Ski Trip

We went to Banff and went skiing at Sunshine for two days this week. It was pretty crowded, but there was lots of fluffy snow, and it wasn't too cold.


Andy and Sam took a lesson the first day, and Sam was very excited that his instructor said he should get some poles to start getting a feel for them. So the day after this picture was taken, he had poles, too.
Me taking a rest at the bottom of Strawberry.

This was at the top of Goat's Eye. I had never been on this run before; it was pretty good, but at the top there was limited visibility, and it was deceivingly fast. It was blowing snow like crazy! Andy and Otto went the second day, and apparently conditions had deteriorated at the top from the day before. Sam and I went on some easier runs while they went on Goat's Eye.

On the gondola on the way back down after a LONG day of skiing. The second day we left a couple hours earlier. I think the first day we were super-excited because it was our first trip of the season. The second day we were a little sore. :o)

After dinner one night. It snowed the whole time we were there!

You can see more of the lights in the background without the flash, but you can't see the snowflakes!


Sam checking out a grizzly bear ice sculpture by The Wildflour Bakery yesterday morning before we left.

The drive home.

1st/2nd/3rd skates of the season, and cookies

Sunday we went on our first skate of the season. Andy, Sam, and I did. Otto still needs to practice and decided to help get people geared-up, and keep on his boots.




Then Andy and Sam talked me into going again on Tuesday. Before we left I gave them an early Christmas present from Papa Rex; REAL hockey sticks and pucks.


We had much fun, and went back this afternoon, hockey sticks in-hand again.



Although this looks like about 6 pm in the Southern U.S., these were taken around 4 in the afternoon.


Sam navigating around our make-shift goal of Andy's boots.


We also made some gingerbread cut-out cookies over the last couple days.


Though we rarely make cut-out cookies, I love cookie cutters. When we were in New Orleans this summer, we walked through a store at the River Walk, and I spotted some NOLA-themed cutters. I passed them up, but someone snuck back and purchased them for me. (Thank you, Dad.) So now we have some fleur-de-lis, Hail King Rex crowns, and little Louisianas thrown in the mix. And, of course, I had to buy a maple leaf the first time I saw one up here.

On to the decorating!


After taking a break, because cookie decorating was so exhausting, they ran off, got hot, stripped off the shirts, and came back to finish the last few.

Cookie heaven.

Exciting Saturday Nights...

with NO VOWELS!! Argggghhhh! :o)



(Me killing time while Otto fields a phone call from work.)

2010 Christmas Concert

Here are my uber-handsome boys before we headed out to their Christmas concert last night.


Sam came back with a different tie on than what he left with. These were little matching ones that all the kindergarten boys wore as they sang the French version of Little Drummer Boy. Andy's class sang a Spanish song (Campana Sobre Campana). I had never heard it before; it was nice.

And Sam showing me the penny he found on the floor at school.

Tree time

We put up the Christmas tree last weekend. A few years ago we bought a fake, pre-lit tree. Love it! Mostly. You, of course, don't have the lovely pine smell, but the frustration saved by having the lights already evenly-spaced on the thing is spectacular. No dead needles to vacuum. No dragging it to the street. I'm not saying we'll never have a real tree again, but I'm sure happy with this one right now.

Mom made this one with the boys when we were visiting New Orleans this summer. It's really cute. And nothing says Christmas like a crawfish in a dress. :o)


My favorite box of ornaments to open are the picture ornaments.


My mom made one each year of Claire and me growing up. And speaking of Claire, here she is from our wedding!

The newest edition to our ornament collection, with last year's family ornament (snipped directly from an extra Christmas card).

The school-made ornaments are dear as well.


Our angel. This is angel number two. I broke angel number one when removing her from the top of the tree in Lake Jackson a few years ago.


Sam got to put the angel on the top last year, so this year was Andy's turn.


A little rest while Papi spoke with Abue.


Decorating the mini trees. A veritable forest.


And the preparation continues....