Sun Valley Ski Trip!!

We went to Sun Valley to go skiing/snowboarding!










The view from the top was amazing!






In honor of the Olympics...

Tyler's Birthday in our New House!!

New Year's 2010!

To celebrate New Year's, Tyler and I enjoyed a mini-vacation to Jackson Hole, WY!!!!

We've been planning this for a while, and here's our living room as we were packing up for the ski/snowboard trip!!

The driving conditions were not ideal....

but it did make for beautiful scenery!

I even found the house I want to live in!!!! (Can you find it camouflaged into the snow?)

We passed some backcountry skiers; they hike up the mountain from the top of the pass, then ski down to the road and hitchhike back up the pass. Tyler says he really wants to do that!!

We finally arrived at the 49ers Inn and Suites!

Tyler collected wood to start the fire

(manly, eh?)

"Ahh, so cozy"

Early the next morning, we headed to the mountain!!

(Unfortunately you only get to see pictures of me because I'm not coordinated enough to take pictures while focusing on not falling!!)

This is the closest I will get to that backcountry skiing I was talking about earlier, and Tyler was happy to get to hike a little! (I don't know why this is underlined or how to stop it!)

Now do you be believe me about trying not to fall over?

but all in all, it was awesome!!

The Most Important Day of the Year

Today is the most important day of the year, for on this day 22 short years ago, the one and only Alyssa Grace E. was born and the world has never been the same since!

She brightens the lives of everyone she meets, brings laughter and excitement to our family, and inspires others to try to keep up with her.

Here's to you, my best friend, my big sister, Alyssa!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Christmas Vacation

I've been so busy having fun here in Washington that I haven't had time to blog!! But here is a short recap of our vacation thus far:

The arrival into Seattle with beautiful Mt Rainier in the back

Brotherly Love

We went to Sluy's Bakery in downtown Poulsbo

On Christmas Eve we made a gingerbread house

It was quite the process....

...but it turned out ok!

On Christmas morning, we opened presents

Some highlights:

I got one of Cindy's old cameras, which is awesome to help me start my new career in photography, but not to be used for our high-adventure activities like our other camera! ;)

Tyler got a new heart rate moniter to assist him in his constant training for the Ironman!

We both got lots of other great gifts, too numerous to be named, but thanks to all you special Santas!

For more detail (and better journalism) see the famous REDD EMPIRE blog authored by my very talented mother-in-law, Cindy, at www.reddempire.blogspot.com

Christmas Eve #1

We wanted to celebrate Christmas eve the traditional way we do in my family, so last Saturday night we went all out:

We had cheese and crackers and Sparkling Cider


We all enjoyed it....


Every year for the past 20 years my mom has given each of us an ornament that somehow represents that year in our lives.

"We Three Kings"

A Truffle Tree

An Angel of Peace for Alyssa

Then we opened everything from each other,











My goal was to make you feel like you were actually there with us, so hopefully you all enjoyed all those pictures!