Skiing Fun?

 

This was our Saturday morning view around 10:45am from the top of the mountain.

Luckily, everything cleared up by the end of the day. I didn't get any pictures of us skiing in the pouring rain Sunday morning. 

No lift ticket ... no problem ... hiking the truck trail

Skiing and Skating in McLean

Our Whitetail house was rented this weekend. Fortunately, the Chateau Todd was open and only 0.2 miles from our house. 

Here is RJ going on the main jump. 

Julia skis trail 2 ...

Ice Storm and Porches

The ice on the north side of the house didn't melt. The kids did some skating practice.

Doug wishes he had put in a bigger porch

President's Day Weekend

Valentine's Day with homemade pink hot chocolate, chocolate 

covered strawberries, flour-free brownies and chicken fondue. 

Mom and kids spent the morning skiing Liberty. It was the kid's first time 

skiing Liberty. They loved the two parks and the chairlift that gave you 

the option to get off at the park or ride to the top. RJ loved the moguls, 

Julia did one mogul run and Mom stayed on the mogul-free runs because 

she would like to continue skiing this year. 

Owl-errific Reading

 Julia loves her Owl Diaries books. Each night she tries to sneak in a few extra chapters of reading!

Even Grandma Diane got into the act. While Doug and Sara were working, she participated in a 2-hour Owl Diary marathon while Julia was quarantining (somebody in her class had Covid).

Julia Reads Owl Diaries

Transforming a Transformer

My Grandmother's Lionel Type R 100 watt transformer had a couple fixed voltage poles that were not powering up. After opening up the cover the repair was obvious. I probably should have purchased a new pole, but soldering the wire back to the existing pole should hold me a couple of years ... which is why I'm writing this ... so I can refer back to it when it breaks again.

Chef RJ

The Raddish recipe of the month started tonight. The first recipe was a success. RJ made ravioli which looked delicious (darn gluten free). The results pleased the palate of the chef who ate multiple helpings and plans to take some to school for lunch tomorrow.

RJ Turns 9

Pre-Birthday Weekend

Celebrated with cake on Saturday with Grandad. Got a cool recipe kit from Granddad and an awesome Carson Wentz jersey from Grandma and Grandpa.

Fishing cake

Actual Birthday

 RJ turned 9 on a Tuesday. Doug worked from Whitetail and the kids took the day off from school. Skiing on a weekday is awesome ... great conditions, minimal crowds, and ski-in ski-out living.

Ski-in Ski-out!

Halfway down Snow Dancer

Bring on the Gifts

Sara gets hero of the birthday. RJ scored a snowboard and snow boots, an awesome lego train, and a generic Go-Pro!! He also got a drone from his cousins. What a haul!

RJ opens generic Go Pro

Thanks Mom

Snowboarding on Birthday

Snowboarding got off to a good start. Plenty of falling, but getting the hang of it.

Trains 2020-2021

Covid eliminated visitors to see the trains, but we still assembled a strong HO layout. RJ was helpful with the under-platform wiring. Julia and RJ added the Lego trains to the upper deck.

Here is the layout the day before the we took them down.

Gingerbread house and Lego city

 

Train layout - reverse angle

Snow Day

Nothing like a good old fashioned snow day to put a smile on kids faces.

Snow Boarding

Not sure how Mr. Geoff got talked into this!