Christmasness

Christmas eve day Jesse (my step-sister) and I made the best apple pies ever (well it's a really good recipe and super fun and easy to make!). The evil step-sister, Kate, flew in that day and pretty much made it awful for everyone (that's another story- but needless to say she's not invited for Christmas ever again). Our power went out for a few hours Christmas Eve- which was interesting being 'in the wilderness.' Christmas was lovely- if we block out Kate. My family is crazy. :) The step sisters left the 26th, not speaking to each other.

Saturday Dad, Gail, Jessica (my real sister), Zach (Jessica's boyfriend), and Tim (Zach's friend) all went to a ski lodge for the day. Jessica and I attempted snowboarding. We didn't do too shabby...except when I fell off the ski lift (getting off) and bruised my tailbone! ouch! I had a lot of nice people help me learn to snowboard. :) Dad and Gail were going to go cross-country skiing but they didn't. They hung out in the lodge all day. The boys did all the crazy runs. Jess and I stuck to the bunny hill. Then we went back to the cabin for my famous enchiladas and pool games. Jess and I beat the boys! I somehow got pretty good at pool. We had SO much fun and laughed SO much. It was a great day. I am super sore today, though! :)

I've been at my sister's for a couple days...then Gail and I get to go to the spa on Wednesday!

Oh I got an update from Lucki on Mac (she's watching him for me while I'm away)- apparently he's really mad! I hope he won't be mad at me when I get home! Jessica has two cute cats and the little one went in my suitcase the other day and peed on a shirt!!! He must have smelled my Mac!

Back in the Northwest.

I had a blast today! Gail and I took the truck out to cut our tree- she had a permit. We saw some wild turkeys! Did you know they roost in trees? We saw them sitting in trees! We tried to find the area where we could cut trees, however, the access road was full of snow and we didn't want to try that. So we went into town looking for the one tree farm and then to see if there were any trees in town (not Spokane--Newport, super tiny place). Nope. So we called my dad for directions to the tree farm, and it was where we thought it was (which we supposedly drove by). Then we got on the wrong highway and stopped at "the Gingerbread Farm," because it looked cozy, to ask for directions. Mrs. Clause opened the door (okay so she was wearing a red apron) and let us inside (it smelled so yummy in there!). She had no clue where the tree farm was but her husband did. Then on our way out she gave us the most delicious red velvet cookies! Apparently it's a goat farm! And they put out the extra vegetables/fruit they grow for free out in their lawn in summer! Cool.

Anyways, so back on our adventure we pass the place we think the tree farm is on again and then come up to Muffler Bob's Shop. We inquired there for the tree farm. He told us they picked up and left town! What? Lame. We told him we had a permit and he then offered his 16 acres for us to cut a tree! So we did! We found the perfect tree and shoveled away the snow and Gail did the saw-work... Success! We're going to decorate it tomorrow!

This whole process took like 4 hours or so! I got TONS of chat time with Gail! It was wonderful. Jesse, her step-daughter got in town yesterday but refused to come with us to cut the tree. Her loss! We had so much fun!

Then tonight we went to the gym (spin class is intense!) and then made homemade raviolis! So fun! I want a pasta maker! It's so easy!!!!