Skiing the Alps

Sorry I've been MIA for so long, but, well, I've been busy. My mom (Gigi) and stepdad (Papa) arrived on the 7th and then we went to Bastogne, Belgium for the Battle of the Bulge memorial walk, and THEN down to Garmisch for a week of sightseeing in the cold and snow.
The first day we were in Garmisch, they were scheduled to go on a day trip to Innsbruck, Austria, but the weather was NOT cooperative, so the tour was canceled. There were already about 2.5 feet of snow on the ground and it was falling fast.  Indy had mentioned wanting to learn to ski while we were in the Alps, so I called the Hausberg ski lodge and got him into a ski class (even when the weather is bad, you can still ski). He was so excited. He'd never been on skis before and I was terribly nervous (I did not want him breaking anything a week before Christmas-well, ever really, but still).  The Hausberg has a private ski slope and for use by beginners only though, so that made me feel better.  We got there and suited him up (good golly did that take forever) and off to the slopes he went.  He had a great time!  I sat in the lodge drinking hot chocolate and watching him through the windows.  Not a bad way to spend a snowy day if you ask me.
He spent about 3 hours on the slopes and by the end of it was flying down the hill like a pro.  He had such a good time!  The next day Gigi and Papa went on a tour of a cheese factory and the Ettal Monastery, so I took Indy back to the Hausberg for more skiing.  He spent about 4 hours zipping and zooming down the hill like he was born on skis.  I suppose if you're going to learn to ski, doing so on the Alps is the way to do it.  Check out my little ski pro.

Snow and the hardest job in the Army

I've been a bad blogger lately. I've only posted for RTT and Dear So and So. I love them both, but need to post more...you know, other stuff.

This morning we woke up to several inches of snow. It was beautiful, but Indy has been sick (nothing major, just a slight cold), which meant he couldn't go out and enjoy it. This of course led to a chorus of "but I feel better, really" that lasted allllllllllll day. Not fun for me. Believe me, I'd have loved nothing better than to bundle him up and let him have at it, but if I had, I knew I'd have been up at 4am with a very sick kiddo and I value my sleep too much. I'd show you a photo, but I can't get my computer to read my card chip and the cord is waaaay over there in the hall closet and who wants to get up? Not me. Just imagine lots of snow.

Mr. HH (who, after reading Pocket Indy's blog, is now griping that he wants a new name-sigh) has been given a new duty. A terrible duty. He's now the Casualty Notification Officer and the Casualty Assistance Officer for his until. What this means is that if a soldiers dies he has to notify the family (in the role of CNO) and/or walk them through the process of funeral planning, help get them grief counseling, arrange details and really be there for whatever they need. Seriously, this is one of the absolute worst jobs in the military. CNO's are hated because they bring the news nobody wants to hear. He went through training today and came home so depressed. They had to watch all kinds of training films and go through different notification scenarios. He was told to be prepared to be slapped, spit on and punched. That did not cheer him up. Sadly the person who brings the news often receives the brunt of the anger. Poor Mr. HH. I told him that hopefully he won't have to deliver any bad news. Keep your fingers crossed for everyone's sake.

Let it snow! And some bloggy love

So yesterday we had our first snowfall of the new year. Woooohooo! We love snow. Indy rolled out of bed, saw the snow on the ground and ran to put on his clothes and tried to run out the door. I stopped him and made him go potty and brush his teeth. I tried to get him to eat breakfast but there was just no time for that. Other kids were already outside playing and he HAD to join them. You know, before the snow melted. Nevermind that it was freezing. Whatever. I grabbed my camera and followed the blur that was Indy. By the time I got outside he was already on the ground, doing this:


In case you're wondering, he's making a snow angel AND catching snowflakes on his tongue. Oooooh, multitasking! That's my boy!

This is my cutie pie neighbor. He turned 1 just a few days before Christmas. He had so many layers of clothing on he could barely move. He loves me BTW (and really, why wouldn't he?). If he sees me in the stairwell and doesn't get to come to me he screams bloody murder. When his mom opens the door to their apartment, he makes a bee line for our door. Seriously, this kid loves me. Isn't he cute?





Indy "flying" in the snow. Still catching snowflakes on his tongue.


At the top of the slide. He had already cleaned the slide with his bum multiple times. He had to change pants 3 times yesterday because they kept getting wet.


At least he stopped himself before he landed in the snow again.




Pretty.

Know what snow makes me think of? Come on, guess....that's right, Edward's icy cold, smooth white skin.

Oh, oh, oh! And I got my very first bloggy award!!!! I'm blushing with pleasure. I feel so special. I want to thank my friends, and my family, my manager, my kindergarten teacher, my typing teacher, my....oh, what? This isn't that kind of award ceremony? Well then, I'll just say many thanks to Self Confessed Lamp Tramp and post my cool bloggy award.



I'm supposed to pass it on and I will, but I'll have to do that tomorrow. Until then, lemonade and bloggy kisses to you all. Oh, and Edward.............