Mom goes Skiing!!!! (without wee ones!)

Yes, its true... Ernie was superdad on sunday morning and kid-wrangled (even though he was called out for a tech emergency... go E!) so that I could go hike and ski Third Creek for the first time. It was a steep hike that kicked my nearly-off-the-couch mommy butt, and we had to pick our way out through manzanita to the trailhead, but in the upper bowl the corn was fast an fun, and well... can you beat the views?






Ahhhhh. I needed that.

With my Mind on my Bottle

...and my bottle on my mind.



He looks pretty comfy in there, hey? Just out for a cruise around the 'hood that day.

It has occurred to me on at least a few occasions that it's a pretty sweet deal for the kiddos getting toted and rolled around in their various conveyances....




Here we have the "baby backpack", made for carrying kid, diapers, bottles, extra clothes, toys, books, hat, blanket, etc etc etc... all conviently on Mom's back. We skied to the local coffee shop down by the beach during the last big storm as all the roads were thick with snow.




And here's Charlotte looking utterly exhausted after being pulled behind Dad in her "princess carriage" (aka the ski trailer, of which we unfortunately have no picture, but to describe it is a totally enclosed sled, complete with padded seat and clear plastic front "window"... quite cush)...see, she's even too tired to wipe the whipped cream off of her nose. Poor kid.



And last but not least, we have the old standby... Momsarms. This pic is from the Snowfest parade... ironic ain't it? A few weeks ago we were skiing on the streets, and during "snowfest" note the profound lack of snow...

This summer we'll be torturing them with the strenuous "bike trailer", in which they will be required to actually sit upright, cozied in with blankets and toys, while being wheeled around behind a parent-powered bicycle. No-one call cps, please... all this exercise is GOOD for them.

Howdy There Pardner

It was another gorgeous, sunny day here in Tahoe, so the Ash Man and I were out on the front deck goofing off with the computer's camera. I think this look says it all for our little charmer... kinda like he's about to say "so hey, how about comin' over to MY play disc for awhile and checkin' out the plastic barn and spotted cow here.... and this toy tractor has some pretty sweeet tunes..."