Yay, the new addition!

Eat your heart out, Bo!

Taos doesn't really have blue runs - just black diamonds and green trails. All the black diamonds are covered with moguls which my brother loved skiing when we were kids. I can't remember what this run was called, but we had to hike up a little ways to get to it. It was well worth the hike! I don't think this video of Adam skiing captures it very well, but that run was absolutely gorgeous. Anyway, Bo, wish you could have been there with us!

Christmas Ski Trip

A couple of days before Christmas, Grandma and I drove up to Red River, NM and met up with Uncle Craig and his family. We, my cousins Adam and Nina and occasionally Uncle Craig, skied Red River two days and Taos one day. Oh yes, we also went sledding one night which was just as much fun as skiing - cheap entertainment.

Town of Red River

Grandma and I got to RR before everyone else. We went sledding to kill the time - yes, Grandma did some sledding too!

Uncle Craig and me riding up the chair lift together.

Nina and me on our way awesome trick skis.

Nina, Craig, and Adam

Adam and Nina riding up the green chair.

Me and Kay, Catherine's mom. Oddly enough I didn't get any pictures of Catherine or her family or her family's family - all of whom I thoroughly enjoyed! This was definitely a Christmas to remember!

Whirlwind Mountain Adventure

Grandma and I are headed off to the mountains for some good times and skiing with my Uncle Craig and his family. The first leg of our journey is to Amarillo to stay the night with Aunt Kathy. The last time Grandma and I made the trip to Amarilla, just the two of us, I was sixteen. We went for a week to help take care of my cousin while he was just a wee little guy. Anyway, it turned out to be the trip from hell - everyone came down with a stomach virus. I actually didn't get sick myself, but the events of that week made quite an impression on my young life. And on Grandma's too! I think in the back of both of our minds we are thinking, "If we can just make it through Amarillo..." But I love seeing Aunt Kathy and her family!

To everyone who comes across this, I wish you the very Merriest Christmas...especially if you are in Amarillo.

Loooong walk to the Eiffel Tower

This is still the first day we arrived in Paris. We weren't familiar with the metro, so we decided to just walk. Our hotel was near the Basilique du Sacré Coeur and Montmartre, so we walked there first and then headed towards the Eiffel Tower to meet Craig and Catherine. For those who are familiar with Paris, you know that that's a bit of a good distance. Not to mention between Lindsay's and my map reading skills we didn't take the shortest route. Plus we had to stop every five seconds to take a picture! We got to see parts of the city that we wouldn't have otherwise seen and it was an adventure. But boy, were we pooped by the time we met C&C!

This was taken in honor of my Grandma - we have a similar picture of her boot shopping in Aberdeen.

This was our first sighting of the Eiffel Tower!

Craig and Catherine - they only had to wait a couple hours for us, but it was sure nice to see them!

Getting Maywied

There's an old story about Dad's sisters going shoe shopping with their grandfather. He had the same shoe size as their grandmother. He was real silly and tried on all the ladies' shoes for them. After this video was taken, Dad said he understood Grand Daddy.

Baby Angel

From the play "The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever".

Washing Wocks

Sophe's got this thing about washing rocks when ever she comes over. She just stands there quietly and scrubs away...until Lizzie joins her. Then everyone is wet and not allowed to wash wocks anymore.

Playing Beauty Shop

This was taken during Thanksgiving - Lizzie's fixing Grandma's hair while other customers wait their turn.

Au Clairon des Chasseurs

I don't know what the title of this post means, but it's the name of the little cafe we ate at in Montmarte. There isn't anything speacial about this motorcycle. This was taken shortly after we arrived in Paris and I was just really happy to see all the motorcycles.

First Impressions

These were taken right after we landed, rode the train into Paris, and came out of Gare Nord. We studied that map for a long time and walked around tell we could find a street sign to even tell what direction we needed to head towards to get to our hotel. Just looking at these pictures brings back that lost feeling along with feelings of excitement, exhaustion, being overwhelmed, and...a little disappointed. Gare Nord is not in the prettiest part of town. I was secretly wondering if we had made a mistake in coming to Paris. Buuuut, after some rest, food, and meeting up with Catherine and Craig, and encountering friendly people, we enjoyed Paris. You know what they say about first impressions...actually I don't really know what they say.

Amour de ma vie!

Uncle Craig with the love of his life - Catherine.

Lindsay took this picture - she claims it's the bomdigity ;)

Dipping at The Eiffel Tower

Lindsay and I have a tradition of taking "dipping" pictures. It all started at a girl's Bible study nine years ago. Lindsay and I were goofing off, and one of ours friends snapped a really cool shot. Ever since then at different events, the dip picture had to be taken. It's tradition! We even have one at Lindsay's wedding (I'll post it sometime). But having the dip picture taken at the Eiffel Tower is surreal. This has photo has now become my favorite!

Musée du Louvre

Here are Lindsay's pictures...we are American tourists!