TravelingMel

This morning Finn woke at 3am, as he is wont to do. After a couple hours of squirming around in our bed, Finn was whisked into the living room by Henry. I rolled out of bed around 8, so that H and Finn could have three hours of quality time together. Then H went back to bed and I took over corralling the monkeys for a bit.

We painted.

Finn gets his creative juices flowing.

Anders enjoys monochromatic work.

We went for a hike up the Pine Creek Falls trail. It was supposed to be a family outing, but Finn was so tired that he fell asleep moments after getting into the truck. He slept and H hung out with him while Anders and I hiked.

And they're off.

Heading up the trail.

Over and ...

...under. That's how we roll.

Throwing snow into Pine Creek.

I know I look really tired in this picture, but that's just because I haven't slept in three years.

Climbing down to the creek.

So excited about the stick, D-dog starts licking his chops.

Everyone is in the creek now, even though the water is barely over 32 degrees.

After the hike, we drove down the hill to the Pine Creek Cafe, one of my favorite restaurants in the area.

Yum.

Finally awake.

Afternoon rolled around and it was time to get some projects done. H built a table (I'll have to get a photo of that). I moved dirt from the yard to the alley in anticipation of the yard waste pick-up tomorrow.

There's no free lunch around here. Everyone pulls their own weight.

What?

Anders jamming out to his boom box.

Finn likes the snow globe too.

Another Lincoln Log creation by Anders. Note all the animals on the roof.

Cowgirl on the roof.

Horse in the horse trough.

Frontier Freddie checks out the deer on the roof.

Anders loves rainbows so I made him this rainbow scarf.

The day before the Vernal Equinox we played in the snow. I don't know what they are looking at either.

Finn kept taking off his mittens and then asking me to wipe off his hand when he got snow on it.

Psyched to play in the snow.

Finn's hands got cold, so I took him in the house. Anders stayed out in the yard with the babysitter.

We made cookies to take on the airplane this weekend.

Banana cookies.

If you want to make some of these yummy wheat-free, sugar-free Banana Balls, try this recipe.

3.5 ripe bananas
.66 c canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 c rice flour
1 pkg chocolate chip (we didn't have chips, so skipped it. They do taste better with chocolate chips, obviously, but are sugar-free without)
1.5 tsp baking soda
4 c oats

Turn oven to 350 degrees.
Mix everything except chocolate chips and oats. Add chips and oats. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Now, where did I leave off?

The next morning we slept in until 7 am, which is super late for us. It was light outside when we got out of bed. Thanks, Anders!

The boys and I started the morning off playing in the snow while H did dishes and stoked the fire. Thanks, H! The cabin had finally started to warm up.

"Does this snowsuit make my butt look big?" asked Finn.

Finn sitting down to hide his snowsuit butt.

"Mom, can you help me get up?" said Anders, clearly in distress.
"Sure, sweetie," said his loving mom. "Just let me snap a quick photo first."

Snow play in front of the cabin.

Then we headed down the road a couple miles to the Silver Crest Ski Trails. It had snowed for several days prior to our arrival (the woman at the Forest Service office said they got three feet) and then the storm moved on and we enjoyed bluebird sky perfect days.

The only downside to all that snow is that it made pulling the Chariot a lot of work. The ski trails are only groomed once a week (on Saturdays) so we had 5 days of snow to plow through. No problem.

Finn has a little snack before we go skiing.

Off like lightening!

We stopped at an overlook. All we could see were trees. So much for wide open spaces...pretty, though.

Shelter on the ski trail.

Lunch break.

After our ski we drove back to White Sulfur Springs for another swim and some dinner. We brought food to eat in the cabin, but by the time we were done swimming it was too late to go back and cook. Dinner was followed by playing in the cabin and another super easy bedtime.

Anders asked me to take his picture. Then he gave me this face.

Finn had to get in on the portrait action, too.

Anders works on the lacing cards before bed.

Coming in from the cold.

We've been talking about weaning Finn off the paci, but he finds it so soothing that it is hard to take it away from him. However, now that he is going two at a time, we might have to put our foot down. (That's right we only have one foot between us.)

Rigby and Diesel had special cabin privileges.

I made H come in and take this picture of us after we'd been in bed for awhile because even though it was dark, I knew the light of the flash would show Rigby's cuteness.

The next morning we went for a short ski, played in the snow, cleaned the cabin and restocked the woodpile. On the way home we stopped for our third swim in the hot springs pool (Anders' request).

Everyone pitches in. Except Finn who was sleeping in the Chariot.

Dogs panting away climbing a steep hill on a sunny day.

Rigby checks out Showdown, just across the canyon.

Big, flat snow crystals on my ski up Deadman's Trail.

Anders and I made a porcupine.

Last Saturday I took the day to ski by myself. Then I went to a movie and saw It's Complicated because that's what was playing when I got there. Turns out it was pretty good.

But, back to skiing. I skied a couple miles up the trail before it got too icy and steep. One or the other is ok, but not both. Back toward the trailhead and onto another trail.

The dogs looked cute the whole time.

Diesel sits nicely next to History Rock.

Rigby won't sit, but he still looks cute.

There are a lot of pictures of the dogs here, and not much else. I was standing around for awhile letting a couple women get ahead of me so we would stop leapfrogging.

A few days after Christmas Anders and I went to a birthday party for our friend, Katie. She's three. Her parents, and my friends--Jessica and Chris--had a little celebration for her at the Mill Creek cabin in the Mill Creek drainage of the Absaroka Mountains. Why, yes, that is the largest drainage in the west side of the Absaorkas.

To be honest, Anders was a little tired--and thus a bit cranky--but he did allow me to pull him around on a sled. He was also able to eat THREE pieces of pizzas and a cupcake. That plus a lot of hugs got him through the party.

There was a lovely fire outside, yummy chili on the stove and a delicious winter drink called "the ski hill" or something like that. (Jess correct me in the comments and share the recipe if you want...)

If you want to read more about renting Forest Service cabins, check out my post on my other site, which is from a Montana Parent article I wrote.

Anders enjoyed being pulled on the sled while I ran around in big circles. Rigby and Diesel loved being able to run free for a couple hours.

Rolling in the snow is one of Rigby's favorite winter pastimes.

Other slaves, I mean parents, pulling their kids around on sleds in front of the cabin.

Mill Creek cabin

Chowing down in the cabin.

The view from the front door. Not bad.

Happy Birthday Katie Bear!

Just in! Here it the super delicious recipe from Jess:

The Ultimate Ski Lift Drink:

1 shot Peach Schnapps
1 shot Coconut Rum
Top with hot chocolate, whipped cream and coconut sprinkles (for snow). Cheers!