Part 2: 12/29/10

 

Wednesday, December 29 was our first day on the mountain and it was a blizzard!  Very cold and limited visibility.  In fact, only my brother Pat and his wife Anna, and my brother Eric went on the mountain.  All of them snow-board.  They came back that night to report that the snow was AWESOME on the back side.  Of course, it had been snowing all day so they found great powder. 

In the morning, my mom, Collin and Anne (SIL), Julianne and I ran into town for supplies, which included two sleds, lots of food, and an assortment of beverages.  The rest of the adults unpacked, rented equipment, and signed the kids up for ski-school.  The kids spent the afternoon sledding down the hill/road outside the condo.  They had a blast and laughed all the way down.

Dash, above, on a saucer.

My dad supervised the kids and Angelina waits her turn on the sleds.

Graham and his cousin, Miss M.  You could hear these two laughing all the way!

Oops!  Got turned around … still laughing … still fun.

 

 

 

Mom made soups for lunch.  It’s a ski-in and ski-out condo, so it saves us from buying food up at the mountain.  Plus, my mom is a great cook!

After sledding, it’s time for hot cocoa.  Angelina mixed up mugs for herself and the other cousins.

I have no pictures to record it, but my sister and her husband, Ben prepared the evening meal.  Their meal theme was American.  They prepared a spinach/artichoke dip and Pigs-in-a-Blanket for appetizers and served a chicken casserole for the main course.  Down home yummy!

Part 1: 12/28/10

 

The Miller Clan (my side of the family) traveled by train to Whitefish, MT for the New Years Holiday.  We take a family ski trip every few years.  The last was when Graham was a baby, back in 2006/07.  Back then, I was the only sibling who had kids and two more siblings have married since!

Anyway, this is how we traveled on the train.  In the sleeper car, which is a good thing, because you never know when the train will arrive or how long you will be on the train in the winter.  Winter makes any travel unpredictable, no matter the type of transportation.  At least here, my meals are provided and there is a bed and a designated bathroom for sleeper occupants.

Ok, my niece and God-daughter asked to pose!  She’s such a card and absolutely adorable.  Who could resist?

Angelina received her first music CD for Christmas, so she’s hanging out and listening to tunes.

Louis … well, let’s just say he got used to the wobbly motion of the train quickly and it didn’t slow him down one bit.

Tuesday, December 28 was a travel day.  We arrived in Whitefish, MT quite late.  All of use got a few hours of sleep on the train.  Once we arrived, the rental vehicles were waiting at the curb … another blessing.  I don’t think any of us adults were asleep before 2pm that night (or would that be morning!). 

Christmas Day 2010

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Eve 2010

Mass at Holy Rosary, then home for a simple supper and the kids opened one gift.  Afterwards, we headed over to Grandma & Grandpa Green Acres’ home to open gifts with them and the Tantes.

Above: Grandma Green Acres

Below: Grandpa Green Acres

Above: Tante Kiki

Below: Tante Lori

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for:

• a really cool husband
• great parents
• kids who laugh and have fun (even on days when Mom finds it hard to laugh along)

• the ability to hear (and listen) to music
• sight (I am moved by the scenes around me – white snow blanket, frosted trees, twinkling toddler eyes)
• health
• that feeling of anticipation