Thursday, January 29, 2009

RUNNING Y 2009


Here's part of the gang...honestly...trying to corral everyone
for a photo was a hair pulling experience...


We went on our annual running y trip this last weekend.
To spice things up some of us left early Friday morning and went
to the Lava Beds. It really is pitch black in here. The camera
flash lights everything up.

Yummmmmmmmm...chocolate.........

Actually Pat brought her box of chocolate that she picked up
in Belgium to share with everyone. Delish!

I know I can fit in this 12 inch space...

Alex loved it...

Going down the shoot!



Here's that chocolate again...all over the walls...

There were patches of snow outside but it really was warm
in the caves and out. It was weird.

Running Y was fun. No sledding this year. Everyone had fun
chillin, hiking, swimming, ice-skating...
Here's Ralph and Alex with out 2 bedroom condos (we rented 5 of them)
behind us.

Herd hiking...


Uni cycling down the golf course hills...

ice-skating...now this was hysterical...Pat and Hillary were so
upset about this...I knew this pond wasn't over my head deep...
but they kept yelling all sorts of funny things to try and stop
these guys...

Jeff is dancing on ice...


We got in trouble by the golf course nazis for doing this...

Cute munchkins...


Here's some real ice-skating...




Chillin by the fire...

Pat and Sabrina under the heaters...

Swimming...hot tubbing...and sauna time....way to relax!
Babies love water!





We had a great time. Here's Chris and Alex. The babies
LOVED Chris.

One last photo....biking in snow...John and Dan...

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Ahh...Jan...That Bleak Cold Time of Year...

NOT! This January has been exciting...colorful...active...SUNNY!


First off...colorful....I painted the entry and hallway leading to bedrooms
in YELLOW!

This pic isn't showing it at all. I was going for a
stone wall effect. Which turned out rather nice.
Wait until you see it in person!
The weather has been super fab lately. 25degF at night
but during the day almost 60degF. And if you go UP high
in the mts. it's even WARMER due to a inversion level from
California.
Case in point...Rattlesnake the Rock Climbing Haven of Shady Cove.
A Balmy 70degF. Did it ever feel good!
We four wheeled it up the snowy road which was fun in itself.

Hiked a little bit in the snow through the woods...

Once we started UP the warmth hit you. Unbelievable!

Check out the trail...it can be quite treacherous...
sturdy feet required...

Almost vertical at times...


Some of the stairs are in need of a fix...


And then...VOILA...the Cathedrals of Rattlesnake appear!
Such beauty and majesty to rival London! Carved
by the hand of God himself...



Inside the Cathedral looking out the window it's
a 100 ft. drop to the depths below.


First climb of the day...setting top rope...here's Ben...

John climbing first...



This was a really exciting moment because this was John's first
rock climb outside. What a thrill to make it to the top! Yeah!
High Fives to John!
Watching daddy...

Ben...



Yeah! Go Ben! Ben is a Fabulous teacher by the way...so
patient and encouraging!
Molly and I found a great lunch spot...on a rock that both
our butts fit on! LOL!
We basked in the sun and ate our lunch and almost napped...
ahhhh...the luxury....

looking up...

looking out...

The man with so many keys....er...I mean carribeaners...

Climbing back down to the main trail...notice the
clinging to the little trees....

Leaving the Cathedral...

It was a good day...good times together...