Sled Games 2010

This year Dave and I headed up the first annual Sled Games.  The rules were simple - each couple was in charge of making a sled using items in the garage. Supplies were allowed to be purchased, but no more than $5 was allowed to be spent.  Also, no pre-existing sled was allowed to be used in the process.  The competition was multi-faceted. You could win an award in any of the four following categories: Speed, distance, best design, and the show off award (consisting of tricks and jumps).

So, on Wednesday the sleds were made and on Thursday the whole family went up to Butte Meadows to start the competition.  We had a fire pit going to keep warm along with hot tea.  My parents were the judges - let the games begin!!  Brittany and Anthony crafted their sled out of a pool mat and a wood frame. Unfortunately, their sled didn't, ...well, ....sled. Cassie and Bill's sled was an up-side-down ironing board with roasting pans glued to the bottom.  To craft a seat, they used a laundry basket.  My little brother David's sled came complete with a flag on top. He used a piece of plywood with a lawn chair on top.  Half of a bucket completed the front of his sled.  Dave and I used a scrap of linolium we picked up from Lowes and constructed a wood frame with rope handles to brace ourselves. As you can see, the pictures describe the rest.

Ornament Exchange

Dave and I started the tradition last year of giving each other an ornament every Christmas.  We exchange ornaments the day we decorate the tree.  I had to laugh this year (and last) about how much our personalities come out in the exchange.  Dave always gets me a very sentimental ornament, and mine are usually silly.  Opposites attract, right? =)

Here's us decorating the tree this year and the ornaments we got each other.  Dave's gift to me was a prayer angel.  He said he was inspired because of how much I pray - for us, for family, etc.  I got him.....a BBQ.  Because a BBQ was a special gift this year and Dave loves his steak, I felt like this ornament was fitting. Please excuse  my hair - this was after a long day of playing in the snow.  We both still have our thermals on.  Oh, and our tree is a little Charlie-Brownish.  It was snowing hard and we had been looking and hiking for a while.  This tree was originally like 20+ feet tall and we took the top off of it, so we couldn't really see what it looked like until we cut it down.  Branches were injured in the process.

Christmas Tree Cutting

This past weekend we went up to the mountains to get a Christmas tree.  It was the first time testing out the 4-wheel drive in our new car.  She handled like a champ.  We had a blast with my sister, her husband, and my little brother. It was snowing pretty heavily, but we enjoyed the scenery and played until we got too hold to stay out any longer.  Hot tea and Christmas music made our ride home warm and peaceful.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was a blast. We spent it in Chester with the Chester Corys!  The day was spent playing basketball, eating lots of food, putting up lights, walks through the snow, and a movie and apple pie to finish it off.  The pictures tell the rest!

The most traveled day of the year!

All you Thanksgiving travelers, enjoy your flight with all the new TSA inspections going on.  I hope these bumber stickers brighten your day.

(Yes, they are edited by me for appropriateness)

Craving to be Close

Our Dog has definitely established himself as one of the family.  He is extremely physically affectionate and where we are, he wants to be.  If we're sitting on the couch, he's right between us.  If I'm working at the desk, he's at my feet.  We love the little guy but REALLY?  These pictures prove my point and show his intrusive nature....

Trying to read.....

 

The ol' snout on the arm trick!  I'm on to you!

 

Dave, trying to work while Ollie using his toy as a chin rest.....

 

Ollie, making it somewhat difficult to see all the words on the page....

 

Paw on keys.....

 

Ok, now if this isn't intrusive, I don't know what is!

 

The ear...

 

As if the ear wasn't enough....

 

Sleeping while I'm trying to finish my dinner....

 

Laying on Dave's legs while he's trying to do push ups...

I was attempting to pop Dave's back until this little guy came along...

 

Dave, trying to have his morning quiet time.....

Man Toys

So, I was perusing through the aisles at Lowes, looking for a hand truck, when I happened to find the BBQ section.  Dave and I have been without a BBQ and have been borrowing my brother in-law's tiny apartment BBQ that sits on a table for the time being.  Since it was the end of the season, I had to check and see if they had any sales.  There she was, a lonely but beautiful Webber BBQ.....stainless steel......no price.  It had a few scratches on it so I figured it must have been returned.  The associate said it was originally almost $500, but he'd give it to me for $250.  I looked at him, placed my hand on my hip and said, "Can you do any better than that?"  He pulled me aside and in a half whisper said, "If you come back tomorrow, I think I can sell it to you for $150."  Now that's more like it!  Guess who was driving in to Lowes early the next day?  I bought the BBQ and a cover, and managed to haul it home and unload it with my mom's help that day (that in it self what a sight......two ladies trying to lift a BBQ off of a truck).

Dave came home to a surprise that night.  I had steak marinading all day and beer in the fridge.  The video explains the rest.