Tuesday, December 21, 2010

December in Klamath

Winter in Klamath has been interesting to say the least!  While we were gone over Thanksgiving, they saw record lows and the highest snowfall in November in years!  Then we returned to find unseasonably warm temperatures in the 50’s with lows above freezing every night – very bizarre!  None the less, that didn’t stop us from having some fun around town!  The first weekend we were back, we decided to check out one of the mountain snow parks near our house – it’s basically a large field that’s reserved for snow sports – XC Skiing, snow shoeing, snow mobiling, mushing, etc.  At the time there was only about 12 inches on the ground, so we just went out  with Alee in our hiking boots.  She had fun jumping around and burying her nose in the snow!
Kristin and Alee at the snowpark

The following weekend, in the cold rain, we headed downtown to check out the Snowflake Parade with Mike and Laura.  This is definitely a community event – the weather was awful but there was still a great turnout!  We took Alee with us and she enjoyed  the Mexican Taco float who handed out mini sausage burritos. 
Firetruck / Santa's Sleigh at the Snowflake Parade

This past week we finally started seeing the snow and freezing temps again!  Friday night we went to a wine party to taste some wine from the Scott Harvey Winery in Napa Valley.  We really liked a lot of the wine and even met someone from our hometown area!
Saturday we checked out the Link River trail - a trail right near our house that goes along the Klamath River (also called the Link River).  The trail was nice and flat and the perfect training ground for loose leash walking.
 Klamath Falls
Ed and Alee checking out the River

On Sunday we headed out with Mike to hike Hogsback Mountain – about 3 miles from our house.  There was lots of snow on the ground so we decided to snow shoe it instead of hiking.  Alee had a blast running and jumping in the snow – when she would jump, little balls of snow would fly up and then roll down the hill and then she would chase after them – it was adorable!  About half way up the mountain the winds kicked up and were almost knocking us over!  Alee was shivering and none of us could see well so we decided to turn around and save the summit for when we can actually see where we’re going…or at least a few feet of it! All in all, it was a great time and so close to our house!
 Alee in her winter hiking gear - soon she'll have to start wearing her own pack!

 Alee playing in the snow - she loved the snowballs!
 Ed and Mike snowshoeing up
 Looking down on a snowy Klamath Falls

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Thanksgiving in VA

After a great time in Vegas, we headed to VA to see the family and have a fantastic Thanksgiving Dinner.  We didn't have much time at all, but we got to see a couple people and Kristin did a little bit of baking for the dinner!
Harmony and Katie playing with Play-Dough

Kristin and Jackie

Kristin's addition - Pumpkin Spice Cake and Coconut Cream Pie

Rick trying to carve the Turkey...

Ed actually carving the Turkey!

Harmony - not holding back!
After a great dinner, Kristin and Ed headed to the Eastern Shore to visit Ed's family and they got to meet RACHEL!!! Their VERY FIRST neice!  We didn't have the camera while we were there, but we did get copies of some great pics that Virginia's friend Jenny took soon after she was born in August. 



Late Friday night Kristin came back to say good bye to the family and decided to head out for a beer tasting with Harmony and Busa!



Vegas Nov 2010!

Sorry it's been a little while since our last update but we've been traveling!  The weekend before Thanksgiving we left little K-Falls and headed down to Las Vegas to celebrate our 2 year anniversary AND Harmony's 21st birthday!  Harmony flew in to meet us that Saturday night and got to see the lights of Vegas from the plane!

On the way down, we dropped Alee off with her breeder who was at a dog show in Paso Robles, CA.  We got to see Alee's dad place first in one of the rings!
Alee's Dad - Koda

Koda in the ring

After dropping our sweet Alee off, we headed for Vegas! We stayed at the Mirage Hotel and LOVED IT!  It was way classier than the hotels we've stayed in before.  Upon arrival, a cab driver suggested that we eat at Nobu in the Hard Rock Casino - so we did!  It was delicious and a perfect start to the weekend! 
On Sunday we headed to the Hoover Dam for a tour and a 6 mile hike to the White Canyon hot springs in the Lake Mead Recreational Area.  On the way there, we stopped for breakfast at the Coffee Cup, a famous breakfast spot that's been on the food network.
 Coffee Cup at the Coffee Cup!
 Ed Harmony and I at the Hoover Dam
 White Canyon near the Hoover Dam
 On the Hike
 Colorado River!
 Hot Springs!
The trail wasn't always a "trail"

That night we ate at the Mirage Buffet and then headed to NY NY to see Zumanity!  It was a GREAT show but definitely not for children!
On Monday, we started the day with breakfast at another famous restaurant - Hash House A Go-Go!  Then (because of some awesome connections) we were all offered a more detailed tour of the Hoover Dam for free!  We actually got to go down to the base of the Dam!  How exciting!

Ed with his "Fried Chicken and Bacon-Waffles"
At the Base of the Dam 
The new bridge! 
 Looking downstream from the base of the Dam
 Harmony and Ed touching the super fast spinning turbines
After what seemed like an exhausting 2 days, we decided to spend the rest of the time checking out the casinos on the strip - the most impressive was the Bellagio by far!

 Revolution in the Mirage
 Outside of Ceasar's Palace
 Ceiling at the Bellagio
 Orchid Room in the Bellagio
 Gardens in the Bellagio
 
 Bellagio Fountains
 
 Pic taken on the bus - it was totally an accident that Harmony's reflection was captured - but it looks like she's drinking the martini!

After a great few days, we all hopped on a plane to fly to VA for Thanksgiving.