Whistler, BC photoshoot

Whistler, Canada

Derek and Alexis invited me to join them and the twins on a weekend trip to Whistler, Canada.  We left Thursday afternoon (11/1).  The drive from Vancouver to Whistler was absolutely stunning.  We drove along the sound and there were different islands full of trees with the leaves turning colors.  I wish I could of stopped and taken pictures.  I took a few on the way home but they did not capture our experience driving to Whistler.

Once we got set up in our hotel, we ordered "Grassroots" pizza.  One of the pizzas was a meat and blue cheese pizza and it was really delicious.  Since we arrived so late we did start exploring Whistler till the next morning.  We went on a hike around Lost Lake.  In the winter the hiking trails are snowshoeing and cross country skiing trails.  We hiked over to the lake taking pictures along the way.  Derek, Alexis, and the twins continue to their hike around the lake and I went and explored some other trails.

This was a huge tree along our hike

This is a great picture of Derek and Evan face looks so cute

Greta and Alexis on the hike

Alexis, Derek, Evan, and Greta

Lost Lake

 I had walked for quite awhile by myself and I thought I had hiked a substantial distance from our hotel.  I took a picture of a Chateau that seemed like it belonged in Europe.  I was only able to capture a small portion on my camera due to the distance I was from it.  Only later did I realize it was the hotel next to ours.  Anyway, I realized I had not gone far as the trails twist and turned so much that it took me only a short while to find the area we had started our hike at.  I really enjoyed taking pictures and the fall leaves and the beautiful scenery.

View from my hike.  I loved the yellow trees among the green.  

I ended hiking over by Lost Lake again and took more pictures.  How many pictures can you have of one lake...oh, a at least 100.

After the hike I headed into the village to find everyone else. I didn't find them but I enjoyed looking in the shops and seeing where the Olympic Awards platform was.  I went into a small grocery store and bought Maple Cookies, Kinder Eggs, and Dill Pickle Chips.  That night we went to a restaurant in the village.

Olympic Rings in the village

On Saturday it was rainy quite hard.  We went to a gym that had a rock climbing wall where Derek, Evan, and Greta conquered the wall.  Greta really just scrambled up the wall.  After rock climbing we had lunch at a yummy soup and sandwich place.  I bought a Canadian Cinnamon Bun   It was quite delicious.  We then went to a Sports Center that had three pools, hot tub, and an ice skating rink.  We went swimming not ice skating.  Greta went down the slide and I tried the rope swing.  I was the only adult in line waiting for a turn.  There was also a whirlpool in the kids pool that Alexis and I really enjoyed playing in.

Greta, the fearless mountain climber

Derek also pushed himself and conquer this overhang 

 After swimming we went to dinner at a burger joint called "Splitz" and had a great greasy burger with fresh french fries.  It was really good.  We also went to a grocery store to stock up on gummies, maple syrup, and more maple cookies.  I enjoyed the grocery stores because they sold more European goodies.  We then headed over to the Bobsled track where we watched the National Japanese Men's Skeleton team practice.  It is amazing how fast they went.  My pictures where just colored dots and they went zooming past us.

Red Dot

Black Dot

Evan relaxing after a fun day in WhistlerWe had to head home on Sunday but before we did I went and took some more pictures.  I could of spend the rest of the day taking pictures.  

I wish I had my tripod so I could a really could picture.  This whole scene looks like something from a Anne Green Gables movie.  So picturesque.

Jack-O-Laterns

Now that it is getting close to December I thought I would post about October.  We carved pumpkins the Saturday before Halloween.  Someone also left a "boo" package on the doorstep with the Dracula teeth.  I loved these when I was a kid.

Count Evan...AH AH AH AHHH

Count Greta...AH AH AH AHHH

I carved two pumpkins this year.  This was is a puzzle face.

This year the twins were one-eye monsters so I carved a Cyclops Monster Jack-O-Lantern

This is Derek and Evan's Jack-O-Lantern

This is Greta and Alexis' Jack-O-Lantern

The twins posing with all four.  I love Evan's pose.  The fifth pumpkin I cooked in hopes of eating it like a squash...it was terrible.

L to R  Back Row:  Puzzle Face and Cyclops Monster
L to R Front Row:  Mr. Smiles and I am a 4 year old that will not make eye contact 

I have Cyclops horns since the twins had horns on their costume

The beginning of falls leaves

The leaves are starting to change and it is so beautiful.  One evening when I was babysitting Evan and Greta we spent a little time outside enjoying the dry weather and beautiful fall leaves.

It's raining leaves

We had leaves in our coats and down our shirts

Life is good

This is the tree across the street from Derek and Alexis' house.  I love the red, yellow, and orange as it contrast with the green.

Greta enjoying a little bike riding

First you rake the leaves

Then you scoop them up with a snow shovel?

Get as many as you can on the shovel

Then you lift up the shovel

Tipping the leaves right back onto the ground 

Then Repeat

From Colorado to Washington

Since I have never moved my stuff up to Washington from Wyoming I decided to do it after running the Ragnar.  Sunday I rested, and rested, and rested to get ready for the drive.  Then I left Monday morning. I did stop by the University of Wyoming to see some former co-workers; it was nice to visit with them.

Owen, Kim, and I loaded up the 12 ft. Penske truck that I drove.  Monday I drove to Twin Falls, about 10 hours and spent the night.

Tuesday morning I got up early and went and did a session at the Twin Falls Temple.

As I was headed out of Twin Falls I stopped by the gorge and took some pictures. This is the north side of the bridge.

This is on the south side of the bridge

Along the Ragnar route

What's a Ragnar without some nature shots...

This was the mountain that Candace ran up, along the ridge, and down for the last leg of the Ragnar