The weather in McCall was delightful during our time there - snow, snow, and more snow!
The first order of business was to build an epic snow fort. Matt, Sally, Shanna, and the kids are on it. The middle of the fairway in front of the house is the prime spot, naturally.
The golf course next to the house has a network of trails that are kept open in the winter for hiking and cross-country skiing, so we took advantage of that while we were there. Our condo is on the left, epic fort on the right.
Once the perimeter defenses have been set up, the troops can relax. Good job guys!
The first of a few family pics. It was nice to have the whole crew together.
Matt brought his bongos, much to the kids delight. Anthony keeps the beat.
We checked out a local tubing hill. It wasn't near steep or dangerous enough, but the kids enjoyed it. It was nice to have a rope tow for getting to the top of the hill. Shanna kicks back.
A Sunday Morning Picture with Grandma and her grand's.
Sunday afternoon dinner at the local (only) Chinese restaurant. Paxton approves.
Next up, ice skating. McCall has a great little rink right downtown with a view of the lake and the mountains in the background. Everyone except mom and Anya skated. Paxton enjoyed pushing a stack of buckets around the rink.
Sunday evening brought a few more inches of white stuff to the area, just in time for Monday's much-anticipated visit to the local ski hill,
Brundage Mountain. Kenrick, Anthony, and Cooper tried out the snowboards again. Mia decided to try skiing. The adults tried to keep up.
A couple of times that day I looked over at my two boys with their snowboards and big smiles and my heart got all up in my throat and I thought, "This is really cool." It was cool.
The conditions were perfect and the kids did really well. They fell a lot, which is normal for a snowboard, but they kept getting up again and by the end of the day Kenrick was linking turns and Anthony was getting down the hill without catching his edge and I was tremendously proud of them. Here we are taking a break before heading down the hill. Sally and Matt hung with us for a few runs - Matt's on the far right and Sally's standing - and offered much encouragement to the budding boarders.
Mom took a nap with her youngest grandkid.
We didn't sit around too much during our time in McCall; many of our evenings were spent doing some kind of epic event or crazy contest. One such contest was the more-difficult-than-it-sounds Transfer The Cookie From Your Forehead To Your Mouth Without Touching It Challenge. Only two of us got it on our first try (including yours truly). Paxton demonstrates.
On our last day in McCall, we all gathered for one more picture in the snow. The epic fort served us well and we left it with warm memories and with hopes that it would provide the same for the next group of intrepid explorers.
The last day also brought another foot of snow in the mountains, so Sam, Sally, Matt, and I altered our plans slightly and went back up to Brundage to take advantage. It was some of the best powder I've ever boarded in, a fantastic day that I won't soon forget. My cheeks were sore from the big dumb smile that was plastered on my face all day long.
Sally floats through the trees. Whooo hoooooo!
So from McCall we returned to Boise, gathered up our luggage and headed back to Idaho Falls to spend New Year's with Andrea's family - the last leg of our journey and the last gasp of 2010.
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