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Friday, February 25, 2011

Stair Climber

First try for the top Ayla makes it up both flights of steps and takes one of mommy's heels along the way.

YouTube Video

- Posted from my iPhone

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

An Evening with Ayla

Practicing my dexterity, sometimes I miss...


What are YOU looking at?


Busy bee, where'd my soccer ball go?? 2mins of Ayla. Bob and i now finally understand the FamilyCircle comic strip! If i could draw an Ayla dotted line around the living room, it would be hilarious. Btw, for you Facebookers, this is a YouTube video...

YouTube Video

- Posted from my iPhone

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

2 mi lunchtime run

Trying to fit workouts back into my schedule.
Enjoyed the blossoms on the trees...




- Posted from my iPhone

Monday, February 21, 2011

Happy Belated Birthday Grandma!!

Since we were on the road back from Tahoe yesterday, we'll post some birthday pics today. At least we got to say Happy Birthday on the phone! Xo




- Posted from my iPhone

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Snow dreams

While I was skiing, Bob took this pic of Ayla watching the snow fall, too cute! I just love it!


- Posted from my iPhone

Friday, February 18, 2011

Tahoe snow

We had unbelievable weather in January, temps in the 70s, so when it started to rain this week, I knew it was snowing in Tahoe! I told Bob, I'm taking off Friday and skiing!
So we set out Thursday after work and it was probably our most treacherous drive TO Tahoe yet. 18 wheelers lined the side of the road hunkering down for the night, a tour bus skidded out and blocking a lane, never mind the normal yahoos at the chain check in compact sedans being snickered at as they have to pull aside.


I've said it before, thank goodness for our all wheel drive "Tahoe Mobile". We didn't get in until midnight but we got in safe!
It snowed all night and never let up, even as I type this. I really can't describe the ski conditions, and my iphone pictures do not illustrate just how DEEP the snow is. From the chair lift, people looked like little plow machines plowing along with snow up to their waists! I even witnessed, from the chair lift, a guy fall and get buried to the point where only the tips of his skis stuck out. He called for help and when I got off the lift I had to notify ski patrol to go help him!! Another time a boarder jumped into a ditch and just stuck there. He just sat for a while defeated, until he gave a friendly wave to us folks gawking from the lift telling us he was okay. People were falling and getting stuck left and right!
My mantra was "Lean back, deep knee bend, keep my tips AND my speed up." (I really did say this to myself!) If you slowed or stopped your poles were almost useless in the deep deep powder.
It worked! I did good today if I do say so myself! At least there were a lot more skiers at Squaw compared to NorthStar so I didn't have to feel so "retro" lol.
Days like today, I really miss skiing with Bob, and having him there to share the weather, scenery and atmosphere, but I am thankful to have the chance to ski at all! As of right now the snow still hasn't stopped and I'm excited for Bob to have as much fun tomorrow as I did today!
Enjoy my pics, I'm sure the last thing most of you on the east coast want to do is look at snow! Tomorrow I spend the day with Ayla, so I'm sure I'll have some pictures of my snow angel to post.
Skiing - when I ski the trees, and there aren't many other skiers around, Robert Frost's Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening always pops in my mind...



Lift warnings for KT-22. Do not get on chair unless you are good. NO easy route down



View of Olympic Village. Too snowy for any lake photos today



Grand Marnier provides a shot of warmth and a little confidence.



Sometimes no visibility



I actually edited the contrast to bring out powder lines. This run right here, snow was cutting at my knees.



I did manage to pull my phone out in time to capture this guy being stuck, he just gave up, took off his skis and waded out






The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Posted from my iPhone

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Steeler Crawl

Ayla and her Cousin Gavin crawling on Not-So-Super Sundy....

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Friday, February 4, 2011

Goodbye Vacant Lot



Goodbye vacant lot. Thank you for being a mini-wilderness in the middle of suburbia and a blank tablet to let our imaginations run free. You were a place where we could safely escape our parents for a day and vice versa. Far enough away from our TVs and our basements, but close enough to hear our parents whistle at dusk.

Tree forts, treasure hunting, bike loop, imaginary horse stable and grass dump are just a few of the things you offered. I can still hear twigs snapping under our little feet as we explored and always found something new within your tiny forest. Looking back, our weekends and summer days were filled with stories that maybe only a Shel Siverstein poem could properly capture.

We are all grown up and very far away now and whether you meant to our not, you contributed to our character and who we are today. I can't help but feel a little sorry for the current and future children of Picture and Challen. Do they know what they're losing?

For 30-35 years you have sat untouched by builders and bricks. Now, after all this time, someone is ripping you down on a cold, snowy February day in Pittsburgh.

What will you become? A modern home amidst the 70's architecture of your neighbors? Whatever it is, you are providing a blank slate and a dream for some new family and in that sense you are truly a Giving Lot.

- Posted from my iPhone

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Happy Birthday Grammy

Today is Grammy's b-day, so we'll post some random Ayla snaps to make her smile.
Other updates, she wants nothing to do with crawling. She badly wants to walk, pulls herself up on everything!!!
Bath time


Fell asleep with bottle (not normal for her)


Worn out from doctor's office


- Posted from my iPhone

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

High chair

Ayla has graduated from the bumbo to a high chair. We bought The Boon which has smooth castors and a pneumatic lift, so she can either sit at our kitchen bar or the table. I love it!
It's also a big hit with her cousin Gabby who likes to be spun and rolled around in it. Ayla seems to like it too.


This is what the full chair looks like...


Not to mention it goes nicely with our bar stools :-)



- Posted from my iPhone