We spent a lot of our winter on the ski slopes. We got the kids season passes at Brundage and then Craig and I bought 4-paks. I was also able to get the kids up to Bogus Basin once as well. Our first ski of the season we started on the bear chair with McKay, but by the end of the day the whole family was up on the big slopes. It was seriously so much fun to be able to ski as a family all over the mountain. The kids did so well and really improved as the season went on. The kids also had fun skiing with their cousins. The adults were mainly just there to occasionally help put a ski back on. Craig and I were also able to sneak away up to the ski hill when he had a Monday off. We lucked out with great snow and our legs were burning by the end of the day. I'm sure the kids will be surpassing me before we know it.
The kids also spent a lot of time playing in the snow. We got a decent amount of snow in the valley and they were able to make snowmen a few times. They also played at the cabin a lot. There was sledding down the snow plow hills, digging snow holes in the back yard and searching for the best icicles. We'd get the kids dressed in their snow clothes and they wouldn't come back in for hours. Half the time we'd look out and they'd have their coats off because they were playing so hard. We also went to the old dump for sledding once. The snow was a little icy that day and I think we all walked away a little banged up. A lot of dinners were also eaten at Pueblo Lindo up in McCall. Every time we are up there we usually stop in for dinner Saturday night. By this point we don't even need menus.
Along with all of the fun, there was also a little bit of seriousness and sadness. My Grandpa Pete (my Dad's father) passed away a week before Christmas. He had gone into the hospital a week before and they thought he would come home a few days later, but I'm pretty sure he was just so ready to go that Heavenly Father decided it was time for him to be reunited with my Grandma Carol and my Dad. Luckily he was able to come home from the hospital and die peacefully in his own home. They wouldn't let any of the grandkids go to the hospital because he had tested positive for Covid, but we were able to get over to his home to see him before he passed. He was almost 92 years old and we all knew that he was ready to go, but it still brought up a lot memories and emotions from when my Dad passed. All of his boys were there with him when the time came and I know my Dad was there with them too. They had the funeral after the start of the year. It was a beautiful service and it was so good to see so much of my Dad's side of the family. A couple days after the funeral they had the graveside service, which was really quite amazing. He was a army veteran and so he was buried at the Veteran's Cemetery and all of the components of the service was amazing to be a part of.
It really was a fun winter. I have yet to find a season that we don't enjoy as a family. Now if spring would just finally come because I am officially over winter, especially since spring sports are in full swing. Here are a few random pictures left over from winter, like the beginnings of McKay's new mohawk.
