A Hike To the Lake

After two days of snowboarding we decided to switch it up and take a hike down to the Lake in Emerald Bay.

It is always easy going down.

We made it to the lake. 

Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay.  We are coming back in the summer so I can tour the inside. 

The frozen lake kept Kira and Andrew busy for some time trying to break the ice. 

A frozen waterfall. 

I was sad to leave, but I am going back soon.  This just might have to become a second home. 

Snow Boarding

There really was NO snow anywhere to be found, but we did find a few resorts that were making snow and had some beginning runs open.  For our crowd, beginning runs were perfect.  Tom sucked up his pride and hung out with all of us amateurs on the beginning hills.

Here we are all suited up and ready to go.  It doesn't say much when I  am the most experienced snow boarder out of this bunch.  Thankfully Tom is so good, and also a very patient teacher.

Here is Kira and her first time going solo.  She did great and we will make a snow boarder out of her in no time. 

Andrew is like an old pro.  He is a hard one to photograph because I can never find him. He really loves snowboarding.  

This photo just makes me laugh.  

We kept Sean strapped in all the time. We just carried him from the bottom to the magic carpet and then from the carpet to the starting point.  He took it from there. 

Sean surprised me.  I thought for sure I would be hanging out in the car with him, but by the second day he was loving it and taking off by himself.  We had to chase after him so he wouldn't end up running over someone.  At one point, he got away from me and started down a hill.  A nice woman stopped him before he got to far and he punched her for ruining his run.  Thankfully she had a good sense of humor about it.  The first day there were some tears (the boots were bulky) but by the second day he was hooked.  We took lots of breaks and ate lots of snacks and it all worked out great.  We all can't wait to go again soon. 

A Dry Tahoe Holiday

We spent Christmas at home on Sunday and then Monday morning headed to South Lake Tahoe for the week.  Normally this is a the biggest week of the year for the area, and we booked our Cozy Cabin (that is the real name) months ago.  Little did we know it was going to be the driest season in years and I was starting to think this was going to be the Grand Canyon all over again.  Despite that, we loaded up and headed off for what proved to be a great week.

Our first stop was to the Donner Memorial State Park in North Lake Tahoe.  Andrew is studying California Immigrants this year and we anxious to see this place.

After this park and then a drive around the lake we arrived at our Cozy Cabin.

Our 900 sq. foot Cozy Cabin.  Something to be said about forcing your family to be close for a few days.   It was a fun time, except when Sean would wake up at 6am.  In a cabin this small, when Sean is awake, everyone is awake. 

The Hot Tub was a hit. 

We also managed to meet up with my cousin Jen, her husband Ed, their Son Ryan, and my Aunt Carol one night for dinner.  Why didn't I get a photo of that? 

The $20.00 Keys

I loose my keys daily.  

We have 4 entrances into our house and I don't always use the same one.  This results in my keys being laid down in many locations around the house, and I am always on the hunt for my keys.  Sunday morning, I of course couldn't find my keys.  Being that we were late for church I grabbed a spare set from my desk and off we went.  As of tonight I still had no idea where they were and started getting a little worried.  After looking all day, I told the kids I would give $20.00 to the one who found the keys.  Andrew found them in the closet downstairs in about 10 minutes (why there were in the closet is another story).  I think I had a new strategy for finding my keys, but perhaps I should have started with $5.00?

Christmas Came Early

Grandma and Grandpa showed up this weekend loaded with gifts (literally).  

Sean got glasses and a Captain America

Andrew got some Books.

Kira got a fuzzy sweater

Tom got a Book.  My mom keeps his library full.

I got the greatest gift of all... planter boxes for my new garden.   Thankfully my dad is handy, and he delivers.

I have to say Tom's doubt in my gardening abilities has only made me more motivated.
Let the gardening begin. 

Basketball and the Lessons Learned

Andrew has been playing basketball for a few years with the local Boy's and Girl's Club.  He has always liked it, but not exactly been the star player each season.  This season was a different story.  He started out playing and having fun as usual and about mid-season all the practicing seemed to show itself in his playing.  He made 5 points in his game a few weeks ago and helped push his team into the finals, and then into the championship game.  There were 8 teams in his division and his team (the Sharks) made it to the finals and played this past Saturday.  

The minute the first buzzer rang to start the game, I knew we were in for some big competition, and some intense parents taking this game way too seriously.  The fouls were being called left and right and we had many kids hitting the flour and tears flowing at times.  Even Andrew our very kind kid who doesn't like the idea of fouling, ended up fouling out in the last quarter.  Two fouls were really not fouls and he couldn't understand why the refs would make those calls.   Andrews team ending up loosing the game 10-15 but the lessons learned were the most important.  Andrew learned that in sports, it is not always fair and when a championship is on the line, you can get inspired to play harder then you ever thought you could.  It was hard to watch at times, seeing my boy get a little banged up, but he held his own, making a few baskets and some free throws.  

The most troubling were the parents after the game.  Most of the parents from Andrews team felt the other team was being coached to play too rough and they confronted the other teams coach.  The language started and they were pretty close to the equivalent of a bar fight.   We quickly gathered a sad beat down Andrew and rushed him out the gym.  We got a chance to have a long talk in the car and I discovered that Andrew wasn't as sad about loosing as he was about having fouls called on him that he didn't do.  Another chance to learn that life is not always fair, but you pick yourself up and keep moving forward.  

After a long emotional day, I asked Andrew if he wanted play again next season and his response was, YES.  I guess he has had a taste of the almost victory and is willing to go back in for more.  I am very proud of the humble fighter this 10 year old has become.  Can't wait to see what next season brings, and hopefully we can get the crazy parents to keep their mouths shut and just let the kids play. 

Oh Christmas Tree

Tom's surf racks have come in handy for many years now.   Not only do they help when transporting boards to the beach, but they also help when transporting a Christmas Tree home for Christmas.  This year was no different.  I am sure Tom would rather be putting a board on top and heading to the beach, but we are glad he is willing to give up a little surfing time to make sure we have a Christmas tree in our house.

I over estimated the height of our ceiling this year, so our Sea Star is sort of crammed on top, but beautiful none the less. 

Let the holidays begin. 

Andrew, My Favorite Today

Sean was up 3 times last night, rotten kid.  Yes he is 3 and still does not sleep at night, frustrating to say the least. After dropping him and Andrew off at school, and returning to my desk to start the day, I saw this note from Andrew who was doing his homework at my desk last night. 

We have booked a trip to Tahoe for a week and it is quickly approaching.  You think Andrew is excited?  I was just happy to get a love note from a kid and it made my morning.