Winter camping fun

The weather here has been strangely dry. But when that happens on a weekend, with no rain (or snow in the mountains) in sight, I decided to make a quick dash to Mt. Rainier for some winter camping fun!

A HUGE thank you to Catherine for watching the kids!

After the mad parking lot nonsense (it took about 30 minutes of driving around before I lucked out and saw someone leaving), it was about a 90 minute hike up to Mazama Ridge. I picked a nice spot with nice views to the north of Mt. Rainier and to the south of the Tatoosh mountains. Sunset pretty much fizzled, without much excitement or color in the sky, but it was still very pretty.

Who says I can't pick a nice campsite?

Shortly after setting up my tent I got to watch a small avalanche way up on the flanks of Mt. Rainier. It was a long way off, so I wasn't in any danger. Plus I wasn't hiking/camping in an avalanche zone. I woke up pretty early, and since the stars were just amazing, I decided to snap some photos.

After a short nap, the sun came out and again, the sunrise fizzled without any great color. But like the sunset, it was still very pretty (just not photogenic).

Catherine surprised me when I got home with some books to read to help prepare me for my upcoming school year - so all in all it was a pretty good weekend for me. Hopefully it was nice for everyone, too.

Cheers,

Marc

Christmas photos

We are wrapping things up here to finish out the year. I know I just said it in the last post, but what a year it has been…

Anyways, we enjoyed talking with family on Christmas. But since we are out here on the West Coast, I thought I'd share some photos of all of us from Christmas Eve.

I had to get my camera and the lights set up for Christmas morning, and part of that was getting everyone in front of the camera.

Leah loved to get Catherine and me in front of the camera for a change.

Happy New Year's everybody!

Marc

Christmas Letter

Once again, the Christmas tree is up. The kids have hung the decorations with varying amounts of care, and presents are already under the tree. This year has been no different than previous years when I say what a busy year we've had!

You may recall that last year I was selected for promotion to Major. The day finally came this past May. Catherine prepared a magnificent feast, for which my coworkers still approach me from time to time, and much like Chris Farley, ask me if I remember when Catherine brought in all that yummy food. Yup, I remember - it was quite the feast! Since promotions for me are few and far between, Catherine brought the kids to come enjoy. They fooled everyone with their good behavior ;-). My coworkers tell me I am a very lucky person. I know, but it's more than luck; I am truly and richly blessed.

This year our travels took us to Mt. Rainier for several snowshoe excursions (more on the way for 2014!!!), a trip to Miami to celebrate Catherine's parents 40th wedding anniversary, and many local trips. We visited some friends in northern Idaho where Leah took her first skiing lesson and Ian took his first snowboarding lesson; I got to ski through some powder and trees for the first time which was a lot of fun. My brother Jeff braved a trip out west to tackle an epic 5-day hike in the rugged North Cascades National Park. We walked the Copper Ridge trail and looped back via the Chilliwack River trail. The Copper Ridge trail is supposedly one of the preeminent ridge walks in the lower-48 (with the views we had, it has to be!!). We had rain on the first day and again on the very last day. In between it was unbroken sunshine - so we had phenomenal views of mountains, glaciers, valleys, and rivers. We swam in a snow-melt alpine tarn; can you say frigid anyone? 

The upcoming year looks to be fun and full of change for the Skinners. We'll be moving to San Antonio, Texas this summer where I will attend Baylor University and pursue a dual MHA/MBA degree (Healthcare Administration). It's hard to believe I keep doing this to myself, but it is back to school for me. This is the last time I go back to school, and I mean it (maybe). I wish everyone a blessed Christmas, and a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2014!                         Marc

As I'm reflecting on this past year it feels like it's been a calmer one in the scheme of Skinner years.  Marc seems to have covered most of the high lights. The meal I prepared for Marc's promotion was a Southern Style BBQ.  I was glad everyone at his work enjoyed eating it as much as I enjoyed preparing it.  My facebook friends had to put up with my posting about the preparations for a couple of weeks before that event.  I've spent a lot of time running the kids around from place to place after school.  During the summer we tried to get to the outdoor pool on base as much as we could. It will be interesting to live somewhere with AC in the house again after living the last 6 years without it.  I also did a fair amount of canning this summer.  I have done German style pickles, mixed pickles, pickled beets, salsa, apricots, peaches, cinnamon peaches, as well as tried out making a few flavors of jam after taking a class towards the end of summer.  So I made a spiced plum, serrano peach, and a pumpkin apple jam.  I still enjoy trying out new recipes on the family and experimenting in the kitchen.  I also have started having the kids pick a meal to cook once a month where I supervise them preparing it.  For the first meal Leah picked a chicken with roasted sweet potato with a homemade bbq type sauce, and Ian picked cornmeal coated fish sticks that he hand cut from cod fillets and served with sweet potato wedges.  They both did really well with minimal issues.  My big project for the new year is going to be getting rid of the stuff in our house that we don't want to have anymore after we move.  I've already started to sell some items on the local yard sale website, and I've been working on getting our large freezer emptied out.  I hope everyone has had a wonderful year!

Catherine

Merry Christmas everybody! I love my family, my friends, our nice house, and a nice bed to sleep in. I've had a good time this year visiting Mt. Rainer, Abby and Pop in Miami, and camping with Daddy. I did an all-night hike with the Boy Scouts. It was a loooooong walk. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Ian

When I learned to cook I started to understand but not that well.  You need to pay attention to what you are doing in the kitchen.  Love is the most important ingredient in the dish.  I skipped Daisies (and I'm talking about Girl Scouts), and I am a Brownie now.  When I first got there I didn't have many friends, but then I caught up.  One of my friends from school is also in the troop.  When I grow up I want to work with my brother and live in Hawaii if I can.  I have such a wonderful life! When I was a baby I got an elephant & her name is Ellie.  I really love her, she's so cute.  When I look at her it looks like she's happy that I'm there for her.  I love my family.  My family is so nice & I will tell you about it.  My mom cooks. Her meals are so, so good.  I hug her for the meal most of the time, but not that much.  My dad he plays with me and wrestles with me.  He's so hard to beat.  He makes me laugh. My brother loves angry birds go, and he got the blues and bomb on the first day.  Isn't that amazing?! I'm going to tell you about me.  I love to help my mom cook, I wrestle with my dad, my brother and I make up games.  I really like the squirrel and spy game we made up.  I love having my family here!  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Leah

Merry Christmas everybody, and best wishes for a happy New Year!

-The Skinner Family
Marc, Catherine, Ian, and Leah

Merry Christmas!

I can't believe how long it has been since my last blog post! I wish I had a better excuse than "I've been working hard", but that is about as good as it gets. Today was actually the first time I've dug out my camera since late October, so don't think I'm just not sharing. Work has been hectic, and I expect it to stay so for the remainder of our time here at Joint Base Lewis McChord. 

While I haven't brought out my proper camera, I do have my iPhone with me most times, so that has become kind of my day to day camera. The photo above and below are both camera photos. The above photo was just from a bike ride we had taken earlier this fall, the one below was from Ian's Webelos ceremony. Next up is his Arrow of Light!

Ian has been busy with his Webelos scouting - to include an overnight 11-mile hike in the freezing cold (thank goodness it wasn't raining!) with some local Boy Scouts. He didn't complain once, for which I am eternally grateful and equally proud of him. Leah has picked up with the Girl Scouts (Brownie?) and has recently decided to give up ballet. I think she really loves the Girl Scout stuff way more than than the dancing.

This morning I decided to take the kids to the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge for some fresh air, exercise, and to allow Catherine to get some last minute gift-wrapping done. We got home in time for lunch, and here shortly (for me) a nap. Yeah naps!!!!

So now you are all caught up on the Skinners. We'll be posting our Christmas letter shortly. Enjoy your Christmas Eve everybody!

Marc

Cleaning up a bit

Catherine has started a new project around here with Ian, helping to clean up his Legos collection. Ian tends to take his Legos apart and make new things after he's played with his new stuff for a bit. With his collection, that makes putting together his collection to sell/give away a bit of a challenge.

We put together this Star Wars spaceship this afternoon, which, since Ian hadn't had it together in some time made for some great fun playing with it again once we had it all together.

I took a couple of photos of Ian mugging for the camera, but these candid shots taken of Ian playing with his toy struck me deeper than those other photos. Other than that, nothing terribly new on the home front. 

Have a great day everybody!

Marc

Busy Columbus Day Weekend

Not like any weekend isn't busy, but this one just seemed a bit crazy!

Ian and I had a Cub Scout service project, where we helped to spread bark and wood chips on a running path at a local elementary school. That was Saturday morning, which Ian followed up with a birthday party in the afternoon.

Sunday saw me and Ian making the drive up to Boeing's Museum of Flight for a FIRST Lego League robotics thing. I say "thing" because we both thought it would be a competition, but it was really just a large get-together for all of the various FLL teams across Washington to get together and learn the rules of the upcoming competition.

Ian helped make the robot, which was fun for him. But the true highlight was the airplanes hanging - literally - around the place. More important was the flight simulator. "Can you do three"? was a question Ian asked me after doing a single barrel roll in the F22. Can I?!?

The attendant said she could tell we had a good time. I presume it was from the volume 11 (it's one louder than 10 - which describes the peals of pure joy still echoing in my ringing ears) noise that Ian made. He even let go like he was riding a roller coaster!

And just to prove that Catherine is top notch, she agreed to let me take Monday away from the family to go take what looks to be among the final autumnal hikes I may have to enjoy here. Since all the National Parks are closed (don't get me started on the need for a functioning government to enjoy a hike in the woods..I most certainly do NOT) I decided to brave arrest and make my way to Mt. St. Helens.

I investigated before leaving, and there were no signs closing the place, so I was under no real threat of any legal action. But I did have the place to myself. Not until I was within a 10-15 minute walk of the parking lot on my way out (~5 hours) did I see another person. Elk? Yup, by the harem-load. Coyotes too. But no people, which was just fine with me.

The hike has been on my bucket list, photographically, for some time. I am sooooooooo glad I made it!

The approach is about 5 miles with only a 1000 feet or so of elevation gain. The destination was St. Helens Lake, which has a beautiful view of Spirit Lake, Mt. St. Helens, and way in the distance Mt. Hood. You can see Mt. Hood if you look very carefully through the haze, so this is a two volcano for one shot! Lake St. Helens sits about a 1000 feet above Spirit Lake, which you can see off in the distance.

The trail there goes through that little keyhole (up above) which was ever so dicey trying to get through, but only because there was some bullet proof snow on the trail with an abrupt drop off to one side. Otherwise an enjoyable hike.

I also made a dash down to Spirit Falls on the Washington side of the Gorge which was hard to find, but worth the effort. Photos may follow, we'll see. We're doing our best to enjoy our time here, as it is officially limited (but not before more snowy adventures).

Have a great day!

Marc

Quick family trip to North Cascades National Park

Catherine and I decided to make a trip up to North Cascades National Park (not that it was technically open, stupid government!) while the weather was nice so they could see where Jeff and I had been hiking earlier this year. We stayed in a little chalet, which was very nice.

We drove into North Cascades National Park and took in the view at the Diablo Lake overlook, which while pretty, we were pressed for time since I wanted to get up to see Mt. Shuksan while the sun was out.

All in all, Saturday was a big day in the car, but the kids did great.

Sunday morning I got up early and went back up on the mountain, which was fun for me. I went back to pick up Catherine and the kids (after having breakfast), and we went to see Nooksack Falls.

The kids had a great time at Nooksack, climbing on the rocks and running around a bit. Below is Mt. Shuksan with a fresh coat of snow. We had snow earlier in the week in the mountains (like here), with some of it still sticking around through this weekend. 

Have a great day everybody!

Marc