Donaldson Crew Adventures

Over the presidents day weekend, I did the first 2 of 3 days doing an Avalanche course (level 1). Last day will take place in march.  As I have started doing more back country skiing, it felt like a good thing do get some additional training on.  Obviously best option is to avoid getting into situations where there is likelihood of one happening, and actually that's exactly what we spent a large portion of day 1 working on.  Mostly training but still got out and a couple runs near the end of the day in some nice powder.

If you are wondering - the picture of me in the hole with the shovel - this is called a compression test, where you dig a pit, and test the different layers, and how well they hold together.  Interestingly when we probed the snow to the ground we were standing on about 7 feet of snow.  

Hunter wants to be a pilot when he gets older. At winter fest there was an air national guard display and Hunter got to put on the helmet of a fighter jet pilot!

I took these this morning as the moon was setting over the mountains and the sun was rising.  The moon looks huge as it gets closer to the ground.

Each month our school focuses on a character trait and then once a month at chapel recognizes students for demonstrating them. Last month we had a snow day on our chapel day, so this month they recognized two traits. We had been informed that Hunter was up for the December award but we didn't know that two of our kids would be getting them and it was such a wonderful surprise. So proud of Hunter for getting the Character Trait Award for Self Control and Abbie received the award for Gentleness. Great way to start out the day!

We all went to the mountain today. Hunter was boarding with a friend and we put PJ in a day lesson.

The remaining 4 Donaldsons skied together!

Some great shots of the mountains from our back window over the past week on some cold winter mornings.  The first is actually sunrise with the moon above the mountains.  The moon is actually setting here as the sun rises behind.

The second is also sunrise from today with some great color in the sky.

Honey do list #1 - Clear snow from roof

With all the recent snow, there have been lots of stories of leaking roofs and even some roofs collapsing (here is one at a local elementary school) So, with Kevin home we decided we should clear some of the snow from our roof.  There was enough snow in spots to allow for jumping off the roof!

Day after Christmas  rose sunny so we went with our friends the Bercots to the Wanoga snow park area about half way to Mt bachelor for some sledding!

Video 1: Kevin & PJ

Video 2: Kelly & Abbie

Video 3: Hunter (back), Joe Bercot (middle), Noah (front)

Video 4: Kevin and Kelly (check out the air time!)

Relaxing day at home on Christmas eve.  In the afternoon we watched 'A Christmas Story'.  Kids had never seen it before.  We then had soup for dinner before heading to church for a candlelight service.  As is tradition, kids got new jammies which they all sported!