Picture Dump / Quick update

As with any family of five during the holidays, times have been busy. Over Thanksgiving we went to Mississippie to see Heather's side. They are in the middle of no where so we did things like ride the 4 wheelers, get stuck in the mud, shoot guns, hunt animals, and all of that good stuff. The kids absolutely love it out there. YE HAW!!!


Logan shooting his new BB gun. No bird, squirl, cat, or dog is safe. We woke up every morning and had to take a hike around the property looking for something to shoot. I told him if he shot it and killed it, he had to eat it. Unfortunately it did not deter him any.

And of course you can not go into the country with out having a big A$$ fire.

I did manage to make it out for 6 hour at Noxebee National Forest. This trail system has a lot of potential. This is not groomed singletrack/double track. I bet it is really good once the leaves have been rode into the ground.

Last weekend we made it to the mountain house and the families very first ski trip. Logan was the only boy of the 5 kids there. I guess when in Rome. He sure does make a pretty girl.

I am sure it was all in his master plan. He ended up sleeping in the bed with them too.

The next day we made it out to App. Mountain for our first ski trip. It took me 34 years to get here, but better late than never.

Logan decided he was not going to take a 1 hour lesson, so he went straight to the slopes with Heather. Hannah and the other girls took the lesson and I took Logan's spot. They obviously taught better in the kids classes or they are just good, because the girls were skiing circles around me most of the day.

Finally after a few trips down the bunny slopes and getting some shorter skies, I felt comfortable enough to hit the intermediate slopes.

Logan's idea of skiing is pointing the skis straight down and bailing out when he gets to terminal velocity. Hannah managed to defy gravity and could float down the mountain like an angle. I swear she could plow down a black diamond at 5 mph if she wanted.

I spent most of the day learning how to fall, and I got a lot of practice. I did have a few runs where I figured out the sweet spot of the skis, balance wise, and how to turn. Hint, you do not use your ankles.

All in all it was a lot of fun. I look forward to doing it again, hopefully not in 34 years.



Top of Orchard Run,

Girls at the top.

Me scoring some style points.

Heather and Logan exiting the lift. He was dangerous!!!

Logan again.

Heather, my bunny.

We spent Sunday resting the bodies and watching the rain.

Sunday I had to get the kids out of the house and go for a hike. So we hit Bass Lake in Blowing Rock. It is a old orchard house with a few miles of trails leading to the Manor.

That is the house at the top of the hill.

The lake was frozen. Logan would not quit asking if he could walk on the ice.

God help me get him to 18.

On our way up the trail. It took us a few hours to get there.

But when we did, the view was well worth it and the temps were on the rise.

A closer view of the house. Not a bad little place.

View back down to the lake.

Again, can't wait to get back to the mountains.