Christmas Ski and Baltimore

Christmas Eve Mass

Kids enjoyed a contemporary mass in Hagerstown

Wake Up in Whitetail

The day got off to a great start with presents under the tree. RJ was anxious to get to the no-crowd, good conditions skiing.

Kids with presents, Christmas tree, and chair lifts in the background

Julia was super-excited about all her gifts - drone, camera, Legos, barking dog

RJ got a lot of hockey stuff (pucks, goal, shooting mat) and a signed Alex Ovechkin card

Sourdough tools ... the gift that keeps on giving!

Sara was Santa, Ms. Clause, and a few other things for this Christmas ... THANKS!!!

Doug skied with the Grinch. Julia did not want her reputation tarnished by being in this picture.

Baltimore for Dinner

After a few hours of skiing we headed to Baltimore to see Grandad, Aunt Debbie, Great Aunt Rita, and Uncle-Cousin John. 

Dinner at Blakehurst

Pre-Christmas Skiing

A cold December provided an opportunity to ski.

Doug gets the skis ready

Julia is getting a bit more gutsy ... she started working on some jumps.

Cold weather + snow making = iceman

Santa at St. Luke

Santa visited St. Luke after the 11am mass. Brooke joined us and Emmitt was there by chance ... so RJ had someone to hang out with as well. This is the first year we did not win any prizes.

We were 5 minutes late to Julia's second basketball game .. but the pic below was worth it!

Julia and Brooke with Santa

Julia starts Basketball

Julia started playing basketball games this weekend. Beginners luck held up for the first game ... a 18-1 win - Julia scored 12 pts while being the 5th person for the 'other' St. Agnes team. The second game was closer ... 14-12 ... Julia scored 2. 

Girls hanging out after the first game

 

Whitetail Check In

Prior to ski season, we decided to make a quick trip to Whitetail. House was in great shape, so we decided to go for a hike.

There was lots of snow. Several runs were already covered.

We didn't make it to the top of Limelight before time ran out. Mostly because we spent a lot of time body-sledding.

RJ basically slid down the entire mountain. Here is one of the shorter and bumpier slides.

Sunday Brunch

Sara prepared an excellent Sunday brunch that was fit for guests. No guests appeared ... but maybe Sara made up the story about the guests so we would clean up, dress up, and skip church donuts.

Awesome Spread

 

NYC Thanksgiving

Sara got super cheap train tickets and a free hotel, so we headed to NYC for the Macy's Day Parade.

Activity: Skating in Bryant Park

We did two super-fun sessions (RJ was 'that kid' who weaved around everybody)

On-Ice

Activity: Blowing up Parade Floats

Sara got tickets for the parade prep where they inflate the floats. They literally blue-up Bluey!

Kids at Parade Prep

Activity: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

We awoke at 5:45am and arrived to the parade route around 6:15am. You would have thought that would have been early enough to get a good spot. No such luck.

Weather Report: 40 degrees and raining

Sara was super excited for the parade to start

When parade started, people crowded Doug out

Doug's new view

Scaffolding under cover made things a bit easier

Activity: Radio City Music Hall

Christmas Show at Radio City was warm, dry, and comfortable (and entertaining)

Activity: Hotel

Hotel was super convenient to everything from the office where Doug worked, to the parade route, to 99 cent pizza. The issue - it was in a continuous HONK zone. From 6am to 6am people were laying on their horns.

Recycling business outside the hotel - just like when Doug was there for work

Activity: Thanksgiving Dinner

Dinner in Penn Station NY: blueberries, peanuts, and cheap Gatorade

Back in VA, kids had cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving Dinner