Slayfest

Slayfest; noun: To drop multiple epic powder lines on backcountry skis while talking in a limited and slurred skier bum bro-brah/surfer style language and vocabulary including words like "dude", "sick", "gnar", "slay", "whoa", "epic", "powder", "snorkel", "burly", "broseph", etc...

Of course, part of the slayfest would be the climb up the mountain, involving hours of toil and sweat to reach the top.

Imminent slay commencement at 13,200' in Colorado's San Juan Mountains.

Slayment in progress in the La Sal Mountains of Utah.

A parting powder slay shot from the La Sals again. Later broseph.

our baby is a genius

Liesel may not always look like the smartest kid on the block,

but just ask the diaper (ignore the "bum" please).

Here's proof she already rolls over:



Okay, it was a total accident (check out the stunned look on her face). I was trying to document how high she lifts her head during tummy-time and she totally tipped . . . but I'm pretty sure before long she'll be beating Brian at chess and editing my blog posts. Last night watching her big eyes watch mine I found myself wishing this would all slow down a bit.

Brian just called Liesel the mayor of Cuteville.

The governor of Cute.

First place winner at the cute fair.

Labeled with a sticker that says cute.

If you were a ticket on the airplane it would be cuteclass.

In the city paved with cute.

If you were a country in the former Soviet Union you'd be Cuteastan.

I draw the line with that one.

Frank (Brian's dad) came to visit us this week. He lives in Hawaii and is about to take a job north of the Arctic Circle (no roads to it or from it-- yikes) so it was nice to get to see him. We spent our days in National Parks (shocker) hiking around. We hiked Courthouse Wash in Arches and witnessed serious beaver destruction, ice highways and sunshine.

Brian, Liesel and Frank sliding on the ice. Wish we had brought skates!

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Liesel just loves hiking.

The next day we went down to the Needles district in Canyonlands for another hike. We went to Chesler Park and dug it.

Baby Blessing Weekend

This past weekend was Liesel's baby blessing. It was SUCH a great weekend; Brian's family made it down (mom, Matt and Sarah) and so did Lindsey from my side of the fam. It was a great blessing and Liesel was an angel for the whole thing. Our friends Clay and Leslie came too-- it's so great to have friends in the area (esp. when my family lives too far to come). I can't get over how much I love little Liesel. She's 7 weeks today and will smile so much! The picture above was taken at church right after her blessing.


My mom made this amazing dress for her. I know the pictures below look a little like Liesel is flying (they kind of remind me of those quick frame photos where they drop a cat in front of a black screen until it lands on it's feet), but it shows how beautiful the dress is.

We managed to squeeze in some serious game playing (lots of chess and we tried our hardest to learn Carcassone).

We made cookies . . .

and skiied in the La Sals with everyone. Liesel slept so well the entire time and luckily I didn't fall-- it felt so good to be back up in the peaks with the flocked fir trees all around, sweating and panting and gliding on the snow. I really, really, really love being outside. Great weekend!

the comedian

We took Liesel to church on Sunday. She graced the entire congregation with her talents: a wail/snort (her offical cry-- she litterally snorts super loud with every breath) when it was totally silent, letting out some WICKED gas in relief society and performing the cross-eyed stare (shown above) anytime someone asked "let me see your baby!"-- It may not have been the mental picture I had (sweet baby resting in my arms recieving "ooos" and "ahhs" and flashing her adorable smile to strangers) but at least she makes me laugh.

TCO

My sister, Lindsey, the queen of acronyms would totally say this photo was TCO-- Total Cuteness Overload. Liesel is too adorable for her own good.

abundance

Here lies the master of the house. And she couldn't have more willing subjects, I might add.

So this little doll and the whole lot of us had a wonderful holiday. Brian's mom, grandma, brother Matt and Sister Sarah all came to our place for the holiday.

Christmas morning. Liesel had to miss it since she was sleeping. I don't think that will ever happen again.

Homemade Horchata from our Mexican Feast. Brian's family has a tradition of making a foreign feast for Christmas and mine has a traditional meal. This year we did both (traditional on Christmas eve and Mexican on Christmas day). Both were superb.

Christmas Eve-- everyone getting ready to chow.

We spent some time in Arches (Brian just can't get enough); on Christmas day we toured the park with his grandma who had never been. Matt and I jumped over Balanced Rock. It was sweet.

a very Delicate viewpoint.

Liesel got a lot of daddy time over the weekend.

Brian and Liesel on our hike in Arches. This was really awesome-- we followed a wash until it poured over into Courthouse wash.