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Skiing Weekend

We celebrated MLK weekend with a fun ski trip to the Enchanted Circle. Saturday morning we drove to Angel Fire to meet Tess, Max, Milo, and Grif. We got a few photos, but the highlight was Aven doing two (short!) runs down the hill (Matt was holding her up, but at the end of the first run, she gave the sign language for “more”). We spent the night in Red River and then went to Enchanted Forest. Carrie gave some quick lessons to Max and then we had fun and did a little training for the Mt. Taylor Quad. Aven really took to the skis on day two at Enchanted Forest — she was fighting to go it alone without any help!







Here’s Aven and Torsten, ready to go:




Aven took a nice nap in the polk sled while giving Matt some extra training. Torsten definitely has the cross country style down!




Here’s Max leading the way, Matt with Aven, and Torsten, while Carrie snaps the photo as we take off on the trails:




Torsten then helpfully aided Matt in his training efforts:




We got one good happy family skiing photo:




We all enjoyed hanging out at the “lodge” at Enchanted Forest




and Aven found the perfect comfy chair:




Matt (and Aven) execute the black diamond descent with grace:

From 2011 MLK Weekend

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Back Home

After a great visit to Lubbock, we had a fairly relaxing and low key week at home before 2011 really kicked into gear. There were several packages waiting us, so it was time to enjoy opening gifts again (thanks to all!!!)





Torsten LOVED his t-shirt (THANKS NANA!)




Both kids were excited for the pillow pets (is this the new kid-fad? Silly bands seem to be on the way out here…)




We were all happy to be relaxing at home — inspired by Gramps to get serious about fires in the fireplace and Matt enjoying his great mugs from Ben. HAPPY 2011 ALL!





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Great Holidays, 2010

We had a fantastic holiday season. We went to Lubbock for Christmas and caught up with Matt’s family. It was really fun to see the cousins together in action:





We had the whole family together for just a few days, and the boys didn’t mind celebrating (opening gifts) a few days early since Uncle Ben & Aunt Gretchen (and Junior in the oven) flew out on the 24th.







Aven has really become a toddler and is developing a strong personality in the last few months — she got into the spirit of things!




We had fun picking out the perfect tree, playing piano, hanging out, reading w/ gramps, and cooking (and eating) lots of good food.










Thanks all for making the effort to get together, and thanks Grams and Gramps for hosting!!

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Aven Turns One – What a Year!

Aven turned one yesterday. What a year and an amazing amount of change for her and the whole family! It started in Juneau:

From Aven First Year

Welcome home and to the family Aven!

From Aven First Year

What a big girl, growing up over a year and having lots of adventures:

From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year
From Aven First Year

And she and Torsten started their own rock band already (click on the photo to get the movie of Torsten and Aven rocking out):

From Aven First Year

To many, many more fun years and adventures!

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This is not your ordinary, everyday stuff!

What a fantastic final week of summer–family and vacation (and lots of lobster!) in coastal Maine — Mom & Dad rented a place in Corea, just outside of Acadia National Park (thanks Mom & Dad!!!). Family:

From Maine, August 2010

LOBSTAH!

From Maine, August 2010

Surprise birthday celebration on the back porch of the Corea place

From Maine, August 2010

Lots of family to enjoy! Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Grandparents, great uncles, great aunts, great grandparents, and more!

From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010

Aunts and Uncles who shouldn’t sleep as much as they do! (Thanks for all the help with childcare during the week!!!)

From Maine, August 2010

Did I mention beaches?

From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010

GIANT Boots at Freeport (LL Bean)

From Maine, August 2010

And friends!! (BEVIN!! WAHOO!) in Freeport, lunchin’ w/ Carrie and the kids (and all of us). So great to visit with everyone!

From Maine, August 2010
From Maine, August 2010

Oh, “This is not your ordinary, everyday stuff!” — that’s what Torsten said while running in and out of the breaking waves of the Atlantic Ocean at Sandy Beach in Acadia National Park with his cousins.

If you are a masochist (or grandparent) and need to see all 224 photos.. well…

Maine, August 2010