Ski Week in the Desert

 We were all off last week for "Ski Week".   Though we had initially planned to go to the cabin, we had several generous rental inquiries for the week, so instead we decided to take an Arizona road trip.   The kids have never been to the desert before, so it was a good excuse to go.

We spent a day in Phoenix, where we all hiked up Camelback Mountain.   It was a pretty steep boulder scramble, but the kids did great.   Though it was the same hike I took with my girlfriends in 2018, it seemed a lot harder for me than I recall--guess I am getting older!

We next headed to Sedona, where we took a great day hike in the red rocks (Soilder's Pass/Brins Mesa).   The weather was spectacular and the scenery was stunning.   

We took a short spur trail to a cave/arch up in one of the rocks--which Jason and Ethan climbed up to--but Alaina was too small, and I was too scared.

Following Sedona we spent some time in the Grand Canyon.   We didn't get to do much hiking though, as we woke up to about 5 inches of fresh snow and the canyon trails were far too slick to hike down.   Still, they canyon was beautiful.

We ended the trip in Tucson, where we stayed at a dude ranch for a few nights.  We didn't pay for the full experience, but got breakfast and one horseback ride each day.   Now, I had never really ridden a horse before this trip, and nor had the kids.   But it was interesting to try out, and the kids loved it.   

We were able to learn quite a bit, and by the last day, Jason and Ethan were good enough to go on a "fast ride", with their horses loping through the desert.  A photographer captured this image of Jason--he says the experience was quite terrifying! 

Ethan looked a little more relaxed:

 Certainly, the place was memorable, and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to visit.

Valentines Day Wishes

Well time for another COVID Holiday: Valentine's Day.

Though we aren't celebrating, and Valentines were banned from school this year.  Which is another sad part of a sad year....I always used to love exchanging valentines cards when I was in elementary school.   Anyhow, I did want to share a cute Alaina story.   On Friday in school (It was Alaina's week to attend, so she was in person!), her class read the book "Love Is" by Dian Adams.   It is a very cute story about a girl and her ducking.   Apparently after the story, they all went around the room to share what love meant to each of them.   I asked Alaina what she shared and she told me "responsibility".   

Responsibility?  And then Alaina said, yes, you know like how I take care of my bunny.    💗

What a kid.

Ethan hits the big 12

 Lat Monday, Ethan turned 12.   We officially have a pre-teen in the house.   Since we were still up in Tahoe, He went skiing afterschool with Jason, and he got to pick our dinner stop on the way home.   His choice: Boudin for dinner and Fenton's Ice Cream for a sundae for dessert.

We officially celebrated on February 2.   His friend Zach came over for a chilly outdoor dinner and cake.   The closest thing we could get to a birthday party during the pandemic.

This year for his birthday we bought Ethan a......

Recliner!   Yes, it seems like a gift few 12-year-olds ask for, but I guess with home schooling he figures he will use it to attend school in comfort.  LOL.  

Anyway, Ethan is mostly in a pretty sweet spot right now: he is talkative, curious, and still loves spending time with his parents.  He still calls me "Mommy" (I hope that lasts forever, though I know it will not...), and will sometimes even hold my hand when I walk him to school.   Sigh. Happy Birthday Ethan!

Blizzard!

 Well, this past week we got our first big rainstorm of the season.   This precipitation was much needed--we have had very little rain to date.    We have always known that rain in the bay area means snow in the mountains.   But now with a cabin up here, we have a first hand view of what big rains mean.   

We tried to head up to the cain on Thursday night.   As we pulled out of the driveway, I said to Jason, we should check the road conditions.   I opened up google maps to find out that Interstate 80 was closed.  We promptly turned around!   By early Friday morning the road was open and we headed up.   Luckily due to the fact that the kids have online school, they were able to Zoom into class from the car.   There are some advantages!

When we arrived, we were amazed by the snow pack.   It had snowed 77" from the storm.  The entire first floor of the cabin was buried, and the driveway (which luckily was plowed) was more like a tunnel!

 

Later on Friday afternoon, we headed out to cross-country.   I was able to pick up some skis for the kids on next door, so I was eager for them to try them out.   They did great, it is amazing how much downhill skills translate to cross country. 

  

We enjoyed downhill skiing on Saturday and Sunday, though it took a day for our little local downhill place to dig out and open all the lifts.

A fun, snowy weekend!   More snow is forecast for this week!

Alaina Turns Eight!

 On Monday, Alaina celebrated her 8th birthday.   Sadly, no birthday parties this year.   Our guilt-ridden pandemic parenting resulted in us adding a new member to our family: Dot the Bunny.

Now, for years, Alaina has been wishing for a pet rabbit.   Pretty much anytime she makes a wish the wish has been for a bunny.  A white bunny. So, we caved.   We bought a bunny hutch from amazon and fenced off a portion of our back yard.   On Monday, I drove to the East Bay to pick up an 8-week old white lop-eared bunny from a Craig's List ad.   

When Alaina came home from school, I designed a short scavenger hunt that ended at the bunny hutch (or Dot's Spot, as it is now called).   Alaina was elated.   

 

This week, we have been working on getting to know the bunny and learning how to take care of it (thank goodness for you tube!).   She is slowly getting used to her spot and our family.   Interestingly, Ethan seems almost as excited (if not more excited than Alaina).   

We also had a nice birthday dinner to celebrate the day.   Alaina chose salisbury steak and mashed potatoes for her birthday meal, and an ice cream cake for dessert.

So, overall a pretty amazing birthday despite quarantine!

Baking Weekend

 Well, we had a tough reentry into work and school.   On Monday, when I headed into work, it was pouring rain.   Just a few blocks from home my car skidded off the road, jumped two curbs and hit  a rock.  Luckily, the road was almost empty (it was 6:15am), so I didn't hit anyone, and I was totally unharmed.   The car however, was not.  :(   This was two days after our dryer broke at the cabin.   We also had several other minor things break this week: one of Alaina's favorite Christmas presents, our grill starter, and our wifi router.   So, no, not a great week.  

I spent the weekend baking, mostly to try to help improve everyone's mood, and provide some stress-induced calorie intake.

Here is what I made:

English muffins

Sourdough Bread and Baguettes (first timer the baguettes, not the best shape, but quite tasty!)

Raisin Bread

Lemon Bars

And Ethan made scones for Alaina's Birthday tomorrow:

So, hopefully we have eaten out of  last week's depression!!

Lets hope for a *less expensive* week ahead.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 We had a nice holiday week despite COVID.   Marilynn and her daughter Sabine came out for the Holidays.   We had a nice Christmas Eve Dinner at our house with a TON of food.   

The pandemic did not stop (or delay) Santa, and the kids woke up to a load of presents under the tree on Christmas morning.   

Later that day, we drove up to the cabin, and my Dad, Marilynn and Sabine joined us for two nights.   

We got about a foot of snow overnight, and on the 26th we split up to enjoy skiing--my dad and I did cross country (his first time in 15 years!) and Jason, Marilynn, Sabine and the kids went downhill.   A good time was had by all.

 

The kid also got a chance to try out their new ice skates that they got for Christmas, on a stretch of frozen lake that some locals had cleared off.  They made good progress practicing most days.

 

Most days, we also downhill or cross-country skied--so we were quite active.   The kids are getting better at downhill skiing, which is great.  I am working on it too-though they have both far surpassed my abilities, and I have no hope of ever catching up.

We also participated in the Serene Lakes Property Owners Association Annual Snowperson contest.   Our entry "Pandemic Purchase" did not win, but we had fun making it anyhow:

Jeremy tentatively joined the family for New Years, and though it was low key (no midnight celebrations for us!), we did enjoy hanging out.  We also got to introduce Jeremy to cross country skiing, which he had never done before.

We certainly felt lucky to be able to get away despite the pandemic.   And, as I told Jason, if you would have asked me 10 years ago, I never would have thought that in California I could cross country ski out my door and ice skate at a nearby lake--two really fond memories from my midwest upbringing that I thought I had left in the midwest.   So happy that I was wrong.  We are sure looking forward to more time at the cabin in 2021, and especially being able to host more friends and family once the pandemic is over!