Snow in Portland and Brewing Part 2

Picture taken from our old neighbors on the 14th floor

That's right! We had about 2 inches on the ground for a total of 2 hours, then the rain started and it was all gone by morning. These 2 snowmen were trying to withstand the rain the next day. By lunchtime they were gone. Mt Hood has been getting a ton of snow. The storm has dropped over 5 feet of snow in the last 4 days. Wooohooo, good skiing here we come!!!

Nik has waited patiently for the past two weeks. The beer he has been brewing sat under our stairwell in a glass jug fermenting. This week we were able to transfer the beer from the jug into beer bottles. We feel like little mad scientists concocting an experiment. It's tons of fun, but really we have no idea what we are doing. Now they get to sit another two weeks fermenting even more. Then we drink away!! 

Timberline Skin

Some days you have it all together and well some you just don't. Sunday was one of those days that I definitely did not have it all together. We planned to meet our friends Andrew and Wanda (Vunda) up at Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood for a skin up the mountain, then a ski down. First we showed up a few minutes late. Then, as we were pulling into the Timberline parking lot I realized I forgot my skins (can't get much skinning in without any skins). I volunteered to go to a nearby resort where Nik and I  have a pass, so I wouldn't interrupt everyone else's day. Nik wasn't going to let me go skiing by myself and he insisted he would boot pack it up the mountain while I borrowed his skins (I have the greatest soon to be husband). Then, as we were clipping into our bindings to start our assent, I realized I never got my bindings adjusted to my new ski boots. I needed to adjust them a couple centimeters :-/ So, after all the waiting Andrew and Wanda decided to head up (they were so patient) and Nik helped me figure out my bindings in the lodge.

Wanda didn't climb with us, but we made sure to get her play time in afterwards.

Finally after all the mishaps Nik and I were able to ascend the mountain. It was a gorgeous day!!  Overall it felt incredible to be out on the mountain enjoying the beautiful weather. We met Andrew and Wanda on the ski down. It was a blast!

The New Year and the New Brew Master

Nik and I spent New Years Eve with our good friends Haley and John. They invited us along with about 4 other couples to their house for dinner. We rung in the New Year with the 3 hour delayed count down from New York and enjoyed pizza and champagne.

On New Years Day, Nik decided to try out his new brewing kit he got from me for Christmas. We felt like we were doing a science project. It took much longer than we thought and we have to wait 4 weeks for the final result, but it proved to be a lot of fun.

Our house smelled like a brewey

We will let you know how it turns out.

Christmas in Reno

Nik and I had a wonderful Christmas in Reno this year. We made the drive on the 23rd and were able to stay until the 28th. This was the first time in a long time that we had a few days to hangout and relax. Of course, we were constantly bouncing back and forth from families houses, but it was all worth it.

Of course we had to go to sushi while we were in Reno.

Susie

We got to meet our new little nephew Conner (what a cutie) and we spent tons of time with the families. 

Christmas day was another Patagonia sponsored event. I made sure to outfit our families in all the clothing and gear.

Mitch and Ali

Sarah's present to Mom

We had a wonderful time which always makes leaving very hard to do. Thank you Agee's and Kosach's for taking us in this holiday season. We had so much fun and we miss all of you already.

Wanda and Luke

I had to add this one. It is so cute!!