eachother. I wrapped a Obama button for the baby and poker chips from Mark's closet for Gavin. We laughed a lot!



Billy had a bit of the flu on Christmas. But, Amy, Gavin and I played some disc golf and made it home just in time for a huge feast. After dinner we played cards, drank wine and laughed a lot.

Christmas Eve Mass

Teo Phil and Paunee joined us for Christmas Eve Mass and Dinner. The church was so full we stood outside on the back porch. It was actually quite nice. And we were able to walk home at sunset.


Mark and Heather made a feast!

The Desert Museum

On Christmas eve we went to the Desert Museum. It was a warm and beautiful day spent outside looking at desert plants, animals, and rocks. What a change from the huge winter storm we left behind.







First Day in Tucson

We were very lucky to arrive in Tucson on the 22nd despite a canceled flight. We flew out of Spokane which had record snow, something like 40 inches in one day. We were told we couldn't fly until the 27th and this was on the 22nd and all airlines were booked until xmas. We found a guardian angel at US Airways and flew standby all the way.

I spent our first day in Tucson sick and in bed, or when I was feeling better, I moved to the couch. I was really grateful to be in Mark and Heather's very very comfortable home with my family and not sick stuck in an airport. I had very high fever and spent a day throwing up. Luckily it was a 24 hour bug. Mom and Billy both caught the bug, but not quite as hard. Luckily I didn't get Heather sick.

While I was at home in bed, Dad, Mark and Billy went out to play. Amy and Gavin arrived from Santa Fe that evening.





Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Last day with Amy and Gavin: Family Disc Golf




Amy and Gavin took the whole family to play disc golf on the last day they were in town. We had everyone including Teo Phil and Paunee. The bug Billy and I had caught up to Mom so she was home eating Jello. Luckily she was only sick for one day too.

Amy and Gavin are planning a disc golf tournament for their wedding.