vancouver. kiwi style

New Years Day, Lindsey and I joined Bob, Scott, Owen, and Damien up to Vancouver. Mind you, the car had 5 seats. There were 6 of us. Cozy much?

We had a couple of beautiful clear days in Vancouver. Ate good food. Saw the city. And laughed til my stomach couldn't take it any longer. It was great fun!

Lindsey, Bob, Me, Damien, Scott, Owen. A-Team.

dream home. boat houses.

home sweet home!

boys and concrete toys

the boys the 'sperm'

 Lindsey took off early early in the morning. I stuck around a bit longer then time to leave for me as well. Train, bus, taxi then finally to a hostel in Seattle. 

all aboard!

 A day of site seeing in Seattle before heading back home to the South. 

space needle

gum wall

 Ate good food per Ali's request. Drank some Starbucks. Walked til my feet hurt. 

you stay classy, Seattle. until next time!

 Catch ya later, West Coast! Back to school for now. 

seattle bound

From Park City, I headed north to Seattle to meet up with some good kiwi folks and study abroad friends from New Zealand days. (the best days.)

more mountains!

I met up with Lindsey, Katie and Boo at the airport where we were greeted by our favorite host, Nora. Oh how I've missed these ladies! She took us site seeing around her stomping grounds. 

look ma, we made it! 

Nora's ladies

Mt Rainier far off there

the freemont troll

even found a Cockroach look alike! 

From Seattle, Katie, Lindsey, Boo and I headed up to Mt. Baker in search of snow. 

We also found our Kiwi friends: Scott, Damien, Owen, and now Vancouver native, Bob. 

Damien, Bob, Owen

Scott takin Mt. Baker by storm

Katie and Boo left for a New Years in Seattle while Lindsey and I stayed with our new Canadian and not so new Kiwi friends. Things got weird... but great fun nonetheless!

 

morning after clean up

 Happy 2013! Hope your celebrations were just as grand!

merry christmas from the mountains

Let the holiday celebrations begin! Mom and I flew out a bit earlier than the boys to meet up with Ali and Bevan in beautiful Salt Lake City. We had some time in gorgeous, cool, blue sky days to site see and shop and finally head to the mountains. 

flying into SLC

With the lil jeep filled to the brim with groceries and luggage, Ali, Mom, and I headed west to the mountains, just as Google Maps directed.

solid advice

We were greeted with a cute home for the week and piling snow.

Finally the boys met us up there. Then Aunt Sandy and Uncle Keith. What a house-full of great family!

sibling love

bros

snow on snow on snow

a house down the road "blew over"  (??) whoops.

while the house was great and seemingly close to the slopes, it was a bit of a hike every day

complete with a nice apres ski hot tub

 Christmas Eve included a feast of a dinner after a long day of skiing.  Then, some Moonshiners (the Discovery tv show about making moonshine) and puzzles before Santa could come. 

Christmas morning was nice and leisurely. Secret santa gifts were exchanged.  And we woke to a nice dusting of snow outside. 

our lil christmas tree. (the mandarine for perspective...)

headed up the mountain

We made a pit stop at a cheeky martini party on the slopes. Good times had by all on this Christmas Day!

Merry Merry Christmas to all!

home for the holidays

While I wouldn't say I was really home, home for the holidays this year, the whole break was wonderful and my days at home even more treasured.  Being at home included a lot of barn work and some catching up with family and friends.

How about a beautiful winter day paddle with some great people?

including a cheeky jumping rock jump

And a screening of The Hobbit. IMAX. 3D. nearly life changing.

me and Bolling all too excited!

Bolling the grey?

Also, sleepovers, lunch dates, and dinner parties. 

Mer Mer returned from her semester in the Turks and Caicos. 

Our lifelong neighbors, the Brannen's moved out of their house.  No more trampoline. No more street basketball games. And no more "let's just ask if we can borrow the Brannen's ______."

(a terribly sad walk down memory lane... oh the stories that house has witnessed!)

such good times