Let it Snow
A foot of fresh snow is delightful. For daughter, doggie and daddies. Just going for a walk is a work-out.
5 years ago
5 years ago
Cabin (Post) Christmas
The day after Christmas we made the journey back to Bellevue as Caleb’s college girlfriend was scheduled to visit from Indiana. We whisked her from airport to the cabin and had three wonderful days playing in the snow. Honorary third daughter Haden joined us for the fun adding to the overall teenage energy.
Dec 27, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
Twas the NIght Before….
Our impromptu trip to Portland gave us the opportunity to watch a live performance of Nana & Ed’s carefully scripted reading of the Charles Dicken’s classic holiday poem. It was originally to be a Zoom theatrical performance, but seeing it live was a treat. I love my Mom’s willingness to be silly and fun. And it was. So thankful for such positive energy and sentiments. We even got to to play some competitive games of ping pong which had strong “Hildie” vibes and was a fitting memorial to her equally positive spirit.
Dec 25, 2020 . 12:00 AM
Ho Ho LO Christmas
Our plan for Christmas was similar to our plan for Thanksgiving: shelter at the cabin with our immediate family and then zoom the extendeds. But 2020 laughs at human plans. As we were mid-transit to the cabin (Caleb & Elise were just arriving), Hope got a call from her parents; they had received some health-related news and so all cars were immediately reprogrammed to travel to Lake Oswego instead of Cle Elum. And so we had an LO Christmas. Complete with existential Jesus cake. Round-trip cinnamon rolls. And dogs sleeping wherever they wanted. It was lovely. We even got to Zoom the SF Flannerys on Christmas to salvage a small part of our original planning. If 2020 has taught the world anything, it’s flexibility and opportunism. Plans need to be changed, and a positive attitude can make a three hour journey one of the best memories of the year. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Dec 25, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
Off to Grandma’s House we Go
While I was learning about perfectly carving ski turns in Deer Valley, Caleb & Elise drove to Portland for some time with Daisy & Poppa. They got to participate in the annual “making of the cinnamon rolls.” A tradition that Daisy & Poppa have been doing with dear friends for many many years. Elise is especially talented at baking, and has already turned the family recipe into her own holiday trademark. The tradition will continue. And Caleb was there too, adding his own style of Christmas exuberance to every conversation. I am so proud of my kids, and the relationship they have with their grandparents.
Dec 19, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
Maher Ski Camp at Deer Valley
One minute I was preparing an upcoming homeschooling lesson, and the next minuteHope was explaining to me how I was going to fly to Utah the next weekend to go to ski camp with my old friend Alan. And not just any ski camp, but the “Maher” ski camp, hosted by multiple Olympic medalists Steve & Phil Maher. So a week later, without much fuss or contemplation, I found myself at Deer Valley where Alan and I got to ski for five days in perfect conditions while world-class instructors analyzed our technique and did their best to turn us into competent skiers. Our primary instructor, Eddie, had moved to Deer Vally 38 years ago from Michigan to ski, and never left. He had an almost religious dedication to both mogul skiing and fresh powder, although so early in the season we didn’t get much of either. We got to ski every day with either Steve & Phil, two of the most humble and engaging Yakima born & bred gentlemen I have had the pleasure of meeting. Jillian & Scott were our group-mates, and good for joyful nutritious enthusiasm or an awkward story respectively. By the end of the week, Alan and I had improved as skiers, had eaten extraordinarily well and had a tremendous amount of fun.
Dec 18, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
Tis the Season
Most years, during the weekend after Thanksgiving, we visit one of the many Christmas tree farms in the Cascade mountains and ceremoniously chop down a tree (after lengthly debate on which tree is the right tree). This year was no different, other than we were all in masks as we wandered the rows of douglas firs and nobles. As a counter-point to our questionable environmental habits, we bought our first artificial tree for the cabin. A quick Costco-purchase that arrived in an enormous box and looked like a dense, squat shrub when unpackaged. I tried to manually bend the shrub into something that resembled the Christmas tree on the box when the kids helpfully pointed out that the tree came with a remote control. And when the appropriate button was pushed, the tree mechanically grew and expanded from small squattishness, into tall plastic majesty (with just a few branches bent in odd directions due to my impatient manhandling). A modern Christmas miracle. A lesson to all to read the instructions before attempting assembly of anything, especially a sacred religious symbol. I’m looking forward to future Christmases when “pressing the button” will be as anticipated as our annual walk through the tree farm.
Dec 1, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
5 years ago
Family Time
Like everything else in this bizarre year, Thanksgiving was a lesson in adjusting to new circumstances. Instead of a full house of relatives and friends, the five of us had lots of game nights, baking projects and long walks. And Zoom calls with extended family who were also hunkering down for the holiday. With the announcement that vaccines have been developed and were ready for approval and distribution, we are all hopeful that we’ll be able to spend more time with our out-of-town family next year. But we are also thankful for the opportunity to spend so much time together, even if it sometimes devolves into stepping onto squishy play-dough with bare feet while blindfolded. Priceless.
Nov 25, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
Return of the Conquering Heroes
After six weeks, many countless twisty miles of horse-trailer stress driving, three competitive Eventing competitions, four new tires on the Land Rover, and seven different lodging experiences, the girls returned home bearing ribbons earned, dusty sun-kissed faces and weary, but proud, smiles. We missed them terribly while they were gone, but I’m so happy that Hope and Abby got this concentrated time together doing what they both love. The horses were magnificent (well mostly, when Bella was in the mood) and both girls rode well and met fellow competitors from all over California. A fantastic trip that they will surely remember forever.
Nov 17, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
First Snow
Not only were Elise and I lucky enough to experience the first snow of the year at the cabin, but we woke up to find that the local herd of elk had selected our property as their winter camping spot. Such massive animals that are almost completely silent with a few inches of snow on the ground to muffle their movement.
Nov 16, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
A Tradition Unlike Any Other
Due to the pandemic, the Masters golf tournament was postponed until November for the first time in its history. With only a few days until the California girls returned from their epic adventure, I was prepared for some aggressive sofa-sitting for the duration. Epic.
Nov 15, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
Colors of Autumn
My biggest challenge for our homeschooling project has been how to make science fun, interesting yet academic rigorous for my 7th grader. We were just beginning a unit on plants when we discovered that there are apps that identify everything with a simple photo of a leaf, bark or berry. So we walked around the neighborhood (or scooter’ed) with the dogs snapping pics of interesting plants. We don’t have the same explosion of color that New England or the midwest does, but it’s just enough to make it feel like a proper autumn. Beautiful trees, a crispness in the air, and an opportunity for Elise to dress Finn in one of the several doggy outfits she has purchased for him (poor dog).
Nov 12, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
Home is where your screen is
While Elise and I were in Chicago, our California girls got a visitor of their own. Hayden flew down to LA to help Hope & Abby enjoy their sunny poolside AirBnb. With school and work being remote, it was easy for everyone to do their work from the side of the pool for a few days. Of course, the visit was a bit bittersweet as we learned that Hayden’s family, who have lived across the street from us for over 15 years, are moving. Fortunately, it is just across town (and not to Chicago), but we will miss the fun and spontaneity of having such good friends walking back-and-forth between houses.
Nov 8, 2020 . 12:00 AM
5 years ago
Sweet Home Chicago
The days until our trip to Chicago were being counted down like Lord’s a-Leapin’ as you approach Christmas. Because the Windy City was the new home for the Tapp family and her best friend Addy. Daily FaceTime conversations are great, but it’s a poor substitute for a real hug or seeing two friends laugh uncontrollably over joke that only they understand. So we boarded a direct flight from Seattle to Chicago, donned our masks, and made the trip across the country to see our good friends. We were there for five wonderful days. The girls spent every second together in blissful silly harmony. I got to play golf everyday with Chris and Mack (it was a surprising 75 degrees in Chicago our entire trip, a rarity for early November). And we got to watch Marni every night on TV interpreting the bizarre and hyper-emotional Presidential election results as they trickled in over the week we were visiting. Given that a Presidential Election is like the Super Bowl of cable news, we were thankful that the family welcomed us with such great hospitality during such a stressful week.
Nov 7, 2020 . 12:00 AM
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