Whistler for Ski Week Vacation!

We spent an amazing four days up at Whistler for Mid-Winter Break. Eben found a great deal on a condo in the village and we skied open to close four days in a row.

One of our favorite runs was the "Peak to Creek" which started at the top of Whistler Peak and went all the way down to the Creekside village. We did that as our first run two of the days and got to enjoy some freshly groomed corduroy and amazing views on the 5000+ feet of vertical run. Be sure to check out the short video.

 Another favorite run was the Dave Murray downhill that was used in the 2010 Whistler Olympics. This is the starting gate.

The kids had a lot of fun doing jumps in the terrain park. Check out these videos!

We did a lot of hot chocolate breaks in the lodge to stay warm.

We woke up to fresh powder on our final day and it kept snowing all day. The powder was incredible and we enjoyed great runs in the Seventh Heaven area of Blackcomb. It was so quiet and the snow was so soft and fluffy, it was really amazing conditions.

 As you can see, we have the place to ourselves and we all got "fresh tracks" in the powder.

 Happy kids on the drive home.

Superbowl Win! Snowpacalypse 2019

The Patriots brought home a big win in the Super Bowl this year. Though it was a low scoring game, it was still fun to cheer them on and we all got to wear our jerseys proudly to school/work to celebrate.

 

At least, that is what we thought. It started snowing the night of the Super Bowl (Feb 3) and didn't really stop in Seattle. We were out of school Feb 4 / Feb 5 / had a late start & early release Feb 6 / 2 hour late Feb 7 / early dismissal Feb 8. Woah! Here is a photo with Sully & Kellan from the second snow day, when it was still in the "fun" phase.

 We left Seattle on Friday at 11:15 AM (when school got out), stopped to ski at Stevens, and then set up at the cabin indefinitely to wait out snowpacalypse hitting Seattle. Eben did some extra grocery shopping Friday morning and the shelves were getting cleared out, there were long lines, as everyone was trying to get food before being stuck at home again. Here are some pictures from Highway 2 east of Stevens Pass.

 

Eben got to use the snow blower a lot at the cabin. We ended up staying there Friday - Tuesday as school still wasn't open.

 

We had a lovely dinner with Amy, Mike and their kids at their cabin, just a couple miles down River Road from ours.

 Reed and Lucy played a TON of Connect Four.

  We skied five days in a row at Stevens, often meeting up with friends. On Monday we ran into Trent & Rob from Shorecrest. Monday had *the best* powder I have ever experienced - light and fluffy and about 18" deep. It was absolutely incredible! Stevens got over 50" of snow in this storm.

On Tuesday we skied with Cally, Harper and Bryn plus Amy, Jenabel and Jasper. So much fun!

 

 

We came back to Seattle Tuesday afternoon and dug our house out of the snow.  

Reed had school Wednesday and had fun playing in the snow with his classmates. Shoreline District was still closed Wednesday and Thursday and I am now really sick of snow days!

Friends at the Cabin

We have been skiing a ton and spending as much time as possible at the cabin this winter. We are fortunate to be able to share these fun times with our friends.

 

Trent, Rachelle, Kylie & Keira came out to play. We skied together Friday night after school and then took it easy Saturday morning. The kids actually built a whole sled track south of the main run.

 

 The bridgewalk and views of the Wenatchee River are as inspiring as ever.

  

 

Over MLK Weekend, we got to see a really cool lunar eclipse phenomenon called the "Super Wolf Blood Moon." The pictures do not do it justice. 

 

 Last weekend Nate and Tahiroh brought Eli and Emery out for skiing in the afternoon followed by sledding and playing at the cabin

Seahawks Visit & Reed Rollerskating

In support of the Coast Guard whose members did not get paid during the 35-day government shutdown, the Cliff Averil Foundation came to the Seattle CG Base with lunch and kind words. It was exciting for Eben to meet a few of the players! Like Cliff Averil...

 Kam Chancellor... who is bigger?

 Richard Sherman

 Doug Baldwin

 Reed's class has been going on field trips to the roller skating rink every Tuesday afternoon.  They are having a blast!