Beautiful

Occasionally, a song just catches my attention... big and sweeping and dramatic.  This guy does some really awesome a capella songs.  Check it out.

Old Dog, New Tricks

I have a newly discovered respect for anyone that straps on a long pair of boards to their feet and tries to go down an incline with a more than 3 degree grade.  (Especially if they are trying to go straight.)  I also have a few newly discovered bruises on my knees, my elbows, my hands, and another rather unmentionable place.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Skiing has been on my bucket list for a long time.  It looks like so much fun, when you see all of those graceful, coordinated, practiced people doing it.  I already knew I wasn't coordinated, but I had to try it at least once.  So this past weekend, I met up with Kyle for a little introduction to the activity.

Luckily, he is very, very patient.

Turns out, I'm very good at turning right.  In a war between my left leg and my right leg, my left leg wins EVERY TIME.  Who knew it was so opinionated??  I certainly didn't.  I do now.

Turning left on skis is not really an option for me.  For that matter, going straight is not as easy as you would think it should be.  Head down the hill, veer right.  That's my M.O.  Even if there's a steeper hill over to the right.  One I really don't want to go down.  Even if there's a pole.  Or a net.  Or a chair lift.

Hence, the bruises.

But we had fun.  I think I'll go again.  :)

Almost done with snow pictures... probably... I promise... I think

So winter is eventually going to be over and I will stop posting pictures of the snow.  (And I will be happy when spring comes too.  But since winter is so badly bashed, I feel like I have to overcompensate so that it doesn't feel bad.  Plus also, I just love snow.  Every single time it snows.)

But for now... after seeing emails popping up ALL WINTER LONG of other offices in far more southerly climates (read: wimpy) closing early due to inclement weather, we finally got our own email last week... due to some rather quickly-falling snow, the office would be closing at 3:00.  YES!  FINALLY!

I headed home and took a walk in the still-falling white blanket of happiness.  Not many pics, but here's what I got.

Anyone for a trip down the slide?

May I just say that this has pretty much been the perfect winter???  We're close to setting some snowfall records, I think, and I literally haven't seen a speck of the grass in my yard since the first weekend in December.  Doesn't get much better than that :)

Brr

Meanwhile, back at my house, I've got some snow, but I've also got a few icicles going on.

Granted, they're really just a sign that my gutters probably need to be cleaned out.  But isn't it handy that they also look pretty??

Donuts!

Donuts not of the bakery variety, that is.

On Saturday, it snowed some more.  (Hooray!)  Behold the beautiful view from Mom and Dad's front window.

Since I live in an area entirely too populated for this sort of thing, Kyle and I jumped in the car and went and found some as-yet-unplowed country roads to slide around on.

We found some, all right.

What kind of crazy person has been here?  (Maybe the tracks are a little hard to see.)

This kind.  And he might've backed up for a 2nd try at it....

The back of the car by the time we got home.  I think we can safely say the trip was a success :)

7 Wonders

Another weekend activity: learning a new game.  7 Wonders was quite a hit.  I highly recommend it, if you're A) a fan of board games and B) in the market for a new one.  (Hypothetical question:  If A) is true, why would B) not be true?  Just checking.)

 

Unrelated photo, but.... comfy there, Ky?

An Intervention Is Staged

Kyle became convinced Kam was addicted to the puzzle in the dining room.  He was determined to help her overcome her issues.

Nice try, buddy.  Not sure it worked, but valiant effort.

Enter Kyle

And Kyle arrives!  Grandma was also in the house, so naturally, getting enough to eat was a bit tricky.

Snow day!

A few weekends ago, I was actually at home the same weekend as Kammy and Kyle!  That doesn't happen too often outside of holidays.  We had a so-so time :)

Before Ky got there, Kam, Dad, and I took a walk around Eureka to enjoy the snowy evening. 

Before heading out.  Mom and Dad have had a little snow.  Looks fantastic, yes?

 

The walk started in the cemetery.  Here are my fellow walkers.

   
The shadows were fantastic.  It was absolutely beautiful out (if a little on the chilly side).  These are my shots. 

This was my winning shot of the evening:

Now here are a few I stole from Dad:

He had some good ones, so it's hard to say, but this one might be my favorite:

It was a successful walk!  And lastly, introducing.......

TATE!

This was his inaugural walk.  Kammy decided since her blog has a mascot (Fleece, if you're not acquainted) that I needed one too.  I dubbed him Tate.  I didn't think I would need to clarify, but my family has taught me otherwise.  This is not short for "Tater" or "Regurgitate".  Just plain Tate.  Isn't he cute?

More gettin' crafty

Beginning of February: scrapbooking weekend with some awesome girls.  We make an awesome mess :)

 There was some awesome snow thrown in the mix on Saturday as well.  Just watched it fall from the inside, this time....

Stretch!

I've had the chance to see Kyle a bit more than normal recently, given his internship in Iowa this semester.  I think it's awesome, except I know he misses Kalynn, which is sad.  But I'm still a bit (selfishly, I know) happy for me.

Trying to get their shoulders to be the same height....

Kam told me recently that given how nutty the rest of our family is, it's a wonder none of it rubbed off on her.  (I think she just forgot to mention me.)  That's up for debate on Kam, but I do think it applies to the rest of them.... :)

Beauty

We've had some gorgeous displays from the sun this winter, though I'm afraid my phone didn't do a stellar job of capturing them.

From sunrise....

To sunset.  (Which, I must say, comes at a much nicer time of day.  Just my opinion.)

Soaring

Got this card from Kam a while ago, after I got exam results back. It certainly made me chuckle :)