Happy New Year!

2013 is off to a good start. But first let's return to the end of 2012. Christmas day we had a brief weather window in which to travel to Carson City - about an hour away - for sharing of presents, visiting and a Delicious dinner with daughter Michelle and her family. Snow brought us home much sooner than we would have liked and the time with family was perfect.

Boxing Day brought daughter Amanda and her family to the mountain. Their 4 hour drive took 8 and they did it although exhausted when they arrived. The following morning 4-year old Megan was up and dressed for snow and took off up the snowshoe trail like lightning. Light as a feather she also carved her own trail where I could not follow without snowshoes so I walked a parallel track and hoped she didn't disappear. 18 month old Emily was a delight although snow was not her thing - yet.

Thursday brought son Rob and three of his kids to the mountain to ski. Skiing went well until a snow- boarder clipped the end of Carter's ski and took the teenager out for the rest of the trip and another month or so at home. Braces on knee and ankle with crutches for a week put a crimp in ski plans.

Friday brought Michelle's family to the mountain to play in the snow, visit with cousins and have a huge family dinner. That dinner included Mandy's baking a chocolate cake from her mom's recipe; pecan and pumpkin pies from Michelle; cheese grits, ham, and two kinds of green beans ~ and Mandy's surprise appetizer: mushrooms with bacon and cheese. We ate that night - and visited - and played Buzz Words - and had a great time. It is not often the cousins from both sides of the clan get together and it is fun when they do. Unfortunately - or maybe it is just fine - I was too busy being with the family to remember to take many pictures.

Saturday morning Mandy and her family left; Carter was hurt on the ski slope. Sunday a friend of Carly's came to play for the day, Carter lay on the window seat, Kaitlyn read, I watched Netflix, Rob and Jeff skied and Dean went to Reno to pick up a new gas fireplace for the den. Dean made chili for dinner.

Monday took Rob and family to Reno for the day. I did laundry. Dean skied and grilled a pork loin for dinner. Dinner was delightful. We sat at the table and talked about 2013 family travel schedule. At midnight Eastern Standard Time - 9 ours - we all said good-night, wished each other a Happy New Year and went to bed. The last three left us this morning. The dishwasher is running again. So is the washing machine. The kitchen is clean. Dean has gone skiing. I am going to watch a new show I have discovered on Netflix. Oso is asleep by the fire. A good ending - a good beginning ~ family in the center of it all. We are blessed.