Christmas 2021

 For Christmas this year, the kids requested that we find a place to play in the snow. This year we planned to go to the Columbia River Gorge and Old Man Pass sledding hill before Christmas. We were going to bring the RV so we could sled and ski for a couple of days prior to Christmas.

Plans had to be flexible when our car decided to break down before the trip. Parts were ordered so we decided to have an early Christmas and then go play in the snow.

The kids always ask for matching Christmas jammies.

 

One of our annual traditions is to start the day with a search for the snow pals that we hide. 

I love the chaos after we open gifts.  It's fun to watch the dogs play in the wrapping paper and the kids explore their gifts. 

Alia bought felt this year and felted all of us gifts.  I absolutely love her felted Avery.

She was gifted lots of craft kits, art supplies, and baking kits this year. 

Avery got a rowing machine, science activities, and things for his ant colony.

Avery knows I love puzzles.  This year he bought me a puzzle that is a giant QR code attached to a prize.  We spent the day putting it together and completed it in one day.  I didn't win the big prize but I did win in family quality time.

Our favorite Christmas morning bread we make every year. 

The car breaking was a blessing in disguise because the pass had three feet of fresh snow.

We had fun playing in the snow for a day but had to leave early because a snow storm and cold temperatures were headed for Vashon. 

Old man pass had a snowstorm while we were there so we had plenty of fresh snow to play in.  We enjoyed the sledding hill and the snow shoe path.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A full day of snow can wear you out.

One of the gifts we got the family was a monthly escape room in a box.  We were excited that our first box takes place in Iceland since we are going there in June on our way to Switzerland.  The first box was challenging and we made it half way through the challenge the first night.

We made it home just in time for the snow to hit.  We ended up with 7 inches of snow overnight and were able to go sledding on our favorite road.  There's more snow on the way on Thursday.

We also tried sledding on one of the trails we take the dogs.  It too proved to be a very fast hill even though there wasn't much snow.

Halloween 2021

Mt Pilchuck

The road to the trailhead was full of huge potholes.  It took 45 min to go 5 miles.

The trail was an easy hike with a gradual grade.  We hiked 5.5 miles in 6 hours.  It was a slow going trail because there were a lot of boulders to climb over.

The fall colors were beautiful

The final push to the top was scary.  We had to climb over these large boulders to get to the fire tower.  The dogs couldn't climb the last part so we carried them in our packs. 

The clouds rolled in when we made it to the top but it was a nice view because we were above the clouds.  We enjoyed eating lunch up there.

I carried her a little while on the way back and she enjoyed the ride.  At 11 I was afraid the hike would be hard for her but she did really well.

Luna also enjoyed the ride but was ready to get down sooner.

Fall Sports

Alia had her first cross country meet on Tuesday on Vashon.  She ran the 1.5 mile middle school course through the school woods and on our school campus.  She did well and said she loved it. 

On Saturday Avery had his first Regatta.  It was a scrimmage at home with a Seattle team.  We had amazing weather. 

The first race he did was in a two person boat named Frankenboat.  He said it was hard to steer as the boat was actually made up of two different boats. 

In his second race, he was on a four person team with a coxswain.  Both races were a 5k.  They did well for their first race and being novices on the team.  Avery really likes rowing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday we ran The Run of Hope in Island Center Forest on Vashon since it was a virtual race again this year.  Over 50 people came to run or walk the course.  Team Maarten raised over $56,000 this year!