Leavenworth Weekend 2019

Our seventh annual roomie reunion in the snow happened in Leavenworth this year. It’s always over MLK Jr weekend – and we had ONE house this year for all 29 people!


We split up the meals as usual, and Jim was in charge of the first breakfast. The men took charge this year and gave the ladies time off. That was fun!

We woke up to SNOW.

The kids had so much fun doing “sleep overs” – all the girls in one room and all the boys in another.

The house we rented wasn’t fancy (or even totally functional) but it fit everyone really well!

Playing in the snow all day is the best.

We also journeyed into the town for walking and shopping one afternoon.

…then back to the snow.

It was such a memorable trip (again)! We are so blessed by these friendships that have lasted so many years and continue – praying for each other, growing together, and sharing years of memories.

Greta Van Fleet

Jim bought us tickets to see Greta Van Fleet months ago, and we tried to go in November. But then one musician was sick that night and they postponed the show until January. So, even though it was a weeknight and Jim was on very little sleep from a very busy week at work, we went! It was a great show and it was a nice evening out together in the city.

More Skiing

It was absolutely gorgeous weather for our Ski Saturday last weekend! Annnnd… it was packed. It was the most crowded we’ve ever seen, and we overheard at lunchtime that there were 9000 people on the mountain. Apparently everyone else decided to ski too!

JT and Jim had a fun adventure when JT asked to go hike a ridge and ski down the backside to Green Valley. That was fun to watch.

We also conquered some really tough terrain – some of the hardest the kids had ever done, for sure. There were two parts especially that were narrow and very, very steep – and they made it!

January Ski Weekend

We spent four whole days at Crystal Mountain last week! First, the kids and I went (and took my nephew Preston with us) over winter break. It was a gorgeous day, hardly anyone was on the mountain, the snow was great, and the kids were positively ripping!

What a great view on the way up the mountain…

And then, on Friday, we four Keenes headed back up the mountain in the camper for the weekend, which we positively love. We got a text on the way up the mountain that the RV lot was already full – but we took a chance and still went up to the lot. When we arrived, we heard that a few people were pulling out that night and we could take a spot right near the shuttle stop with a great backdrop. Yes! God totally handled that for us! 
This is the view from the camper kitchen/back door. The kids got started playing in the snow right away. Jim and Haley went up night skiing while JT played with the other camper kids and I made dinner. 

We tested out our new boot/glove dryer this weekend – nice to have toasty warm mittens! It also helped dry out the kids’ gloves after hours of play in the wet snow. Thank you Grandpa and Grandma Keene. 🙂

Saturday ski break in the lodge – planning their next hill in the Crystal app.

Saturday night we set up our fire and the kids went playing again. They ended up sledding with another few kids while the adults sat around our fire… until 10 PM. It was sooo fun.

Sunday I took JT up the hill before lunch for some “more challenging runs,” per his request. He lost his skis a few times, once a pole, and took some hits. But he was cheerful through it all and kept trying harder. Both kids can handle black diamond runs with no issues now (save for an abundance of ice, which no one enjoys!) and JT is skiing harder – much harder!

What a blessing it is to have a family hobby!

Christmas 2018

Christmas came so quickly this year! School wasn’t out until December 21, and then we went skiing on Saturday. Sunday we had plans with friends (boys shooting rifles, girls making candles) and a bonfire with family that evening. And then it was Christmas Eve!

We had a lovely day at home together, and then ate our nice dinner and went to Christmas Eve service at our church. 

We came home and ate our traditional apple pie… but changed up what we watched. Normally we watch the original Grinch Who Stole Christmas and send them to bed. But older kids with later bedtimes and an early church service meant we had time for Home Alone. Our favorite part is to watch them laugh and laugh at the pranks.

And then the big day! We told the kids they could go downstairs and open their stockings when they first woke up (without us – a first). And then they could wake us up at 7 AM. But Haley woke up at 6:45 and decided to read in bed and wait for her family… so at seven she knocked gently on everyone’s doors saying Merry Christmas, and we all got up. We sent the kids downstairs ahead of us anyway, and when we arrived they were waiting on the couch – not touching their stockings – until we joined them. It seems our years of training in delayed gratification has worked. 😉

Jim got new ski poles “in” his stocking! JT had them hidden in his room and delivered them to Jim’s stocking when he went downstairs ahead of us Christmas morning. It’s nice to have good helpers in the house!

Jim thoughtfully replaced my broken Rae Dunn Blessings coffee mug. 🙂

And then the gifts…

We had a breakfast of scones and yogurt/fruit bowls and lounged until it was time to go to Grandpa and Grandma Cole’s house for brunch at 11. There we feasted on cinnamon rolls, Swedish pancakes, egg and veggie bake, sausages, fruit, and fudge. Yummmmm.

After a gift opening and more hanging out, we went back to our house to regroup for party two: dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Keene’s house at 4. Haley pointed out awhile ago that this year, for the first time ever, we didn’t have to get in a car on Christmas. 🙂

We ate a lovely prime rib, potatoes, green beans, orange salad, rolls, and deviled eggs dinner and then opened gifts and “stockings” (aka gift bags full of goodies).

JT got a telescope! He set it up in his room and we’re anxiously awaiting a clear night sky. We managed to get a nice family photo too before going for an evening walk and settling in back home for the night.

Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night.

Party at the Bus Stop

The woman who has driven the school bus for our neighborhood retired today. She has been driving our neighborhood route for about a decade! So we gathered kids from all three bus stops into one place and presented her with a sign, flowers, a card, a gift certificate to a local restaurant, and hugs with smiles! The kids had so much fun being a part of this surprise and she loved it!

Meanwhile, what can I say about these two ladies? With our matching mugs and laughter. God surely had a plan for me when we moved into this neighborhood… we live just a few houses away from both sets of grandparents AND amazing friends. Given all the personalities in those dynamics, it’s rare that everyone would get along so well (sometimes the kids argue, but that’s life!). We are so blessed!