Skiing and Cabin with the Barr Family

So after a couple weeks of heavy snow the kids and I returned to the cabin. There was snow everywhere! We had to dig out the windows. The best part of the weekend, though, was sharing it with Tahiroh, Nate, Eli and Emory. Good times are always better with friends!

The kids had fun jumping into the snow.

The bridge was piled high with snow and the Wenatchee river looked chilly.

We went skiing at Stevens Saturday afternoon. The conditions were not ideal, but we made the best of it and there were hardly any lines, which was terrific.

And after our snack break, the clouds started lifting as we approached night skiing.

First Orchestra Concert

Last fall Edison and all the fifth grade students got to try out all kinds of musical instruments and then select their favorite to play this year. Edison, Eli, and Zack all selected the viola. This month we were treated to our first orchestra concert from the class of 2027! I am looking forward to many more in the future! It was fun to watch them concentrate hard and do a great job with their music!

 Grayson, Tomas, Alex, and Sully are also in orchestra, and are sitting right behind Eli, Zack, Edison, and Tristan.

Snow Days in LFP

It started snowing in LFP on Sunday evening, following the Seahawks game. We woke to a beautiful wonderland of snow. Not a lot (especially after coming from the cabin!), but apparently enough to cancel school Monday, Tuesday, and have late starts Wednesday and Thursday. LFP did a great job plowing and treating the roads, but I think Shoreline roads were rougher. As a result, we had a few enjoyable snow days. Edison had his friends over to play Magic. Charlotte went to Bryn and Harpers to play in their amazing yard. Reed played with Lucy and also met some kindergarteners in the neighborhood including Hudson who lives just a couple houses away.

 Cally and I were able to get together for a snowy swim, too! What fun! Felt amazing and proud to be hard core about it!

It is fun to relax with the kids. They are reading and doing music practice to earn time on the computer. They are playing Minecraft, Slither IO, and Plants v. Zombies. They get so into it. It is hilarious.

Cabin with Auntie Karen and Hanging with Cousins

We went over to the cabin with Auntie Karen January 10-12. The snow was coming down like crazy on the drive over. But it was calm and peaceful at the cabin.

 Saturday morning was incredibly beautiful. Karen walked with the kids to the store and I went for a run and got to enjoy the sunshine and sparkling white snow.

 We went skiing that afternoon. The snow was incredible. The pass had closed on the west side, so no Seattle skiers were able to come up midday, which meant no lift lines!

 That evening we had a yummy supper and wrapped up by playing dominos with the kids.

 The drive back home Sunday morning was going to be slow going because it had kept snowing all night. We left early and made it home before they closed the pass for a week that afternoon. On our drive we saw cars and plows off the road, branches snapping under the weight of the snow, and power lines heavy with snow that were breaking and starting little fires. It was crazy. We were glad to have made it home safely.

We watched the Seahawks play-off game with cousins Jason, Tabby, Janie, and Isaac Sunday night. It was a cozy evening, but unfortunately also the end of the season for the Seahawks.

JANUARY - Gingerbread Houses and Playdates with Friends

We decided to hang out in town for a couple days in the middle of Winter Break and do some fun stuff, like building gingerbread houses and playing with friends. It was a welcome change of pace after the whirlwind ski trip.

 Edison, Eli, Alex, and Zack played Magic the Gathering in the piano room.

 Charlotte, Bryn, and Harper played mostly in her room. While Reed and Ollie snuck around and spied on everyone.

 Snack time! By the end of the day, all nine children were outside playing hide and seek and tag and all the parents picking up were socializing in the living room. It was a really fabulous day.