Sawyers Hill - 2012

Last of the Christmas ones... kinda.

I looked back at my post from last Christmas and apparently Sawyers Hill was closed so we went ice skating instead.  This year, as already mentioned, I played the funeral card and so was able to stay and play a couple extra days, thus participating in both activities.

It is unfortunate that the dumb lab has closed off normal access to Sawyers Hill so we took the long way there.  Jim and Andrew were in my car and watched the compass run through every point from West to North.  We didn't see Northwest until we came back.

Aaron and Dad supervised.

Emily helped with the sleds

When looking at these pictures, Emily said "Pictures never show how steep it really is".  I agree. Those kids got going FAST bumping down the hills.

All of Bethanie's kids are fearless... Even Andrew with his pink snow pants.

Natalie

Hannah.

And there went Jim.

I wish my picture had been in the middle of those two.  It was sunny and bright (and cold... a wet towel I hung up on the side of my car froze solid) so I would just point my phone and start shooting.

Alot of them ended up like this,

Or like this.. from far away. Hallow Emily!

I slid down once or twice but not from very far up.  Sledding is a little too scary for me.  I must be getting old.  And no pictures of myself this whole holiday. Didn't realize until I started posting.... One of the dangers of being single, ur blog is full of pictures of other people!

I liked how Dad enjoys sledding.

The snow shovel sitting beside him was for filling in the bumps and jumps others had made on the hill.  Yes, we ruin other peoples scary jumps.

Funny story, Emily and Bethanie saw Hannah crawling around at the side of the hill with bare feet and went to rescue her.  Apparently she had lost her boots (she was borrowing Grandma's) and socks in the snow but was still trying to slide down the hill.  Emily was prepared with treats and hot water for hot chocolate so we used it to warm Hannah back up.  Hot chocolate and playing in the snow... I definitely suggest it.

Emily's Birthday-2012

In light of Grandma's funeral and Emily's wonderfulness she had a birthday that kinda kept on giving.  She deserved it.  She suffered early mornings, cascading airport delays, and low blood sugar parents for 3 days all to be with the parents/family for Grandma's interment in Idaho.  She deserves much love and adoration.

So we tried to supply it.

The annual Rancho de Chimayo trek... a day before her birthday because the Parkinsons and parents/Emily were leaving the next day.

I rode my bike down the hill to try out my new shoe covers (they kept my feet nice and toasty!) but for some reason I reduced the time I gave myself from last year.  Don't know what I was thinking since I didn't make it last year.  This means I got picked up before the fun parts of riding up and down and through the villages/pueblos.  Next year.

The fun table.

The serious table.

This is Heaven... see the Hot chocolate AND prickly pear lemonade?

I played the funeral card and so got to stay in NM longer than orginally planned.  So I was there after the New Years festivities when Emily got her trifle bar.

She loves trifle.

See that smile?

The candles are going...

going...

gone.  Andrews face...

We shore dew love you Emily!  At least I know I do.

(BTW, In these pictures Emily is looking through the plans Dad submitted to the county for his building permit and critiquing my foundation drawings. See, I know she loves me too!)

PS. Any excuse for rootbeer...

Ice Skating on New Years Eve

I have some other random pictures before and after Christmas but not a lot... mostly because of Grandma's funeral.  I may share those later.  Right now I have a few fun ones of ice skating.

We've gone ice skating before on New Year's Eve but I don't remember it being so crowded...

But we still had lots of fun.

Angela's friend Elise was staying with us so she could attend a wedding of a Los Alamos roommate on her way to a job in Arizona.  She was fun to have around and was good with the kids.

Angela always has fun on the ice... And Dad got out there too!

We have quite a few independent souls in our family...

And cute Emilys!

We sometimes rested in the team boxes (Dad talking to Malina, Bethanie's niece)...

Once again, Angela is letting Dad push her around.

Aaron doing his thing..

Bethanie, Hannah, and Emily

Do you see Jim?  He was good sport going out on the ice around and around even though he isn't a big ice skater.

The Zamboni came around once.

But then we were out on the ice again!

Usually this is the sort of thing the Parkinsons do with us, but because of the funeral they came for Christmas instead of the partying afterwards.  We missed them but managed to have fun anyways, especially when Dad skated with us! He told us about skating out on the canal and that he was pretty good at it.

PS.. Dad (and a couple of others) were kinda sore the next day or two.  Those muscles weren't used to being worked that way... :)

Sharing Christmas Joy

I'm planning on posting more later but for now I just wanted to share some of the Christmas Joy we felt in our house... A Messiah sign-along tradition continued regardless of this year's sad circumstances.

(I couldn't/didn't want to spend the time to figure out how to turn the video).
 

I'm such a liar.

(shaky video couresy of the camera holders laughter)