Skiing Again!

We waited for the first snowfall of the year before we went in to rent cross-country skis for the kids. I know it will snow every year, just had to see it before I was ready to spend the money on the skis. Got them all a season rental and they were very excited for our first outing. We got to spend the afternoon in Paradise in a glorious snowfall. (Blake stayed home with a horrible cough and fever.) We all skiied to the top of the steep hill that we loved last year and sped to the bottom. Then after we tired of being on the skis, we got the sleds out and built a great jump and laughed our guts out going down that hill. What a glorious start to the ski season. Hoping for tons more snow.

Christmas Tree

We ate pizza in Preston, Idaho, watched the bed races down main street and then headed up the canyon past Mink Creek to find a Christmas Tree for the living room.

We were with the Thomas clan and had lots of help from them in keeping the kids all together and enjoying the trip.

Blake and I went deep into the woods to find the perfect tree that was hidden high up the hillside. Just as he was about to touch the saw to bark, Olivia came up the hillside with her cousin saying that they had found the perfect tree right on the road. It had two trunks and was very tall, but the kids all insisted that this was the tree they wanted. They weren't too thrilled when they were invited to help saw the huge thing down. Hauling it to the truck took the whole family, plus some. We pretty much rubbed all the needles off one side by dragging it and walking on the branches.

The kids wanted the tree in the living room this year...

tried that, and couldn't get into the room from the front door. So we hauled it around to the family room, cut off a couple more feet and there it is. Realized that we need more ornaments for a tree that big. Think we have broken quite a few over the years and usually we only have a small fake, prelit tree!