Shotgun Geniez

You get to see quite a few interesting signs, sculptures, buildings, advertisements, etc, when you drive across the country. This is one of our favorites.

A few clues letting you know this must be one classy joint.
1 - It's closed on Sundays, at least after 4 am.
2 - Only high class acts would want to perform at "Shotgun Geniez Performing Arts Center"
3 - The sign is painted on a semi-trailer.
4 - The sign is located in the middle of nowhere Nebraska.

Motel Fun

We had plenty of opportunities to stay in hotels on our trip, which is exciting for a 3 year old, not so much for mommy and daddy who don't get much sleep. But Claire finds activites to practice such as perfecting her waitressing skills. By the end of the trip, we didn't have to clean up many spills.

And Rachel just likes to be out of her car seat and explore, especially the bathrooms. (Yuck!)

The Car

Three days to Utah, two days to Oregon, two days to Utah, three days to Kentucky, all in the car. The girls were very good. We are lucky because we don't have a DVD player in our car and the girls are great without it. Hopefully they continue to be great travelers as we plan to make this trip again. Rachel ate, slept, talked and watched Claire. Claire read, sang, listened to stories, talked and even learned how to eat Chex from between her toes. Oh the things you can do in a car.

Skiing (well kind of) at Powder Mountain

Our trip out west over Christmas holidays was planned to end with a day skiing and snowboarding with Gordon (Paul's brother) at Powder Mountain. This year Claire was old enough and she was set. She had been talking about it, she looked the part - ski pants, goggles, hat, gloves- she was ready. That is until it was time to put on the skis. We paid for a lesson for her for 1/2 day until noon and since no other kids were there, her group lesson was going to be a private one with a really nice man named Greg. We left her in Greg's capable hands and hit the slopes. After a couple times down the mountain - in "epic snow", as Paul put it - I still didn't see Claire out in the lesson area. I went to see what was going on and she was in the trailer with Greg watching Shrek. She apparently was fine until Greg got her on the skis and then she lost it. Three weeks away from home, days spent in the car, rowdy days with cousins and excitement of holidays had finally caught up with her and she melted. There was no getting her back on those skis with Greg. So he very patiently played games, colored, did puzzles, and watched movies with her while we caught a few more runs in the best snow I have ever been in. I then went to pick her up so as not to waste anymore of Greg's time. It was the most expensive babysitting I've ever experienced - even beat out NYC rates. Then while Paul and Gordon went off to hit the slopes again, Claire and I went to check out the lodge.

At the lodge, we had lunch, chatted with people, and played with the camera.


After chillin' for an hour or so, we decided to try outside again. Gordon came and we thought Claire might be more willing if she saw someone else she knew on skis. (Paul and I snowboard) It worked. She put the skis on and on a very gradual slope, with Gordon right beside her and mommy at the end to catch her, she skiied!! And, she liked it!!! So we did quite a few real short runs and then Gordon was off to the mountain again.


Claire was then ready to play in the snow. We made snowmen, had snowball fights, dug tunnels, of course posed for the camera....

(check out this shot)

....and made snow angels.


Gordon came and hung out with Claire for awhile and played in the snow while I got a few more runs in the beautiful snow. We are definitely going to try it again next year. Claire is already talking about it. Maybe we will try it at the beginning of our trip.

Time with Poppa Bob

J.J.'s grandpa, Poppa Bob, is 96 years old and everytime we go to Klamath Falls, we get to spend some time visiting with him. The girls like to visit, and he enjoys holding them too, although, they do get a little squirmy and loud sometimes.

Rachel (10 months old), Great Grandpa Bob (96 years old) and Claire (3 years old).

Rachel, Poppa Bob, Claire and J.J.

Baby Jaguar

Claire is a big Diego fan (Dora the Explorer's friend if you don't have a toddler) and he has a pet named Baby Jaguar. Claire got a hold of a blue sharpie marker and while playing very quietly, she colored blue spots on her hand so she could be Baby Jaguar.

Roar!

The picture doesn't do her artwork justice.

Another Day of Sledding!

We started off the New Year with more snow in Oregon (it is now almost March and they are still getting snow. I don't think they are as excited about it now as they were three months ago) The girls were very excited that day and went out again for more sledding.
Isabela sometimes enjoys sitting and watching the girls as much as going down the hill herself.

Emilia and Claire were wild ones and with the snow kind of icy, they raced down the hill a little too fast sometimes.

There's nothing like some good sledding and carrying your sled backup the hill to wear you out and get you ready to go in and enjoy a nice fire and hot chocolate.

What a day!