Tahoe

Coach Daddy (and Kiira's only request, "No lessons - just Daddy!"



The snow was taller than Evan



You get an idea how much snow we had!



The red lump in the middle is Heidi. It was VERY blustery this day. Kiira was not sure she wanted to ski that day.



On the shuttle bus to Alpine from the parking lot. All lined up. I felt like the Sound of Music when all the kids were lined up!

I know, I know, I have fallen down on the job of blogger and of humorous, informative anecdotal writer. I apologize! I am back on it and will try to jump in where I left off.

Tahoe. Ahhhh blustery, cold, glittery snow filled wonderland. We traveled up over the kid's "ski week" (along with all the rest of Marin County). Which cracks me up that they even call it ski week. It's like they just assume people are going skiing. I know, in fact we DID go skiing, but still, the assumption kinda irks me.

Well, we drove up on a VERY rainy day. Rainy in San Francisco means snow in the mountains. It takes about 3 hrs (you can make it in 2 1/2 hrs without the snack breaks, potty stops and general delays a husband makes - oh just kidding - the kids, the kids!!! I just like to check to see if Alan reads this every now and then! :-) ) Even though we have four wheel drive, we still needed to put on chains over the pass. I will say though that having lived on the east coast the better part of my life - their requirements for chains is quite wussy. I am always thinking to myself, "Self, I have driven/fishtailed MUCH steeper hills than this without chains".

We rented a house with two other families right near Alpine. Alpine Meadows is a great place to take the kids. It is so family friendly. We had a total of 8 adults and 8 kids in the house and it was LOUD. The kids had a blast - the older ones got to sleep in a room together and the chatting into the night was contagious. They were tired but game for all the skiing, sledding, snowball fights and snowman creations. We adults each cooked a different night and did take out one night.

The first two days were blizzard conditions and while it made for GREAT snow, the kids didn't enjoy skiing in it as much. The second two days were sunny and incredible skiing with INCREDIBLE powder. I even got to ski a day (vs. stay at the house and watch Evan) thanks to our friend's nanny watching Evan one afternoon.

A great time had by all and consensus was that we'd all do it again next year!

You can check out more photos of the week here and here (sorry I had to do it in two parts).

Knot what you'd expect

The evenings in our household are somewhat chaotic. I am usually TRYING to put something together for dinner, the kids both want our attention, and both adults seem drawn to the computer. Me for my new found addiction to facebook, alan to his normal computer addiction. Tonight we had a nice break in the action when Alan taught Kiira about knots. This is one area that I have not mastered. I can do a quick release knot which is what I use at the barn with the horses but besides that, I can tie a sneaker. This was readily apparent over Christmas when we strapped the Christmas tree to the roof of the car and headed home. We had not gone even an exit when Kiira exclaimed with alarm - "Mommy! The Christmas tree!" Much to my horror, the tree was now perpendicular to the top of the car. Yes, the proper knots are a handy thing.

I'd like to take piana lessons

Although I've played flute the majority of my younger years, I seldom pick it up. Alan is always asking me to but for some reason I feel it is too loud. I find myself sitting down at the piano often though and playing the same two tunes that I know. One of the goals I've set for my adult life is learn how to play piano. Reading the music is surprisingly hard even though I've read music for flute. Perhaps I'll find some sort of carry over from my musical days? For now, I relish the moments when we sit as a family, or dance as a family, or all play the piano together as a family. The kids joyfully pound out their improvisational pieces and Alan and I cheer as if we've just seen the ghost of Beethovan or Mozart.

The most comfortable pup in the world?

Awww....Rennie boy. The kid's forts become yours. The couch becomes yours. The bed has become yours. My, you've come a long way from being a stray!

While I was gone....

I missed several of Kiira's performances. She had her ballet performance at the Marin Civic Auditorium (seats 3000+!) and a little performance her kindergarten class did at school. I'll try to load video of these but in the meantime....here are some photos from her ballet performance. Believe it or not - she LOVES getting up in front of all these people and performing. This year they had an African beat and were trees......

Have I also mentioned that while I was gone the hot water heater broke, the garage door broke, the hot water heater broke again and the car keys (with specialized key and remote - very expensive!) were lost. Man, I can't afford to go away that long again! :-)

Like mommy, like daddy

OK Jen and Deb - you are going to like this one. I just had to post a funny wipe out story. As with most parents, we all wonder what traits our kids got from us, from our spouse, even from a long lost relative. Alan does NOT believe that I have the wipe out gene, bless his heart, but it is apparent I think to everyone else! Including my college roommates who have an ongoing tradition with me of comparing wipe out stories (you kill me Jen and Deb).

Well, on this particular lovely 65 degree day, Evan and I had just dropped Kiira off at ballet. Our routine is to walk over to the coffee shop and get a treat for Evan and a coffee for mommy. This is VERY exciting for a 2 yr old. Right after Kiira disappeared into class, Ev broke into a jaunty jog down the side of the building. This is made out of decking. It is flat, no steps, no bumps, nothing to trip a guy up. If you didn't have the Hirvonen genes that is. About half way down the side of the building, there are floor to ceiling windows that look into the modern class that was going on. Evan had worked up some momentum at this point and as he gave a quick glance to the side to admire the dancers (he LOVES watching the dancing) clearly some sort of deck snake grabbed ahold of that little ankle and pulled the guy down.

This is where I think he got a little of Alan's genes. The guy did NOT hit hard, he did not make a thump. He did a dive, arms outstretched like the kid was sliding into home. He truly slid a good two feet. Really about his whole body length. It was all I could do not to cross my arms and yell out "Heeeeeeee's SAFE!" In retrospect I may have done that. It is all a little foggy now because I was laughing so hard. The little trooper that he is, he just got back up and started running towards that coffee shop again. Oh yeah, Alan used to play semi-pro baseball, hence the, "he got a little of Alan's genes" comment. Maybe he's a born baseball player? He does love to hold several bats at once and several balls at once.

Man, I am a SUCKER for that stupid physical humor kinda bloopers.

ps-no children were harmed in this semi-reinactment.......

More Harper photos!

From the airplane into Hamilton Island



On the ferry from Hamilton Island to Airlie Beach



Sydney



Harper





Well, to sum up my Australia trip - here's what I did. I relaxed. I bounced baby on yoga ball. I relaxed some more. I watched movies (In Bruge, Mama Mia, Fool's Gold, Get Smart, American Gangster). I bounced baby on ball again. Harper is in that fussy stage and I have the utmost respect for any parent in this stage. You are given NO reprieve. If she is not sleeping or eating, she is fussing. You cannot figure out why. It just is. And as a first time parent, this is alarming. You WANT to know why. You want to know why they are crying. You want to be a good parent. And you ARE a good parent. But the crying continues.

Airlie Beach is a lovely place in Queensland (northeast side of AU), near the Whitsunday Island, near the Great Barrier Reef. The town survives on tourism and the sailing industry. The views are breathtaking, the water like a bath, the boats incredible and the people amusing. It is about the size of Tiburon. Without the movie theatre. I love to visit because there is no fast pace. You slow to a crawl. Which is good for vacation but I suppose if you've been there a while, you might want to even jog a bit.

Anyway - here are a few of the scenic shots.....