Sledding, Snowshoeing and cocoa at the Mazama Lodge

Abe: We had crazy fun on Mt Hood today because there was 4 feet of new snow, so much we made tree avalanches and got mashed lots by gigantic snowfalls. 

We needed snowshoes to get there from our car, and we went sledding, well I mean saucering - look how fast!!!

We played in the snowcave and had snack and cocoa at the Mazama Lodge - wow whata day.  We slept on the way home. 

Christmas Eve and a picture puzzle

We went to the Christmas Eve candle and carols service at Hope Community Church tonight, and it was nice.   We listened to Dad sing loudly and got to light and hold our own candle.   Dad took this picture and we thought it was a fun puzzle: See if you can figure out

"What's wrong with this photo?"  (clue: several things)

Chess

Koh and I play chess, with each other and mom and dad and anyone else, too.   Koh says he never wins even though he beat me today, which was the first time I think.

Dad says he's pretty sure he didn't play chess when he was 5, but we're smarter than him anyway.

Love Letter from Dad #12

You guys just make my day sometimes.   This week you did it by reversing our nearly 6-year reading habit, that one where your mom and I read to you each night before bed.    I knew the day would come, and I should've seen it coming since you're learning to read in school and we even got some "beginning reader" books at the library last week. 

But it was a dramatic milestone tonight when we did our usual snuggled together night-time reading routine on the sofa, Abe on my left and Koh to the right.  Teeth brushed, pajamas on, 8pm.

Then you READ TONIGHT'S BOOK TO ME, simply taking turns reading each page of "My Best Friend" by Diane Namm.    Only a few words stumped you, the rest you knew or sounded out or figured out from the pictures.   That was really neat, I'm very proud of you.   I want more night reading like that one.

I love you guys,   Dad.

Holiday Express steam train!

Abe: Tonight we went with Rowan's family on the Holiday Express, this hot steam train whose horn makes a lot of noise at our house, but not so much when we ride inside it.

Koh was shocked when Santa came aboard and gave us candy canes.  We walked into every car on the train, even between the coaches in the scary dangerous part, and stuck our heads out all the open windows and gates.

Snowboarding Day #1

Koh: Today we learned to snowboard.  Dad took us to a full-day lesson on Mt Hood, and boy did we like that!   We got our own snowboards and lift passes and rode the magic carpet and shredded down and repeated that for 4 hours.   Rachael was our private professional teacher who was fun and very helpful for us both.



We fell some, but it didn't hurt... except that one one time for me when I cried a little and thought maybe I'd try checkers or skiing instead.   But I rested and build a snowman then I WAS BACK.  Watch me go.

Whooooooopeeeeeeee!!!!!