Idaho Sarah

Wagon Train

2012-03-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

If you saw three moms, five kids, and three chariots on the trails out Quigley this past weekend we are glad we didn't run you over. Our wagon train was rolling! I didn't dare complain about being winded when the other mommies were each towing TWINS that are a year older then Dax. All of a sudden my cargo didn't seem so heavy.

Megan on the left and Caroline on the right.

Trying to keep up with the advanced mommies!

Lucy, Axle, Caroline, Finn, Briggs, Megan and Dax

Luckily, all our passengers slept through our hour ski so the mommies had lots of time to catch up.

Stepping Stool

2012-02-29T19:52:00.003-08:00

Wes, a childhood friend of Zach's, happens to share the same birthday as Dax. A craftsman, Wes makes furniture out of old wine barrels when he's not playing in a local band. He stopped by this evening to drop off a belated birthday gift for his fellow birthday buddy. A custom stepping stool with Dax's birthday carved into the bottom. The finish on the wood is the natural stain from years of wine storage.

Very talented you can find more of Wes's furniture creations here.

I have a feeling we will have this treasure for a long time.

Thank you Wes for this beautiful gift!

It's Summer Somewhere

2012-02-21T12:56:00.000-08:00

Paradise does not suck!

...and we found it in La Quinta this past weekend. Flip-flops, shorts, and sunblock was a good way to live for a few days while visiting my dad in the desert. My sister, Addie, and her kids (Callie 7, Avery 4, and Liam 6 months) made the four hour drive from Phoenix to join us. We picked grapefruit, lemons, went to the zoo, swam, laid by the pool, ate good food, fished, went for long walks, and had a great time!

Zach and Dax pet a goat.

Liam and Addie

Callie and Avery demonstrate how to ride a wild boar.


Papa Bob and Dax take a lunch break on our walk.

Somebody is tired from all the fun he had!

Coming back to 9 degree weather was a bit of a shock to the system but not complaining. We love Idaho but it's good to get away once in awhile. Thanks Papa for keeping us happy in La Quinta!

Be My Valentine

2012-02-13T19:23:00.000-08:00

xoxo

Dax

February Birthdays!

2012-02-13T09:04:00.000-08:00

It's a Festivus February with birthday's left and right!

This past Friday we celebrated Nick's birthday out Indian Creek with Jean's famous clam chowder. The favorite birthday gift had to be from Mark & Patsy who brought, a single river bootie with shots of tequila, vodka, rum, and a can of beer. Technically, a river consequence for falling out of your boat the previously mentioned beverages are usually combined and chocked down by the swimmer out of a sweaty river bootie. Nick took a pass on partaking in this birthday gift but we all got a good laugh.

Today we celebrated Dorothy Brassey's 91st birthday in Boise. She is rockin' and rollin' into her 90's and is adored tremendously by all her family!

Nick, tries to keep Dax from pulling Dorothy's hair on her birthday.

My niece Avery turns 4 on Valentine's Day! She has to be the cutest 4 year old I know and we look forward to seeing her soon to celebrate.

Then Kat is up to bat with the big 3-0 on President's Day! Welcome to the dirty thirties Katherine!

AND...I can't leave out the LaDuke's! Cameron celebrated his birthday last Tuesday and his wedding anniversary on the same day. Busy guy :) Happy Happy LaDuke's!

The Yuck

2012-02-12T19:53:00.000-08:00

Little man has had a rough go over the past few weeks. Battling chest congestion, the flu, and an ear infection, we have been back and forth to the doctors office trying to make him feel better. Grandmother Jean has been a tremendous help, filling in when Zach and I can't be home to rock him to sleep.

Despite all the poking and prodding he has managed to remain a good sport throughout the ordeal. Happily he seems to be on the road to recovery and working back to nothing but smiles :)

Don't Blink

2012-02-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

February must have hit us when I blinked because time has been flying bye!

Zach headed to Jackson Hole this past weekend for his annual boys ski trip. They all came back with goggle tans and smiles so I know it was a good time.

Dax, Lucy, and I took advantage of our local blue skies by nordic skiing out Quigley canyon. Dax had no problem snoozing in the ski chariot while mommy struggled along after Lucy. I felt like and elephant on ice skates by the time we were done.

Lucy waits while Dax catnaps in the chariot.

On Sunday, Dax was flattered to be the only boy invited to an adorable first birthday party for girls. I dressed him ready to impress and he slept through the entire event. Seriously, I usually have no problem with two hour naps but... really. So much for my ladies man ;)

Dax getting ready for the party by attacking the toilet paper roll.

Erin + Nik

2012-01-30T08:25:00.000-08:00

Congratulations!

A wonderful celebration of your new lives together :)

Photos by Matt Theilen.

Winter is Here

2012-01-23T19:20:00.000-08:00

No better way to shake off the sickness we had from the weekend before then by taking advantage of the great snow conditions and skiing every moment of it.

It was the ladies annual Petit Lake trip at the Sinnot cabin. Rachel and I did the day trip and enjoyed the beautiful views and conversation. My photos were terrible so if you would like to see some excellent photos from the trip see Sarah Sundby's blog here.

Rachel & Erin make it to the cabin.

Zach and I had a ski date on Baldy on Sunday. Yippee :)

Photo out Indian Creek after a day of skiing.

As I was taking my last run down Baldy and my legs were ready to give out I shouted to Zach, "I'm old!" He shouted back, "Your cold?" I was too tired to correct him and we just carried on.

Rubber Lips

2012-01-20T18:48:00.000-08:00

Nothing like watching the snow fall...

9 Months

2012-01-18T07:37:00.000-08:00

Our baby boy is 9 months today! I can't believe how much he has changed from when we first met him.

Some 9 month activities:
Crawling
Pulling himself up
Eating finger foods or anything else mommy puts on his tray (except fruit unless it's hidden)
Walking while holding onto furniture
Splashing in the bathtub (his favorite!)
Laughing at daddy
Helping turn the page while reading books
Waving bye-bye
Dancing
Pulling Lucy's tail
Kisses

We love our Dax and as he grows so does our tremendous love for him.

New Driver

2012-01-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

No wonder I was stuck in traffic last week.

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

Zach and I attended the "Bubbly Bash" last night at River Run Lodge with friends to help ring in the New Year. Free champagne, photo booth, and a band from San Francisco made the evening go by quickly. Dax spent his first night away from mom and dad at Grandmother and Papa Nick's house. Thank goodness for family! All went well and we enjoyed ourselves immensely!

From left: 1st Pic- Zach & Sarah,
2nd Pic- (front to back) Zach, Sarah, Willie, Kathryn, Jenna,
3rd pic- (front to back) Erica, Erin, Jenna, Zach & Sarah

Happy New Year!

Merry Merry!

2011-12-26T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

We sure did.

Thank you family and friends.

HO! HO! HO!

Vacuum

2011-12-23T20:47:00.000-08:00

We utilize our vacuum to her full capabilities.

Not one crumb is left unattended.

Snow? Oui, Neige!

2011-12-22T08:18:00.000-08:00

I see a lot of locals looking to the sky and scratching their heads lately. There doesn't seem to be enough white stuff around and everyone is wondering why. Or perhaps more appropriately, when! Luckily, Sun Valley Resort has an outstanding snow making system, otherwise there would be some really unhappy tourists added to the mix. But us locals still are feeling a bit off this time of year.

Meanwhile, our ski patrol friend, Sebastian, in France has been sending photos of the amazing snow conditions they are having at Serre Chevalier. So much in fact that an avalanche broke off at the resort and took out a ski lift.

Sebastian

Ok, Santa we know it's out there. Could you send some our way? S'il vous plait?

Weasel

2011-12-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

Zach and I have an unofficial contest every winter to see who can spot the most weasels. Also known as the ermine or stoat, these little dudes change from brown to white in the winter and are not easy to sight because of their small size and quick feet.

But as of Friday we are tied one weasel to one weasel and I got photos to prove it!

McCall Get Away

2011-12-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

We had a mini vacation with our visit to McCall over the weekend. Officially, we were helping celebrate Zach's cousin's wedding. Unofficially, we had a great time exploring a different place in Idaho.

View from our hotel room at Shore Lodge in McCall.

McCall is a little mountain town not much different then ours. It sits on gorgeous Payette Lake and reminds me a lot of a mini Tahoe. Unfortunately, they are also wondering where all the snow is this late in December.

Nick, Kat, Jean, and Zach at the lake.

Nick & Jean put as all up in the Shore Lodge Hotel which I would highly recommend to anyone passing through. Great food and first class accommodations made us feel like royalty.

Jingle Bells!

The grandparents make sure Dax is well fed amongst the party goers.

Aunt Kat to the rescue!

The weekend flew bye and before we knew it was time to head home.

This is how you decorate for Christmas in a mountain town.

We had a great time playing tourist and getting dressed up for a fun party. Thanks Nick & Jean for bringing us along :)

Annual Tree Hunt

2011-12-04T19:55:00.001-08:00

The Lathams gathered together for the annual Christmas tree cutting over this past weekend. Nick & Jean got Dax his own sled so he could tag along. Aunt Kat took pictures and helped navigate.

Santa says "cheese"

Grandparents and Dax

Timber!

The tree hunt was a success, it was decorated and home by bedtime.

Lucy's exhausted from all the hub-ub

Sunday we headed north to Galena Lodge for a little skate ski. We towed the chariot with Dax tightly bundled inside. He was happy so he fell right to sleep. That made us happy so we carried on through the forest chasing after Lucy. That made Lucy happy so she tried to run to the North Pole!

Mush!

I can never tell who likes winter more, Zach or Lucy.

The Man in Red

2011-12-01T08:32:00.000-08:00

Dax had a chance to meet Santa for the first time while in Reno. I was prepared for long lines and crying but we managed to sneak in and out before Dax even noticed what had happened.

Next year I may have a harder time confusing the little guy long enough to get a picture. But we will mark this year off as a success with Santa.

Reno/Tahoe Thanksgiving Visit

2011-11-29T08:03:00.001-08:00

Another whirlwind trip to Reno for Thanksgiving and we did our best to cram everything in. The first day we made a trip up to Lake Tahoe and swung by our favorite eatery T's for some tasty tacos.

Thanksgiving day my mom made a delicious assortment of the usual fair. All the ladies stepped in to help with the cooking, and the boys did what manly things were available.

Z carves up the bird.

Mariah & Ali make cooking look cute.

Ben puts the dishes away like a man.

Gigi distracts Dax so mommy can eat a yummy meal.

Thanks to Gigi's offer to babysit the next day, Zach and I managed a backcountry ski. It was a beautiful warm Tahoe day. The snow was lacking and crusty but it didn't stop us from having a good time.

Destination Castle Peak.

Sarah looking out towards the Peak.

Zach with Castle Peak in the background.

Didn't get a picture in with Papa Bob and our dinner/football watching but it was great to see him and catch up! Looking forward to our next visit with him.

Eating Thanksgiving Dinner

It was another wonderful Thanksgiving and we are so grateful for our loving family and friends for all that they do.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T19:37:00.001-08:00

Thankful for

our healthy baby boy,

For my loving husband,

Our dearest families,

Amazing friends,

Our little home in the mountains,

The blue ski and snow,

A beautiful life.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Gobble gobble :)

Winter is Back

2011-11-20T19:41:00.001-08:00

...And I'm ready to use it to my full capabilities this season! We took advantage of the pre-season conditions this past Saturday to hike up Mt. Baldy. Despite 10 degree starting weather our day was an easy skin to the top. Thanks to Zach I had new skis, bindings, and skins to test out. Thanks to Papa Nick and Grandmother Jean, Dax had somewhere to occupy his time while mom & dad earned some turns.

I remember this.

Looking up College run to the top. About 3/4 of the way there.

David de-layers after a big climb.

Looking back at the 3400 ft. that we climbed.

Ian gets his game face on.

Time to ski.

David, Travis, Zach, and Ian pose at the top.

Lemon Meringue

2011-11-15T09:23:00.001-08:00

We had a fabulous fall dinner at Nick & Jean's home over the past weekend. Jean made a scrumptious Lemon Meringue pie. I never knew I was such a fan until having a taste of this treat. Well, I had a few tastes :)

The chef and her masterpiece.

Thank you Jean for the delicious meal and new found love of lemon meringue!

I found this recipe online appropriately titled:

Grandma's Lemon Meringue Pie

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Ready In: 40 Minutes

Servings: 8

"Fresh lemon juice and lemon rind make this pie's filling tart and lovely. And when it's poured into a waiting crust, topped with billows of meringue, and baked, it's downright dreamy."

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups water

2 lemons, juiced and zested

2 tablespoons butter

4 egg yolks, beaten

1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked

4 egg whites

6 tablespoons white sugar

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.	To Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.
3.	To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.
4.	Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

From Dax the Dinosaur.

The Standoff

2011-10-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

On days when Zach is working near Hailey Lucy gets to tag along. Frequently, she comes across a few natives and has to make her presence known. A standoff ensues (mostly in her mind) between her and these large, loud, and stinky creatures.

The sighting.

The standoff.

If that fence was not there I have a feeling everyone would be running in opposite directions.

The final stare down.

Until next time...

6 Months and Growing...

2011-10-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

Last year at this time I was keeping track of vegetables as size comparisons for the baby growing in my belly. Now a year later we have our baby boy eating those vegetables left and right. Six months old Dax is adventuring into the world of eating.

Carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peas and avocado are on his starter menu. I've been busy blending whatever I can find in season to feed the little eater. A hilariously slow process he seems to forget what he's doing in the middle of eating and then eventually remembers again when mommy shovels another spoonful of something yellow or green into his mouth. Then of course he wants to be in charge of the spoon which is a completely different activity.

Lucky boy, he has a lot of new tastes ahead of him and the two bottom teeth that are starting to show will definitely help. Just imagine tasting chocolate for the first time (being related to me is going to be a problem for him as he grows). Good thing we can start with the veggies. I'm pretty sure he relates to his daddy when it comes to eating and somehow putting down more then he shows. He is the light of our lives and everyday gets better and better with our little Dax.

Work to Play

2011-10-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

My wonderful husband decided to spend the weekend with his family and catching up around our house. A rare opportunity we spent the weekend at home "nesting" which is great this time of year with iffy weather.

Auntie Kat offered to babysit the little guy so Zach and I could get a little mountain riding in. Then we spent the rest of the weekend outfitting our pantry with much needed shelves. Seriously, how did we survive without these?

A big surprise for me was an upgrade to my current skis for the new ski season, thanks again to my husband! Zach swapped out my current set of sticks for a used pair of K2 Coombas. Dax made sure to test them out :)

Wooly Weekend

2011-10-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

It was a weekend of fall activities and a celebration of sheep in the valley this past weekend. The family headed over to Quigley Canyon on Saturday to watch the Sheep Dog Trails. A national event that has border collies herding sheep according to their handlers whistle calls. Ever seen Babe the movie? Pretty amazing to watch a dog use such skill.

Somehow we managed to pull it together on Sunday to watch the Trailing of the Sheep parade that takes place every fall in Ketchum. About 1,500 sheep walk down main street following Peruvian, Basque, Scottish, Polish and American Cowboy, singers, and dancers. All honoring the wooly mascots in their own way and a long tradition of raising them in the valley. Our little guy seemed to be fascinated with the wave of white quickly running by.

And Friday was football at Nick & Jeans. A couple of Bronco fans showed up.

La Valle de Rouche

2011-10-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

...as our French friend, Sebastian, calls the City of Rocks. We gathered him, Dax, and gear for a weekend of rock climbing about two hours south of Hailey this past weekend. An annual trip we like to do with friends we made the most of the beautiful fall weather.

David hiking out to our first climb.

Michael and Erin loaded with gear.

That's me climbing with the red helmet.

Ryan boule's Sebastian on a climb.

New climbers Dax and Thijs do their pre-climb stretches.


Sebastian waves from the top.

Quick Portland Trip

2011-09-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

Yikes, it's been a busy week!

Dax and I headed to Portland last weekend to visit my sister, Erin, and her fiance, Nik. My mom was also in town to help celebrate Erin & Nik's engagement. It was a whirlwind weekend which shows because I barely have any pictures to share. Dax did very well traveling for the first time on an airplane and putting up with little napping and lot's of activity.

Gigi and Dax on top of the Apartment building where Erin & Nik live in Portland.

One of my favorite outings was visiting the swift migration. Thousands of small birds roost every year in this old school chimney in Portland. It's an amazing phenomenon. Not sure if you can tell in my cell phone picture but the little flecks are fist sized birds circling into the school chimney.

Swift Bird migration

While we were away Zach was a busy worker and finished up more of our window trim (yes from last year) and did an excellent job. It was awesome to come home to a clean house and new trim! I'm thinking I should leave town more often :)

How Much Wood Could a Woodchuck Chuck...

2011-09-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

I know it's fall when it's time to gather wood for the inevitable winter season. With kid and dog in tow we headed up to the Sawtooth mountains for some annual wood cutting. Yes of course we brought our PERMIT! It was a successfull mission and all were exhausted from our efforts after a long day.

Sleepy Lumberjack

too many sticks, not enough time

Indian Creek Fire

2011-09-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Lighting struck a mountain behind Zach's parents house this past weekend and fire ensued. Within moments the fire was quickly rolling up and down a sagebrush covered hillside too close for my comfort. Zach's dad, Nick, seemed oddly familiar with this event. While watching a helicopter rush back and forth to the nearby pond for water, he took to his parked boat with dogs, Ocho & Gus, to watch. He didn't seem nervous about the event when Zach, Dax, and I showed up to the house amongst fire trucks. Instead, he calmly greeted us as if this event only seemed slightly threatening. If it were my house I would have packed the car at this point with anything not bolted to the floor!

But as Nick was quoted in the local paper the fire & rescue services "...were right on it."Within hours we spotted an airplane bomber overhead that pummeled the fire with retardant as it was rushing over the ridge. Eventually the fire began to calm. Fire fighters continued to battle the blaze for the next day and a half on foot, putting out any embers that may be lurking. All in all, it was an exciting event and happily the home owners in Indian Creek had no need to run for cover. Zach's mom, Jean, was luckily out of town otherwise it may have been difficult for Nick to decide between rescuing his John Deer tractor or his wife :)

Photos by Zach.

Kickin Back

2011-09-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

A boy and his dog :)

Buddies

2011-09-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

Zach, Dax, Lucy, and Briggs.

Twins, Lucy & Briggs Stevenson, are 17 months old and nothing but F-U-N. Dax is learning from the best how to eat gravel, roll in the grass, and toddle like a toddler. Thank goodness for buddies!

Backyard Visitor

2011-09-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

We had a visitor this morning at our back door. I'm not sure who was more excited, Lucy or Zach! My husband is on a mission to evacuate the little critter, quickly, and I can't help but sit back and chuckle as he goes into action. Of course this is NO laughing matter!

Message from Zach to his Uncle Tony this morning:

Title: porcupine in my backyard... 

Message:

Up my pine tree, how am i going to get him out:

1. shoot him
2. trap him
3. wait for him to leave
4. take a broom and shoo him into a trash can as Idaho Fish and Game suggested
5. other
Which do you think is the best pick, 1 through 5?

zach.

My letter to the porcupine.

Message:

Mr. Porcupine,

Take it easy on my husband. He get's a little excited when critters enter our backyard. Keep in mind, one too many skunks have sprayed our dog. I'm sure you were lost this morning and disappointed you ended up in a fenced yard with no food. I can imagine you were waiting for a quiet moment when a flashlight wasn't shining or an angry voice wasn't shouting at you to make your exit. You are admittedly a prickly creature to encounter.

I will let my husband seem relieved (even though disappointed) that you are gone and he won't be able to shoot you out of our tree.

Sincerely,

Entertained House Wife and Baby

Family Swim

2011-09-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

We took the extra day off work to head to the pool and start some swim lessons.
Here are some highlights.

Practicing our surfers paddle.

First time under water.

Ta Da!

East Fork Annual Bike Trip

2011-08-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

A crew of friends headed out for the annual bike trip at the East Fork of the Salmon River. Zach did most of the riding while I pioneered camp with Dax and some other good buddies. We were lucky to camp out where a perfect kid friendly "hot tub" from the hot springs was formed to relax and float in.

Bike Crew.

Ian headed down.

The bike shuttle. A.K.A. Travis's trailer.

"Hot Tub" with daddy.

Sleepy camper

Ian's trophy finds.


The kid crew. From left Finn, Sadie, Dax, Charlie, Tucker, and Axle. Missing Simon & Sawyer Morgan.

Good times with good friends :)

Yes, The Stanley Cup

2011-08-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

...as in the National Hockey League's symbol of excellence, was visiting Ketchum over the weekend. Long story...We managed to make sure someone had a front row seat.

4

2011-08-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

4 Months Old... I can't believe it! It is amazing how my love for Dax grows more and more everyday with every knew discovery he makes.

Some recent 4 month milestones:
Rolling over
Finding his feet- they are amazing!
Sleeping in his crib in his own room
Petting Lucy
He's been to Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California and Wyoming. Yes, we drag him everywhere.
His new cousin, Liam, is 4 months younger, exactly
Possibly teething
Going to day care so mommy can go to work
Laughing uncontrollably (my favorite)!

4 Generations- Recently Dax's great-grandfather, Zach's grandfather, and Nick's dad, Ken, came to Hailey to visit. We managed to get a photo of the 4 generations of Latham men.

Nick, Ken, Dax, and Zach

Zach was lucky enough to have the same photo opportunity when he was a baby with his great-grandfather when the Latham's house in Indian Creek was being built in 1979.

Nick, Ken, Zach, and Fred

Looking forward to 5 but I sure have loved the 4's :)

Liam Robert LaDuke

2011-08-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world!

We are so excited to meet you and know that you will be surrounded with love always.

Congratulations LaDukes!

Avery, Gigi, Calli, and Liam

Hope you like to ski because your cousin, Dax, is going to make sure you come visit Idaho :)

Happy Anniversary

2011-08-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

To the love of my life and very best friend, Happy Anniversary.

Three years ago today I had never been more sure of saying "I do" to the rest of my life with you. Thank you for the friendship, humor, love and life you bring to me everyday.

Sawtooth's and Symphony

2011-08-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

A last minute decision on Friday led us to the Nickum's cabin (ca-bansion as we lovingly call it because it is more mansion then cabin) up North near Stanley. We spent the weekend mountain biking, relaxing with friends, and soaking in the gorgeous view of the Sawtooth mountains.

Sunday night we rushed to attend the Summer Symphony in Sun Valley. This annual week long event is free to the public and such a treat to enjoy. A picnic dinner with good friends and their families on the lawn of the pavilion was outstanding. Sarah Sundby's parents, Brick & Kim Wahl, were in town from Seattle. I was unfortunately more focused on eating then taking any good pictures but they were excellent baby holders. We made it 10 minutes into the concert before we had to leave but it was well worth the pre-show festivities :)

Ian & Sarah Sundby

Sarah, Zach, and Dax enjoy the music...briefly :)

Won't You Be My Neighbor

2011-08-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

I have to brag for a minute about our neighbors. They are awesome! We are constantly in our yard chatting it up with people across the street, riding their bikes or cruising by in their cars. When Dax was born, neighbors not only next door but a couple streets over brought us gifts and food in congratulations. On my first day back to work last week our neighbor, Carol, made us dinner so I wouldn't have to cook when I got home. And last night the neighbors behind us, the Mary's, brought over handfulls of freshly pulled lettuce to share and insisted we come over for more. Thank goodness because my lettuce has been lacking this year due to unintentional neglect.


It took me 40 minutes to clean all the yummy lettuce	.

This September we are excited to welcome our newest neighbors, Kat and Bryan, to the neighborhood! Can't wait to swing on by with something from our garden :)

Petit With Thijs

2011-08-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Dax and Thijs had a play date at Petit and made the most of their day. They even got a boat ride around the lake despite a few tears.

Not a bad view from the car seat.

The parents assembling the beach.

Dax and Thijs get down in the tent.

Rachel keeps Thijs's tank full.

Thijs' first boat ride.

Tahoe 2011

2011-08-06T20:37:00.000-07:00

Ah, Tahoe, how I miss you!

Lucy looking out from our campground beach.

Papa and Dax.

Lucy on Emerald Bay hike.

Pata-baby

Ali, Sarah, and Zach on the Powerline Loop South Lake bike trail.

We had a fantastic week camping in Tahoe.

Here were some of the highlights:

Dax did a great job for his first camping expedition.

Lucy was rarely on dry land long enough to dry off.

Zach made sure to mountain bike as much as possible.

I soaked it all up :)

Visiting with Papa Bob and Sherri.

Ali stopped by the campground for my birthday dinner and a mountain bike ride.

Ben made sure to keep the camp activities efficient with cocktails.

Gigi made her grandson laugh as much as possible.

A great time was had by all!

Ben demonstrates our knowledge of
disassembling the shade tent.

Gigi, Dax, and Sarah at the beach.

Happy campers :)

Sunset near campground.

Back to Work

2011-08-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

Where did the time go? And I can't believe my baby boy is 3 1/2 months! We had an amazing vacation in Tahoe last week with family and I'm dying to blog about it but first things first gotta bring home the bacon. If your out there blog world readers updates are coming soon :)

Weed Eaters

2011-07-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

How does your community kill weeds? Why not try goats!

Driving home from the grocery store I wasn't expecting to see this army of weed killers along the bike path. About one hundred goats munching away on the noxious weeds that hinder the hillside. They are pesticide free but require a big meal for their services.

I thought the unwanted weed seeds might get passed along in the goats droppings but apparently their gestational track is phenomenal for breaking them down. Not a bad way to feed the army and remove Nap weed at the same time.

McCall Getaway

2011-07-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

We had the opportunity to spend time with our friends the Sundby's (Ian, Sarah, and wonder dog, Winston) this past weekend on their boat in beautiful McCall, Idaho. A hop-skip-and a jump north, McCall is centered around Payette Lake. A usual vacation spot for Boise folk this little mountain community has great places to eat, shop, and enjoy the lake it's surrounded by.

Captain Ian and his chocolate banana popsicle.

Weekend Warriors from the left:
Sarah L., Zach with Dax, Sarah S., Ian, and Winston.

Payette Lake sunset

We had no problem having a great weekend cruising around town, skiing in the lake, laughing with friends, and soaking up some rays.

Sarah Sundby skis like a champ and it's only her 2nd time!

So pregnancy does end and my legs still work...yeah!

Dax (not to worry he was well shaded) enjoyed his first boat ride after adjusting to his new life jacket.

Dax falls asleep in his lifejacket

Winston is ready to pounce in case Zach looses his ski.

Captain Ian gets his turn at surfing.

First mate, Dax.

Thanks Sundby's for getting us out of the house for the weekend to enjoy McCall! We are already fitting a water ski to Dax for next year :)

Ride Sun Valley Nationals

2011-07-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Zach showed some home town presence by competing in the National Mountain Biking competition being held at Bald mountain. No stranger to the mountain or the sport he glided into the finish winning his age group and getting second overall. I was toting Dax around on my chest and barely had time to jostle to the finish to see him come in.

Zach & Ian ready to ride at the start.

Mama and Dax cheering on daddy.

Luckily, our good friend Sarah was alert and ready with her camera. Her husband, Ian, also ran the course but was cursed with a flat tire mid-way thru the race. Frustrated but always a good sport Ian changed his tire off a narrow single track and finished out the race still beating a majority of the field of bikers, and thankfully all the chicks ;)

Ian crushing thru the first part of the race.

"D" is for daddy & Dax at the finish.

4th Review

2011-07-06T14:41:00.000-07:00

Another whirlwind weekend blew by us when Erin & Nik visited from Portland. Hiking, BBQ's, bike riding, water skiing, rodeo, parade, fireworks, outdoor concert... were just a few things on the menu and here are some visuals of the fun.

Auntie Erin reads to Dax.

Dax ready to go to the next event.

Wild flowers along our hike

Erin & Nik

Erin shows how to get around on one ski.

Picturesque Petit Lake

U.S.A.

New rodeo grounds

4th of July picnic

Dax hitching a ride with daddy at the 4th parade.

Miss you already! Come back soon! xoxo

Rocky Mountain High

2011-06-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

We packed up the 4Runner and headed east to Colorado this past weekend. On the agenda was to visit family, my former college stomping grounds at CU Boulder, and attend my good friends wedding.

First stop was introducing Dax to more of his family in Salt Lake. Zach's Uncle Jay & Aunt Jane were delightful hosts and prepared a delicious meal so Dax could meet his Great-Grandfather Ken Latham and more of his cousins, Aaron, Ben, Lexi, and Michelle. We explored their awesome backyard that includes a zipline, chicken coop, bee hives, and garden. I made sure we got a sample of honey before we left.

Great Grandpa Ken makes it look easy.

The chicken palace.

Aunt Jane

Continuing East we ended up in Boulder for a night. Has it really been 10 years? Wow, I felt old this past weekend. When did college students start looking like children? Zach and Dax enjoyed themselves in the Colorado sun, eating out on Pearl Street, and hiking up the Flat Irons. And when did so many people move to town? Once a "remote" college campus is now a bustling city that extends all the way back to Denver. But still I will always be a Colorado Buff :)

Some new Buff recruits.

Ah, the Flatirons.

Up into the Rocky Mountains we had the pleasure of attending my college girlfriends wedding in Allenspark, CO. We stayed in Estes Park and managed a hike with Dax into Rocky Mountain National Park before the big day. Wildflowers abounded and we enjoyed the change in scenery.

Fern Lake Falls. We told Dax he was at Disneyland.

We cooled off in our hotel pool and introduced Dax to swimming. Staying a float with a soggy diaper turned out to be enjoyable for the little guy. And even better when daddy toweled him off afterwards and he found his thumb!

Staying afloat.

The thumb!

What a gorgeous location for a wedding! Reminding me of our own wedding day set in the mountains at a small rustic lodge my girlfriend Katie looked stunning. We had a wonderful time celebrating her new marriage with their family and friends.

Sarah & Katie

Lady killer

All dressed up in Colorado.

Happy Bride & Groom

Yesterday, a 12 hour drive landed us back in Idaho. Dax did an outstanding job putting up with us. Smiling and laughing throughout the entire trip. Now we just need to figure out a way to put him to sleep without putting him in the car :)

Fathers Day

2011-06-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

To all the special Dad's out there I hope you felt loved and appreciated on your special day!

Thijs

2011-06-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

Pronounced "Tice" little baby boy, Thijs Lloyd was born on June 8th to happy parents David & Rachel. We are so happy for you and have a feeling that "put that down!" will be a common phrase when Thijs and Dax start hanging out.

Baby Thijs

Dax stoked to meet his new buddy

I Want To Ride My Bicycle

2011-06-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

Starting last Thursday night we've had a lot of biking activities around the valley. First there was the Drag Races where competitors tied logs to the back of their bikes and then raced down River Street in Hailey. Once the dark rolled in they lite the logs on fire for more entertainment...sorry no pictures I was a little preoccupied.

Willie's bike looks over the polo fields.

Then last night it was the Bike Polo event followed by the Hot Dog Hill Climb. Yes, I had a hard time imagining either of these activities but after watching them I can say with limited knowledge that they make sense. Bike Polo was conducted with two teams of eight on a soccer field. Paritcipants used whiffle ball bats and a small ball to attempt to score goals into a hockey sized net. Main rule was you couldn't hit the ball unless you were on your bike. The pile ups of people on bikes were endless but Zach seemed to avoid them and score two goals.

Zach ready to score goals on the red cruiser.

The next event involved chugging a beer and then attempting to ride up a single track on your bike (mountain, road, or cruiser) while holding a hot dog with one hand. Fastest time wins bragging rights and there are penalties depending on how bad of shape your hot dog is in when you reach the top. No skimping on the relish or mustard.

Dax attended all these events (minus the log burning because it was past his bed time).

Happy guy!

I did borrow a couple of photos from miss Sarah S. of her husband, Ian, on the Hot Dog Hill Climb because really you've got to see it to believe it.

Ian rallies on "Ramona" the road bike. Photo by Sarah Sundby.

Oh and here is the family as we cheer on the competitors for the Hill Climb.

Photo by Sarah Sundby.

The dudes

Mi Familia

2011-06-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

We had some visitors from Nevada and Arizona over this past week. My dad did an 8 hour drive up in his RV from Reno and my older sister, Addie, and her family did the 15 hour drive from Phoenix. With two small children that was no easy task but the motivation for her at 7 months pregnant to get out of the 100 degree heat was reason enough. Primarily, they were coming to meet Dax the newest family member but we made sure they had a good time while in town.

Never a shortage of activities in this valley. We battled rain and sun trying to keep the Phoenix crew warm and my dad content in his RV. Here are a few pictures from the week of activities.

Papa meets Dax.

Indian Creek dinner on a sunny day.

Papa says goodbye to Callie & Avery.

Stanley playground see-saw.

Callie & Avery's doll show & tell.

Fishing at Indian Creek with Papa. Avery caught the biggest and only fish about 6" long.

Backyard smores with Lucy on clean-up.

Ice skate princesses.

Addie helps Avery hold baby Dax.

We are so happy you came and sad your visit is already over. Please, please come again soon!

Morel Season

2011-06-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

At least this damp weather we are having has given good reason to do some mushroom hunting around the valley. Zach, Dax, Lucy, and I did our best and found a few keepers.

I'm thinking pasta and pizza toppers. Yummy!

Feathered Friends

2011-06-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

Zach has been diligent about filling our bird feeder lately and it has paid off. Normally a rare sighting has turned into a vacation retreat for the Lazuli Bunting bird. Not one or two but tens of these birds have been showing up to visit our feeder. The males are the pretty blue headed bird below. The red headed bird is the Cassin's Finch.

An Orielle and a Western Tanager have also made appearances but we haven't snapped a photo of them yet. We've really enjoyed watching them and attempting to name them from the high tec book we picked up at Costco on bird species.

Memorial Weekend

2011-05-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

The sun is shinning down on us now but for a majority of the long weekend we were dealing with rain and, yes, SNOW! Nothing accumulated for long on the ground but looking out at my unplanted garden beds was depressing.

Despite the weather our little family managed to make it outside and spend the weekend with various friends. Here are some pictures taken by Zach from our hike today.

Dax decides to take it easy

Heading up

View from the top

Resting at the top. Dax didn't bother to wake up.

Arrowleaf Balsam Root

Lucy cooling off

Zach and Lucy

Back at home :)

I hope everyone had a nice weekend thanks to our wonderful veterans.

Spring in the Mountains

2011-05-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

Looks like it's going to be a good year for wildflowers in our valley. I'm looking forward to the show. Here's a photo from my hike today of some Indian Paintbrush popping up on the hills.

Pretty soon there will be Arrowleaf Balsam Root, Lupine (white, yellow, and purple), sweet peas, Flax, and more. Too bad allergy season is next...

Garden Buddy

2011-05-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

The weather wasn't great this past weekend, scattered sun and showers, but we managed to get outside and enjoy while we could. I was relieved to get into my garden beds and clean them up for the next growing season. I'm thinking I'm going to grow most of the basics this year: lettuce, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, strawberries, onions, potatoes, squash, pumpkin, and all the herbs.

Notice Lucy's ball in the garden bed. Nice try!

Zach spent a grueling day Saturday hauling dirt around our yard. Every year it seems our yard/garden get's a little better but it also seems like our work load becomes a little longer. My new garden buddy, Dax, makes it a lot harder to get outside so I'm naturally prioritizing what needs to be done. No longer a leisurely gardener my little buddy has turned me into "speedy" the random gardner. It won't be strange to see our yard in half finished projects throughout the summer. That's ok, we will at least have a well fed Dax at the end of the season ;)

The Dax man hard at work.

One Month Old

2011-05-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't believe it until it happened but everyone was right. Time has flown since our little man, Dax, entered our lives. It's been one month today since we have met him and I can't tell you exactly what we've been doing other then growing. Dax is growing bigger everyday and so are our hearts for him. Here is a little preview of his growth and ours over the past month.

Growing like weeds around here :)

One of the Boyz

2011-05-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Zach had the opporutnity to watch Dax for the first time by himself (a.k.a. I got to go out for a couple of hours) last night. How does daddy take care of his new son? By calling in his male reinforcements. Ian and Willie came over and helped cover all the bases with Dax. When I came home I found Dax outside in his car seat sleeping away. The older boys relaxed around our fire pit smoking the cigars Zach was given for being a new dad, talking about who got spit-up on the most. After inducing Dax into a milk coma I can say the boys earned this well deserved reward.

Three guys for one baby. Sounds about right. Thank goodness Lucy was there to keep an eye on them :)

Hello, Portland

2011-05-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

Zach, Dax, and I headed west this past weekend to visit Erin and Nik in Portland. It was a big adventure for our new little family. Ten hours of driving each way with a three week old. Zach was a driving machine, Dax was a sleeping machine, and well I was in charge of everything in between.

Erin and Nik were kind enough to host us for the weekend in their great apartment in the Pearl District. I think meeting their new nephew was a good reason to have us close by. They made us feel right at home.

While in town we also had the opportunity to research a new vehicle for our family. The ride out was a little uncomfortable for three but the ride back was like a much needed vacation.

Zach and Dax were getting pretty good at city life. Meals out, strolling around town, and commuting became routine.

Erin & Nik cooked us a feast for Mother's Day breakfast before we headed back to Idaho. We loved our visit to Portland and hope to visit again soon!

Firsts

2011-05-05T21:26:00.000-07:00

Everyday he seems to have grown so much from the day before. We are getting to know each other. He is trusting that I will come if called. I am learning that smiling may mean a diaper change is necessary.

Many firsts for our little man, Dax, but today was our first hike/walk. I was so proud of him for being patient with mommy's incompetence when dealing with the Ergo for the first time (a.k.a. Baby Snuggler as some people call it). Our friend, Sarah, was great in helping me attach the contraption to my chest and away we went. Oddly, it wasn't to far off from being pregnant again and maybe that's why Dax felt so at ease.

Wonderful to be outside and enjoy the warm weather! I know Lucy appreciated it as well.
After our hike I decided Dax was ready for his first big boy bath. Our friend Megan has been amazingly generous and showed up at our door with a newborns dream tub yesterday. Dax loved it! And of course he was smiling right before letting loose in the tub. If it wasn't before, it's broken in now.

Habitat Nursery Article

2011-05-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

This past winter I had the pleasure of working with some amazing valley moms on a green nursery article for Habitat magazine. It will be on newstands year round if your local or you can read it online at this link. I'm also reposting on my blog for those that would like to read it here.

Nurseries for Nature
by Sarah Latham
Sun Valley Guide Habitat Magazine
Sustainable interior designer and expectant mother Sarah Latham entices local moms to share their secrets for creative and healthy children’s rooms.

Grace embraces her sister, Maeve, in the environmentally friendly nursery created by their mother, Anne Mulick.

photos by Kirsten Shultz

Quite soon after discovering I was pregnant with my first child, I made a second startling discovery: Babies need stuff. A lot of stuff. Not only that, but there’s a daunting multitude of options, and with all the health concerns and product warnings facing a first-time mother, the fear of getting the wrong item is magnified. So I set out to determine which products would be the healthiest for my baby and the environment.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Home Guide, the most important step is to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals. Babies’ immune, hormonal and nervous systems are still developing, meaning environmental pollutants affect them more than they do adults. Creating a green nursery is incredibly important to a child’s health since newborns spend an average of 16 to 17 hours a day there.

I wanted to create a nursery where I wouldn’t have to worry about chemicals, toxins or other hazardous materials. I wanted to make my child’s room safe and green.

For answers and advice, I turned to the community of Wood River Valley mothers to glean from their experiences just how best to envelop my child in a healthy and sustainable environment.

Anne Mulick designed the rooms of her daughters, Maeve, 1, and Grace, 7, with the environment in mind. “It gives us peace of mind that we are doing the right thing,” she said.

The key ingredient for any green nursery is the paint. Benjamin Moore Aura paints are a low-VOC, low-odor, acrylic paint that releases no or minimal volatile organic compounds, though they’re more expensive than standard paint (a gallon of regular Benjamin Moore starts at $34, its Aura paint starts at $58). “The paint seemed like a logical choice,” Mulick said. “Why wouldn’t we do that for our girls?”

An area rug made of 100 percent wool in Maeve’s room also contributes to better air quality. Wool and other raw, natural materials don’t require the use of VOCs or other chemicals that are known carcinogens (such as benzene and formaldehyde), substances commonly found in synthetic floor coverings. They also contribute to the use of rapidly renewable, local and environmentally friendly practices in growing.

This is why it is also important to choose natural, and if possible, organic materials for the child’s bed. The Green Home Guide recommends real wood, natural finishes and untreated pure cotton and wool (preferably organic) bedding.

However, the crib is one area where going green can be substantially more expensive. For safety reasons, reusing cribs is not recommended and, as Becky Kinman of Hailey discovered when she researched cribs for her son, Holden, the environmentally responsible route costs more in this instance. Kinman selected a crib from Nurseryworks, which specializes in handcrafted contemporary furnishings made with environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes. The crib, which retails for $800, is made with paulownia wood (a fast-growing, richly grained, lightweight, fire- and decay-resistant hardwood species), low-VOC finishes and glues and formaldehyde-free dyes. Kinman also opted for an organic mattress. An alternative option is choosing an organic mattress cover, which helps limit off-gassing from a regular mattress (as does airing it out for as long as possible prior to use). For Kinman, the extra expense of a truly “green” crib was worth the investment. “With such a small space (the nursery is a trapezoid-shaped 9 feet by 11 feet), I wanted to make sure nothing was toxic for Holden or us,” she said.

Kinman offset the expense of the crib by using repurposed items for the rest of the room’s furniture. “They were items we had used in other parts of our house and incorporated into his room instead of purchasing new,” Kinman said. “So it almost felt like a wash.” Reusing existing furnishings cuts the demand for raw, virgin materials and eliminates landfill waste. An added bonus is that the items often have special meaning for the family. Old apple crates, salvaged from Holden’s grandparents’ farmhouse, were transformed into bookshelves, and a dresser from Kinman’s childhood doubled as a changing table. “We tried to make it a fun blend of whimsical art and color, along with some modern touches,” she said.

Holden Kinman enjoys racing his cars on the oak floors with his mother, Becky.

Mulick also opted to use hand-me-down, recycled and repurposed items to offset the cost of the pricier green items. An old chair passed down from Mulick’s parents was easily adjusted to the nursery courtesy of a new slipcover. “I like the nostalgia of reusing pieces from a different time into a different space,” Mulick said. Artwork from her childhood was framed and reused as decorative pieces in the girls’ rooms.

Lisa and Nate Scales came up with a practical solution for one of the biggest contributors to indoor air pollution in children’s rooms: plastic toys. They made their own.

After searching for a step stool for their two daughters, Ripley, 4, and Daisy, 1, the Hailey couple was disappointed in their choices. “They were expensive, poor quality and not the size we were looking for,” said Lisa. Fortunately, Nate, a carpenter, set about making the perfect one from wood, decorating it with no-VOC paint.

“We had so much fun with that project, so we started looking for the next toy to build and came up with the toy kitchen,” Lisa said. “It was really a great learning experience for Ripley to watch the transformation of the pieces of wood she was sanding turn into her kitchen.”

Using mainly leftover wood and salvaged scraps of pine from their wood pile, the Scales have so far created a step stool, a kitchen set (complete with over-easy eggs, noodles, tomatoes and lettuce made out of felt), a baby carrier, trees, animals, blocks and a repurposed play house.

The handmade approach is not only environmentally friendly (an assembly-line product uses more energy), but it provides the family with a deeper connection to the products they consume. “They mean something to all of us, because we all have contributed to the final product rather than some plastic, store-bought toy that has no significance,” she said.

If making your own is not an option, opt for cloth and wooden toys, available at local shops such as The Toy Store. Where plastic is unavoidable, choose PVC-free (PVC is usually identified by the number 3 in the recycling symbol) and when in doubt, smell it. Toxic softeners give plastics that strong new smell.

Creating an environmentally clean room for a child gives parents the assurance that their children are at least sleeping in a safe environment. The next step, ensuring that the rest of their world is safe, healthy and sustainable, may not be quite so easy.

Ripley and Daisy Scales play in the handmade kitchen they built with their parents.

Sarah's Sustainable Selections when designing a nursery for my first child, I wanted the room to be environmentally friendly, inexpensive and gender-neutral, as well as to have simple, fun shapes and colors.

MATERIALS I focused on finding cotton or organic products as much as possible. Washable was important to make sure I can continually clean the items.

PAINT I selected green and white Benjamin Moore Natura no-VOC wall paint (starting at $58 a gallon). I plan on painting a tree silhouette with two shades of green leaves and a brown trunk. If we have a girl, I’ll add pink accents. It’s important to finish painting at least a month before baby arrives to allow any off-gasses time to dissipate. If time doesn’t permit this, curing the room with a space heater will also do the trick.

FLOORING A striped, green, 100-percent-cotton woven rug, made by New York-based Dash & Albert, will be the centerpiece of the floor over our existing wool carpet. These rugs are lightweight, reversible, washable and affordable ($28-$385). When choosing flooring, the best option is mostly bare, embellished with a rug or two with nonslip pads, as this is easy to clean. But don’t rip up old carpet, just clean it well.

FURNITURE For the crib, I wanted as natural a sleeping environment as possible, so I decided on a crib from Dwell Studio, an environmentally responsible company based in New York City. The Century Crib ($980) is made in Canada out of solid European beech wood and painted with nontoxic paints. I selected an Ikea dresser made from renewable material (wood fibers), which will easily be separated for recycling after its lifetime. My husband, Zach, and his father, Nick, have built a changing table out of repurposed wood from our garage to place on top. For those nighttime feedings, I found a vintage rocking chair at a garage sale. I plan to make a cushion for it from environmentally friendly fabric company Mod Green Pod’s Grand Jubilee Chocolate pattern. The fabric is 100 percent organic cotton and retails at $40 a yard.

BEDDING For the bedding, I also went with Dwell Studio, known for its colorful and whimsical patterns. I opted for its Owl Sky crib set ($360), which is 100 percent cotton and uses low-impact fiber-reactive dyes and eco-friendly pigments. The owl theme is gender-neutral and gives the room a sweet, playful sensibility.

upkeep After all this hard work and research, I’ll be sure to keep the nursery safe by using natural and nontoxic cleaning products and pest controls.

Sarah Latham LEED AP ID +C (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Associate Professional Interior Design & Construction), is the owner of White Canvas Designs. She is expecting her first child in April.

Dax

2011-04-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

April 18th, 11:44 pm, 8 pounds, 21 inches,

Dax entered our lives

and we have been madly in love ever since.

Thank you to everyone for your love & support.

More pictures to come soon.

Nellie is Adopted

2011-04-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Update on the doggie Zach found last month. We were calling her "Wells" but the Animal Shelter renamed her "Nellie".

She has been adopted and we couldn't be more excited for the family that decided to take her in!

Sunny Sunday

2011-04-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day to get outdoors so I brought Lucy & Ruby along for a little hike behind our house. They probably did three laps by the time I got to the top of the hill.

I did manage to get them to slow down for a photo before darting off again.

Good thing we went because it's rainy today.

Tic-Tock

2011-04-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

The count down to baby Latham's arrival is on and so is the pressure. Not a minute goes by without a comment from someone on when the baby is due and mild dissapointment that it's me telling them and not holding a baby.

Yesterday our dear friends, Jon & Regina, in Boston welcomed a healthy baby boy, Jack, into the world. Hooray! I have no doubt he will be an avid Red Sox fan just like his adoring parents.

Our offical due date is April 15th but I'm prepared for an early or late arrival at this point. Well, truthfully I'm more prepared for early then late...

Any guesses out there? Boy? Girl? Due Date?

39th Anniversary

2011-03-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

Happy 39th Anniversary Nick & Jean!

Wonderful of you to let the crew join you

at the Roundhouse for dinner to celebrate.

Looking forward to the 40th and more celebration to come!

xoxo, Zach & Sarah

A Room for Our Baby

2011-03-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

The process of designing our baby's nursery has helped me in two ways: to stay focused throughout the pregnancy ups and downs, and to have a place to direct my excitement for the baby's arrival while we wait. Even though we don't know if we are having a boy or girl, I didn't let that stop me from creating a room for our baby. Nor did I let environmental concerns stop me. I'm happy to say that on a small budget I was able to keep everything in our baby's little room sustainable, re-used, recycled or chemical free. After all, this is where our baby will be spending almost all of their time growing up.

I love blue's and green's and knowing the trend for baby girls is pink and blue for boys, I tried to create a room that could incorporate pink later on if needed (since it's always ok for a girl to be in blue but have yet to see infant boys in pink). I picked bold bright colors that I thought a boy or girl could love. Throwing pink into this room with drapery and pillows should be easy if we do have a girl for an accent color down the road.

We only have two bedrooms in our house so the baby's room has to double as our guest room when we have visitors. The sofa is a pull-out bed from Ikea that my mom will break in when she's visiting after the baby is born.

The crib and bedding are from Dwell Studio and available through my company, White Canvas Designs. The bedding is 100% cotton and soft for baby. The convertible crib is made of beech wood and finished in non-toxic paint. We have an organic mattress that was given to us by my mom to complete the chemical free sleep zone.

Zach and I gathered vintage ski posters while traveling through Switzerland and France a few years ago which I re-framed for artwork. I plan to add pictures of the baby as well after the arrival.

The area rug is from Dash & Albert and 100% cotton for easy washing. All the wall, trim, and closet paint is from Benjamin Moore's "Natura" line, VOC and odor free. For extra precaution while painting I did wear a mask but was happy I wouldn't have to worry about chemical off gassing when baby is sleeping in the room.

The knitted mobile was a gift from girlfriends at my baby shower made by a company called Blabla. The teddy bear was hand knitted by our aunt, Jane, and is absolutely adorable!

I copied a simple pattern of a tree and painted it on the wall after I discovered how expensive wall decals can be.

Instead of a glider (which our little room doesn't have space for) I found a traditional little rocking chair at a garage sale un-upholstered. I used some fabric scraps (100% organic cotton) I had left over from a company called, Mod Green Pod, to upholster a new cushion.

Overall, I'm really happy with how things turned out and plan to incorporate more sentimental items when baby arrives. We have less then a month until we meet the little person that will be living in this room and we couldn't be more excited :)

Spring Delight

2011-03-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

25" of new snow on Baldy in the last 24hours has made for some happy skiers in this valley!

Zach is frothing at the mouth to get up on the hill with the rest of the locals.

My skiers delight is that most of the guys in the office are out on the mountain so I don't have to deal with any ridiculous remarks about being pregnant.

Let it snow!

The 4 Year Old

2011-03-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Time has flown bye! Seems like yesterday Lucy was being scolded for chewing up another dog bed or recovering from a knee surgery. But this past Saturday she turned 4 and we did a little celebrating.

She got a bone that I was certain she would devour instantly. But showing her maturity instead I found her burying it in the backyard for a later treat. Of course, I pretended not to notice her secret hiding spot.

We love our Lucy-Lu and even though our new baby will probably take over the spotlight, Lucy will always be our favorite furry friend.

Wells

2011-03-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

Zach was working on a remote ranch south of Bellevue when a small dog approached him out of no where. Zach is a hydrologist and works with wells often during his job. This dog immediately started licking at the pipe of the well where the water was leaking out, desperate for water. The ranch manager Zach was working with said the dog was a stray and would surely die within the week. Zach was devastated and couldn't stand to know or see an animal suffer. He decided he wouldn't let it. Clearly the dog had never been in a car before and she wet herself immediately out of fright when Zach lifted her light body into the back of his truck. If she didn't have such a pretty coat of fur her ribs would be visible for the only thing holding her together.

He got home late that evening and we did our best to feed this little stray and make her comfortable in our home. She seemed relieved to have someone to care for her but extremely anxious and nervous about any movement or noise. The next morning we took her to the vet to get bathed and some medical attention. We wanted to help as much as we could and thought we could handle another dog in our home. One more night with us and it became apparent that this was over our heads. With our new baby due to arrive next month, limited time and income, we knew this dog needed more attention and time then we have to give.

She is very sweet and approachable. She has a gorgeous yellow and white coat that makes us think she is part Collie with freckles on her face that makes her part Red Healer. Her eyes are a gorgeous pale yellow that matches her fur. She get's nervous when left alone or things around her change suddenly. She got use to Lucy after the first night but wasn't trusting immediately. Once you earn her friendship she was going to be by your side indefinitely. From her white teeth and small paws we believe she is around 1 1/2yrs. She seems a lot more interested in people food but would eat anything. We are guessing she was a scavenger because she is very sneaky about knowing when to take items from your lunch. She weighs only 28lbs but when on a proper diet should way at least 38lbs. Her fur is deceiving because she is all bones underneath. I brought her to work with me on Friday and she was amazingly calm and responsive to anyone that was interested. She does not understand a leash but didn't seem to mind as long as I was around her.

Fortunately, we have an amazing Animal Shelter in our valley. It runs on a no-kill policy, meaning there is no limit to an animals length of stay. We were lovingly reassured that we were doing the right thing and that our little stray which Zach nick-named, "Wells", would be a desirable adoption because of her unique coloring and behavior.

Even though we weren't able to adopt Wells, we found relief in knowing that no matter where she goes from being found abandoned on the ranch she will have a good life from here on out.

If you or anyone you know may be interested in adopting Wells or any other animal in this valley go to the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley website for up to date information and pictures. Wells will be available for adoption starting this Saturday (March 19th). Even if your like us and can't take another pet into your lives please make a donation as we did. This shelter provides an invaluable asset to our community.

Happy Happy Z!

2011-03-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my best friend Zach!

I hope you have an amazing day.

Looking forward to this new year of adventures with baby.

You are going to be an awesome dad :)

xoxo

Sarah

New Cork Floor

2011-03-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

After months of planning, Zach sacrificed most of this past weekend to install our new laundry room cork flooring. He and I tackled the removal of our existing linoleum flooring on Saturday afternoon and then a good friend, Ian, came in on Sunday and installed the new cork with Zach. Thank goodness for Ian's help! We couldn't have done it without him :)

Bye, bye, nasty linoleum.

Yuck! Time to go.

Ian and Zach laying in the first row of cork planks.

Job well done boys! We are back in business.

Ceramic infused cork plank flooring...ahh!

We purchased the cork planks through Sustainable Flooring in Boulder, Colorado. The warmth and acoustic value of our new laundry room flooring was immediately apparent. Read below for more specific information on the cork itself.

Sustainability Benefit:

Cork from Portugal is sustainable for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is rapidly renewable, being that the bark of the tree is peeled from the trunk, and then tree is left to regenerate. This provides an almost limitless supply of cork bark, assuming that once the tree is beyond its’ useful life, replacements are planted (which they are). This heavily protected species also carries with it tremendous mechanical and functional properties, most of which are related to the fact that the cork bark is made almost entirely of cellular pockets of air (200 million cells per cubic inch). These cells of trapped air inhibit the passage of sound (making it one of the best acoustic insulators known), and are known as a thermal insulator, separately an often cold floor from the warmth of your foot. In addition, cork is anti-microbial, has tremendous “bounce-back” properties and forgiveness, and offers one of the greatest slip resistances of any natural material. Despite common wine industry myths, cork availability increases every year (despite minor ups and downs related to weather), and is one of the true really sustainable raw materials in its unaltered state.

Sustainable Flooring uses “ceramic” and “atomic” finishes (enabling extremely high-traffic commercial use)
Organic wax coating applied to all sides of the T&G (for added moisture resilience)
Offers tremendous slip resistance (unmatched with any other mosaic)
Sustainable Flooring only sources cork from Portugal (not China, where the cork forests are not mature enough to provide the inherent benefits in the cork material)
Core material in planks is CARB-compliant (E0)

Booze & Onesies

2011-02-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

The blank baby clothes ready to be decorated.

Katherine and Megan were too kind in throwing a co-ed baby shower last Friday night to include Zach and the dudes in celebrating the arrival of our new baby this April. They themed it "Booze & Onesies", in hopes of getting both boys and girls to attend. It worked and we had a great time!

Katherine sent out funny invitations showing childhood pictures of Zach and I side-by-side. In the invites both of us were around 5 or 6 in the pictures, me on a horse in full cowgirl attire, Zach with his skis ready to hit the slopes, and the headline read "Cute Cowgirl + Ski Hound = Mountain Baby".

Zach assumed when we got the invitation that a onesie referred to a one-piece ski outfit. He was ready to whip out the neon attire. I had to break it to him that in fact it's the usual attire for a baby, not skiers.

Hilary the artist.

Auntie Kat has the best slogan.

Megan did a fabulous job decorating with all white baby clothes and it didn't take long for the guests to start decorating.

Ryan Casey's cupcake bib.

Matt McNeal know's his geography.

Uncle Bryan makes sure he's covered.

Booze & Onesies create a comical array of baby attire. We had a great time and are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends throw us another baby shower that included the boys :) Thanks MegO & Kat!

The finished master pieces :)

Winter is Back

2011-02-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

With a force starting last Thursday, winter has returned! Every skier in the valley has been rejoicing with the fresh new layers of white fluffy stuff to play in. I however was in doors for most of the past five days battling another cold/flu :( But it was beautiful to watch the snow and know that there were happy people enjoying it outdoors.

Zach of course was one of them! He did some snow blowing in the backyard in between ski time to create "dog town". That way Lucy can run around and dive in and out of the snow banks at will.

Getting Zach or Lucy inside this time of year is near to impossible. And as I type the snow continues to fall. Welcome back winter :)

Ladies Baby Shower

2011-02-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was so lucky to have a baby shower thrown by good family friend, Margo Peck, and Zach's mother, Jean this past weekend. They went above and beyond any expectations. It took place in Margo's beautiful home South of Ketchum with about 40 women in attendance. Catered with scrumptious appetizers and a wine bar I think the ladies really had a good time. My sister, Erin, and mom were able to make the journey to Idaho to join in the celebration and I couldn't have been happier to have them there.

The women at work.

Lisa and Katherine

Christine, Lydia, Davina, and Sarah S.

Baby Latham was showered with more gifts then I know what to do with! And some of the handmade items are just so precious I'm at a loss for words. This was a huge milestone in my pregnancy and I can't believe it has already come and gone. I can't wait to meet the baby that everyone helped me celebrate this past weekend. Thank you, thank you, to all my wonderful friends, family, and hosts for making me and the baby feel loved :) I'm truly blessed.

Jean shows the quilt made for Zach's birth by his grandmother & friends.

Jean, Sarah, Jeannie, and Erin.

February Family Visit

2011-02-16T08:00:00.001-08:00

Phew, it was a whirlwind weekend and I'm still recovering from all the fun and activities. My mom flew in from Reno, and my sister, Erin, and fiance, Nik, flew in from Portland. I think Zach and I managed to entertain the heck out them from morning til' night. Erin and Nik skied on Baldy with Zach on Friday while my mom and I ran some errands around town and got our nails done. Then we met up for lunch at the River Run lodge. That evening we enjoyed a comedy show in Sun Valley. I laughed so hard I think the baby did a couple forward rolls.

Nik, Erin, Jeannie, Sarah & Zach outside SV Lodge.

Zach & Nik at the Comedy Show.

Erin, "Gretchen Fraiser", and Sarah.

Nordic skiing for the girls and backcountry skiing for the boys the next day before a delicious lunch at my favorite, Galena Lodge. Then it was time for the Ladies Baby Shower at Margo's (more to come on that).

Erin posing SV style on skate skis.

Classic skiing at 8 months pregnant.

Zach's aunt, Jane, uncle, Tony, and his girlfriend, Stephanie also made the journey to our valley this past weekend. It was wonderful to see them all and learn about some of the Latham family history in a 150 year old cradle and rocking chair passed down to us for the baby.

Sarah, Jeannie, Erin, Jean, Kat, Jane, and Stephanie at the Lathams.

It was such a treat to have everyone in town to celebrate baby Latham and enjoy the little snow we still have in the mountains. Thanks for coming and please come again soon! xoxo

Sarah, Jeannie, and Erin.

Nick's Birthday Celebration

2011-02-15T09:23:00.000-08:00

Zach's dad, Nick, had his birthday last Thursday and we celebrated half way up the ski mountain at the Roundhouse Lodge. Dining via Gondola is always a treat and this was extra special with the arrival of Nick's brother, Tony, and his girlfriend, Stephanie. My mom was also in town so she was able to join a total of 10 people for a delicious fireside meal.

Nick you may be getting older but it's clear to me your still young at heart!

Here is the man with all his birthday loot including a handmade duck caller from brother Tony.

Valentines Be Mine

2011-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!
And Happy Birthday to my niece Avery :)

Empathy Suit

2011-02-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

Last night Zach and I had our first birthing class. We joined 9 other couples at the medical center in Hailey to learn what we could about the in's and out's of labor, delivery, and baby in the first two hour session of a six course series. Our teacher, Larsen Peterson, was great and has 30+ years of teaching experience under her belt.

The teacher asked for a volunteer and I quickly nominated Zach knowing this might be for something good. And indeed it was! Zach had to put on an "empathy suit". The suit simulates what it might feel like to be pregnant for a man. It's 30+lbs with a belly and breasts. The teacher then adds additional weighted lead balls into the stomach to simulate what it might feel like to have something kicking inside you. Zach had to get "dressed", tie his shoes, sit down on the floor, and try to get comfortable all in the empathy suit. I think he would agree he has a whole new respect for what women go through while being pregnant.

The picture quality isn't the best because it was extremely hard to focus when I was laughing so hard. But those who know Zach can surely visualize him flopping around on the floor with grunts and moans.

Ski the Rails

2011-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday I headed out with Lucy in tow for a community event called, "Ski the Rails". What was once the old railroad tracks through the Wood River Valley is now the summer bike path and winter ski trails. It's a wonderful asset to the community and there is never a day where someone isn't out enjoying it's benefits.

Lucy watching out of the back of the bus window.

Bus full of skiers heading to the start in Ketchum.

Ski the Rails is basically that. People start out in Ketchum and ski down to Hailey (about 11 miles) to meet at the Sun Valley Brewery for music, food, and beer (or water in my case) afterwards. Lucy and I joined Jenna, her husband, Willie, and their dog, June, for the bus ride up and ski back down to Hailey. We classic skied and enjoyed the glide, sunny day, and treats along the way.

Lucy and I at the start ready for action.

Jenna and I mid-way at a booth.

Finish line at the Sun Valley Brewery.

I was a little more then exhausted on Sunday but it was well worth the enjoyment of the day.

Baby Pool

2011-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

My office decided to set-up a little "pool" for the Latham baby arrival. Having about 18 guys in the office any reason to gamble seems like a good idea to them. There is a calender for guessing the date the baby is born and the sex and an envelope for your $1 guess. If you guess the baby's weight you could be the first non-Latham family member to hold the baby ;)

Someone added Lucy's picture on the top right as inspiration. I love our dog but goodness I hope our child isn't as hairy!

Special Spoon

2011-01-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

Zach's grandfather, Ken, is more than your typical craftsman. He has been known to construct a building or two from scratch. A regular do it yourself kind of guy. In his spare time he makes belt buckles, jewelry, tools, and more.

I have been admiring his handiwork for years particularly at Zach's parents house in one of Ken's hand crafted "tea spoons". A spoon with a lid that has holes in the top and bottom for steeping tea. To my surprise yesterday afternoon I received a package with my very own teaspoon made of copper by grandpa Ken. I was thrilled!

I know he put a lot of time into making this and I plan to treasure it for even longer :)

Elk Crossing

2011-01-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

After work yesterday I was driving home and came across a herd of elk trying to cross the road. They were in single file and slowly waiting their turn to risk the run across Buttercup Road. Luckily, there was enough light out to spot these creatures because not only can they be seriously injured or killed but so can the driver.

I slowed down of course to give them right of way but they weren't interested in negotiating. So I snapped a few quick pictures with the pink sunset in the background and kept rolling home.

Chinese Hurdler

2011-01-17T19:19:00.000-08:00

Zach was laughing so hard he was crying over this.

Ski Inspiration

2011-01-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

If you haven't noticed skiing seems to be my main topic for blog postings as of late. But that is the time of year that our little snow town thrives. Hence, more ski stories...

My friend, Megan, and I headed to Quigley Nordic trails on Saturday to get a little exercise. This time last year Megan was pregnant with twins and didn't know what she was having. Now she happily tows along Briggs and Lucy (10 months) in a chariot weighing at least 60lbs. She chats merrily as we ski along only slowing down slightly at hills. I am huffing and puffing more as I get farther into my pregnancy. Seeing Megan relaxed and casual outdoors with two little ones gives me great inspiration for the future.

Lucy, Briggs, and Megan

Megan with the chariot.

On Sunday ,Zach joined Lucy and I for a free day of skiing and we managed to take a video of some of the fun. Unfortunately, I can now see my ski form needs major improvement.

Lucy is a fan of skiing to say the least :)

Zach also squeezed in a ski tour with friends and took more photos to share.

Belly Time

2011-01-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

I get it. Be proud of the belly :)

In my defense, it is the first time in my life (and any woman's)

where you are encouraged to gain a round protruding sphere on your stomach.

But with all the kicking lately it's hard to ignore that this belly is housing our newest family member.

So I'm working on embracing the belly.

Everyday, I'm getting more excited to meet the little belly maker.

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow :)

My yoga attempt with the belly

Classic Ski & Window Trim

2011-01-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

I've been procrastinating my weekly blog post because I haven't captured a picture of the new interior window trim that Zach and Nick worked so hard on over the weekend. It's wonderful! And the best part is we can put up our window shades in the living room now so we won't be on display for the neighborhood at night. There is still 11 windows to trim out but regardless they are knocking them out window by window.

Luckily, it wasn't the BEST ski weekend so Zach didn't feel too badly about missing anything in the mountains. I started painting the baby's nursery with no VOC paint and a gas mask. I have a lot to do!

I did get in a free classic ski clinic with Brett, Hannah, and Jenna at Galena Lodge over the weekend. Great simple tips that improved my functionality immediately. After class we went for a nice long ski loop back to the lodge for hot coco and chocolate chip cookies. My favorite :)

Brett and Jenna with some random in the background.

Brett, Jenna, Hannah

So grateful to have Nordic skiing and girlfriends while I'm pregnant!

Under the Weather

2011-01-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

Since last Tuesday I have been fighting a cold that seemingly had it's grip on me. Knocking out all my energy, sinuses, throat, and breathing makes it that much more difficult to be pregnant. Boo hoo :( But luckily I had lot's of support and am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel today.

Zach's mom, Jean, came by every day with chicken noodle soup, oranges, drinks, books, and cheer. She even brought dinner for Zach so I wouldn't have to worry about feeding him. What a woman! Zach's sister, Katherine, ran by the drug store for me TWICE to pick up some approved medicine. Jenna brought over soup, bread, and books to read. And Zach put up with me coughing non-stop for the past week. Hope I can return the generous help next time someone else is sick. It truly kept me going.

Despite being sick I managed to make my mom's New Years black eyed peas with slang-jang (tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumbers, and onion salad) for good luck.

Zach got the sore throat part of my cold but it barely stopped him from skiing everyday this past weekend in negative degree temperatures with friends. It was hard for me not to be envious of all the fun he was having when I was stuck at home but I'm really glad he got out of the house and wasn't forced into my misery. His favorite ritual before heading out to ski is making his eggs and hashbrowns a la' our wood stove.

Can't wait to get out of the house tomorrow and start the road to recovery :) Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year Holiday!

New Year Cheer

2010-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Am I the only one that never really knew the words to this traditional song?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Clearly I was making up words as I sang along :)

Christmas Review

2010-12-27T07:45:00.000-08:00

View from Roundhouse Lodge.

It was a whirlwind weekend filled with presents, food, friends, and family. I'm exhausted! Wouldn't have done it any other way though...We started Christmas morning by heading up early to the Roundhouse Lodge via gondola for breakfast with the Latham's and Bridwell's (Kat & Bryan). A perfect view of the town below and a chance for most of the group to get some early morning ski runs (minus Jean and I).

The gondola ride up to Roundhouse.

Stairs up to the Roundhouse.

The Christmas crew from left: Kat, Bryan, Zach, Sarah, Jean, and Nick.

On the deck at the Roundhouse Lodge.

Our table inside the Roundhouse restaurant.

Later we meet up for a light lunch and present opening at the Latham's house in Indian Creek. We had some good laughs and cheers. Our army of five labs, four females and one Gus, frolicked happily outdoors in the snow like freed beasts.

Nick & Jean

Zach and his new goggles.

Four of the five dogs. Left is Abby, Gus, Lucy (in back), and Ruby.

Zach and I squeezed in a quick skate ski at Quigley before we made dinner for Nick and Jean at our house that evening. Stuffed Cornish game hens, buttered squash, green salad, and crescent rolls. Dinner was followed by Jean's boysenberry pie with vanilla ice cream. I think I can easily say we were all round and jolly by the end of the day!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

To friends and family everywhere

we hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

xoxo

Sarah & Zach

Snow, Snow, Snow!

2010-12-20T06:09:00.000-08:00

...and more snow makes for happy locals this time of year.

Zach skied two days on Baldy and managed to take an afternoon off to help with the window trim and shades in our upstairs bathroom and bedroom. No longer will a pregnant lady be seen streaking across the lighted windows at 521 Mother Lode. Thank goodness!

Lucy and I got some classic skiing in and even joined some friends for sledding afterwards on Sunday at Quigley Nordic Center. The Walker children, Owen (5) and Hadley (almost 2) had Jenna, Sarah S., Davina, and I as cheerleaders. Owen was having a great time and didn't even bother with a sled at times. Hadley wasn't too interested in actually sledding and was more curious to watch what everyone else was doing. Lucy and some other dogs chased every sledder down the hill creating their own game of tag.

Davina helps Hadley put her goggles on.

Sarah S. and Owen get ready for their decent.

Jenna cheerleads from a top the sled hill.

Zach was snow-blowing late into Sunday evening just as the last of this weekends storm hit. It's 19 degrees as I write this but luckily my husband did an excellent job clearing out our driveway and front porch so we won't have to wade to our cars in thigh deep snow for the work week. Snow is much more enjoyable when you have the time to enjoy it :)

Ski Tired

2010-12-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

We were busy with the December snow this past weekend. Zach was on Baldy both days skiing with friends. Lucy and I skate and classic skied out Quigley near our house over the weekend. "Skate" skiing is a form of Nordic or Cross Country skiing where you glide along a relatively level ground with a short lightweight skinny ski. "Classic" skiing is another form of Nordic or Cross Country skiing but this time you are in a designated track where your motion is more straightforward. Imagine gliding while you walk with poles.

On Saturday Lucy and I were joined by Jenna and her two doggies for a skate ski. It's fun to see all the excitement from the dogs. They act like they have been in cages for the good portion of the year. Run, run, run! They do their best to keep up with us when we are going down hills. Lucy always tries to race me. Once the hill runs out she usually wins :) The best part about playing in the snow for Lucy is that not only are there endless amounts of snowballs to chase but she can eat them to her hearts content.

Sunday Lucy and I headed out again to Quigley, this time for an attempt at classic skiing. It was a beautiful sunny day with snow covering everything in sight. It felt good to get my pregnant belly outside and enjoy some winter activities. I promise I kept things mellow. I was relieved to know I can do some physical activity outdoors this winter without going crazy.

Needless to say we were all tired from our weekend of skiing and Lucy managed to capture our exhaustion.

LEED AP ID+C

2010-12-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

I passed!

I'm officially a LEED AP ID +C

(Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Associate Professional in Interior Design & Construction).

I know it's a mouthful but trust me I earned it.

What is a LEED AP ID+C exactly? It's a credential that provides a standard for professionals participating in the design and construction of environmentally responsible, high-performance commercial spaces and tenant improvements. It's awarded through the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI)and the US Green Building Council. I am now officially an expert on green building design ;) Hooray!

Little Tree

2010-12-05T20:00:00.000-08:00

We managed to squeeze in a quick Christmas tree hunt this past Saturday. Borrowing Nick & Jean's snowmobile made the effort MUCH easier this year! After a brief period of searching we were happy to settle with a little full tree. Much smaller then our trees from years past but I'm learning that smaller can mean a lot less hassle and stress (which I'm not into this year).

Zach posing with our Xmas tree pick.

Sarah at the snowmobile with Xmas tree wrapped in the sled.

You can't see Zach sleeping on the couch.

Decorated and ready to roll! Now back to studying....