Series: the Puget Sound, Whidbey Island

Below is a series of photos from a December morning up on Whidbey Island:

Greetings from Snow Country

I didn't take many photos with my Canon while we were in the Methow.  We passed our days on skis and sleds.  And when we weren't outside playing, we were inside staying warm--playing games of Ticket to Ride and finishing the 500 piece puzzle.

Below are three photos I took one morning just outside of the Nelson's cabin.  Greetings from Snow Country:

Where there are vistas . . .

. . . from left . . .

. . . to right.

Western Washington Holidaze

Below are some long overdue photos from our Christmas holiday spent in Washington.  This year we celebrated Christmas with the Egges (and visited the Nelsons for a couple days after Christmas).  I know it's a cliche, but for me, the very best part of Christmas is getting to spend time with my family.  This is especially true now that we live two states down.

The Egge Sisters (photo by C)

Santa Visits the Egge Family Christmas Party

Presents are Exciting!

Cousins (and Second Cousins) Playing with Presents (and Gift Wrappings)

Not Everyone Likes Santa (Even if He Happens to be His Dad)

My Beautiful Sister and Her Handsome Husband Take 1

My Beautiful Sister and Her Handsome Husband Take 2

Third Times a Charm!

J Enjoys His 1st Birthday Cupcake

Dogs in Christmas Sweaters Photo Shoot Take 1

Dogs in Christmas Sweaters Photo Shoot Take 2 - Making Some Adjustments

Dogs in Christmas Sweaters Photo Shoot Take 3 - "This is as Close as I'll Get"

Buckwheat Enjoys a Beautiful Morning on Whidbey Island

Brothers on Christmas Eve

The Christmas Eve Table Settings

And the Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney with Care

My Boys on Christmas Morning

Sweet Pea Donning her Christmas Present from Her Grandma

Some Family Bonding on Christmas Morning

Sweet Pea Gives Amity a Christmas Kiss

Buckwheat Modeling His Christmas Present from His Grandma

Dogs in Matching Jackets Photo Shoot Attempt

My Mom's Christmas Hutch

This was the first year that C spent Christmas with my family.  Christmas in the Methow is magical (it's always a White Christmas).  But I was excited to share some of our Christmas traditions with him: prime rib, jet potatoes and banana cream pie on Christmas eve, Christmas poppers, lots of game playing, wrapping all of the gifts that my dad gets for my mom, making up clues to put on all of our gift tags, opening gifts one at a time, in order of oldest to youngest . . .  It was a really good Christmas.  And I am so lucky to call these people (the Egges, the Nelsons and the Lassers) my family.

xo.
Ally

Trip to Washinton, Summer 2012 Part 3: Winthrop

Winthrop is where C spent whole weeks and weekends (and one year, even months) of his childhood.  It's where he Nordic skied, mountain biked, hiked, took dips in the river, ran races, did puzzles, went sledding and ice skating and probably did a thousand other things . . .

Before I met C, I'd been to Winthrop on a couple of occasions.  Once when I was four or five, when my father had a contracting job there.  It was the Fourth of July and my sister Amanda cried because there were no fireworks and I slept in a sweat suit because the mosquitoes were so bad.  Another summer, when I was much older (just about to start high school), we went to a cabin just outside of town with our good family friends, the Wissmillers and spent a memorable weekend playing games, horseback riding and river rafting.

Since meeting C though, I've gotten to spend a lot more time in Winthrop (and Mazama and Twisp and the rest of Methow Valley and the surrounding North Cascades) and honestly, I feel so lucky for it.  This has to be one of the prettiest places in Washington.  And there's so much to do (in any season).  In the grand scheme of things, I haven't spent much time in Winthrop at all but in the time that I've been there, I've fallen in love with the place.  I guess it doesn't hurt that my time in Winthrop is always passed with C's wonderful family (who are my family now, too).

Enough words though, here are some photos from this past trip:

On our way, view point of Ross Lake, Highway 20

On our way, view point of Ross Lake, Highway 20

On our way, view point of Ross Lake, Highway 20

Views on our way up Washington Pass

C taking in the views

Views on our way up Washington Pass

My in-laws hiking up Washington Pass

B & C taking a breather

 The following set of photos were taken by C:

Our little mountain goat

Getting a refresher course in rock climbing safety from my father-in-law

Wind factor

Mr. B (love this one)

Ready for my first alpine rock climbing experience

On my way up South Early Winter Spire

Contemplating "the reach"

Getting higher

Climbers

Peaks

Buckwheat, yoga dog

Family Portrait (this photo was taken by my mother-in-law, Lani)

Buckwheat and me, top of Cutthroat Pass

Buckwheat and me, top of Cutthroat Pass

Buckwheat and me, top of Cutthroat Pass

Buckwheat and me, top of Cutthroat Pass

And then some more photos from me:

Views from Cutthroat Pass

C & B, top of Cutthroat Pass

Views from Cutthroat Pass

Fields below the Nelson's cabin

Emmer (Farro)

C & B, walking home

Emmer (Farro)

Just another photo of me and B (photo by C)

Can't get enough of him (photo by C)

Road to the Nelson's

On Thursday, we hiked up Washington Pass so I could do some rock climbing with Rod (my father-in-law).  C, his mom and Buckwheat hiked part way (really, most of the way) up with us too and waited while Rod and I attempted South Early Winter Spire.  We ended up turning back when we realized that we had started too late (and would have been hiking back in the dark had we gone for the summit) but despite the "failed" summit, the attempt left me itching to go rock climbing again.

I had kind of forgotten what I love about it--the puzzle in the next move, the sense of empowerment at discovering (or remembering) what your body (and mind) is capable of, the trust you have to place in yourself.  I also really like the climbing community.  Everyone we met on their way up or down was so friendly. 

On Friday, C and I hiked up and over Cuthroat Pass.  Buckwheat came along too.  He's quite the little mountain dog--making unexpected leaps from rock to rock, never hesitating on the changing terrain, running after C and then waiting patiently for me (who is always stopping to take photos).  He even chased a mountain goat (true story).

On Saturday C ran over Cutthroat Pass in the annual Cutthroat Classic.  I'd like to do it myself some year but the thought of 11 miles nearly all spent either going up or down hill is still a bit daunting to me.  The rest of the day was passed playing ping pong, talking over beers at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, packing, sharing one last meal with C's parents and watching a movie.

It was a really (really, really) good trip.