Lauren & Josie Skiing

As those of you who know Hill, patience is one of his finest qualities. And his patience has been shown time and time again as he has taught many members of the Austin family how to ski. He started off with yous truly...then onto Toby, Austin, Natalie, Josie, Lauren and finally James and Grace.

Here is a little clip of Lauren and Josie skiing this weekend. It is hard for the kids when they only get one or two days a year on the slopes. They spend all day remembering all their bodies need to do to not fall. Then spend the whole year remembering they knew how to do it. Then they get back out a year later and have to learn all over again.

All the kids do a great job, but we have been blown away by Lauren's natural talent. Just wish she lived closer and we could ski with her more often!

Winter Carnival

The Winter Carnival really is one of the best things about life here in Steamboat. You feel a real sense of community starting at the Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast and walking over to Main Street to watch the locals, young and old alike, compete in the street events. It is magical how the town celebrates its snow. We have been so fortunate that for four of our five years here, we have had family travel up to enjoy the festivities with us. This year Annie's parents along with her nieces Josie and Lauren came up.

Papa with the three stooges.

On the top of Mt. Werner. Nana REALLY enjoyed the gondola ride up...and down again.

Josie getting a free ride from Uncle Hill's skis.

The girls in the tree outside the church after eating pancakes! Monkey see, monkey do!

Emery and Lauren inside a snow sculpture on main street. Silly kids!

The Traveling 12 Days of Christmas

And we are off for 12 festive and fun filled days with friends and family across Colorado.

We will be with Hill's family in Denver for Christmas Eve and morning and then off to Holyoke for Christmas Day through the 30th with Annie's family.

We will return to Denver in time to ring in the New Year and for Annie and Hill to get their Panic on at the Widespread show at the Pepsi center.

We will stay through Saturday the 3rd when we will celebrate the season one last time with the Ortner's.

Then, back home to the Winter Wonderland we call home...Steamboat.

With all the coming and going these holidays, we got Emery a portable DVD player. Here he is in the backseat with his sunglasses AND headphones on. Too cool for school!

Christmas Cards

It is the Monday before Christmas...and our cards have yet to come in the mail. Wanting to be both environmentally and financially conscious, we opted to do postcards this year. (No envelope to throw away and less money spent on stamps.) We ordered them back on the 9th thinking we had plenty of time. But alas, they are still not here. And, we leave tomorrow to celebrate the season with our families in Denver and Holyoke.

But, we wanted to be sure to say Happy Holidays to each of you...and look for cards maybe in the new year.

Here is what you have to look forward to! :)

James and Grace Come to Visit

This weekend Annie's brother Christopher and his family came to visit us in Steamboat. It was so fun for them to come. Hill was able to teach his 7th and 8th Austin family member to ski. Grace liked it...but James loved it. I think he would still be out on the slopes if we would have let him.

We had a great time playing in the snow! We can't wait for Chris, Julie, James and Grace to come back again!


Cuddling up together to watch A Christmas Story. I think it is only fitting that the first time Emery met Ralphie and heard about the official red ryder bb gun he was with his uncle Chris.


James reading to Emery before bedtime.


Emery and Gracie brushing their teeth.


Everyone went sledding on the hill behind our house Sunday morning. It was a treat!


James and the Giant Icicle.

It's begining to look alot like Christmas...

As most of you know, I'm a bit of a nut for holiday decor. At last count, I have 119 snowmen in my collection. Hill was a bit surprised when he married me that I came all this merriment. But, when you are the goddaughter of an owner of a gift shop who sells Department 56 Snow Villages and the niece of an Aunt who got you a very special Christmas ornament each year...you have lots of good stuff!


But, I am happy to say that my excitement for decorating the inside of the house has finally been met with my husbands excitement for decorating the outside of the house.

And Emery got in the spirit this year, too. He put FIVE ornaments on this one branch. He was very, very proud of himself!

Oh Tannenbaum, Oh Tannenbaum

For the last two years we have hiked into the forest to cut our own Christmas tree. It is beautiful to be out in the trees and nature...but there are no packed paths to the perfect tree. And after post-holing in hip deep snow for an hour, we looked at each other and asked why we just didn't pay the $75 for the one in the grocery store parking lot. Fa, la, la, la, la.


All ready to head in!


Emery thought that eating the snow was the best part.


Here comes Hill with the tree over his shoulder. Such a good guy.


And we've got it! Not really sure what we were thinking taking the VW and not the Land Rover to get the tree. Oh well...more Clark Griswold this way.