Night Out at the Nutcracker

we decided to spend the night on the town by going to see the nutcracker. a bit apprehensive, this was brooke's first ballet. a bit apprehensive for the title, not the ballet.

we spent the evening with friends from rei: mike, sarah, lisa, and her daughter katie. fun was had by all!

the trislers looking rather dapper.

so dapper a pipe must be smoked!

what's a trisler picture without an open mouth!

phone_photo: space needle w/ christmas tree!

Skiing at Mt Baker

i just got back from an amazing day of skiing in real snow on the west coast. for those that don't know, i feel that skiing is 'my sport.' i feel the way about skiing that i used to feel about water skiing/wakeboarding. breaking your foot in the middle of a great lake will hinder your love for a sport!

i enjoyed the day with byran, an a amazing guy. we left seattle before the sun was out to journey three hours north for some awesome snow and powder. we got to see the rising sun burn an orange streak along the cascade range and give way to the clearest of days i've seen out here.

phone_photo: mt baker is back-center.

phone_photo: bryan. you can't name a sport the
guy doesn't enjoy! he has been up almost all of the
volcanic peaks in the cascade range including: baker,
ranier, st. helens, adams, hood, jefferson, newberry,
crater lake, shasta, and lassen.

phone_photo: this was on one of our last runs.
mt baker ski area closes at 4pm because it's
pitch black by then. mt shuckson in the
background.

phone_photo: bryan and i had a blast. the sky was
crystal clear, the snow was good, and hardly anyone
was there.

phone_photo: ...and there was only one casualty.
my brand new ski poles i had bought less than 24 hours
before i bent them. thank God for our rei discount!

mt shuckston
i caught bryan looking at this eye candy all day long.
riding up the chair lift, i'd look over and his head would
be turned all the way around; mumbling something
about 'what a beautiful peak...it should be climbed.'

tiz the season...

merry christmas season from all of us here at finding nowhere.

Pike Place Holiday Magic

every year pike place market decorates the market for the holiday season. we decided to hop the bus downtown for the afternoon/evening to enjoy the holiday festivities.

brooke's favorite seat of the accordion bus: sitting on the back half with
feet propped up on the front half of the bus at the hinge point. notice the
new shoes! simple - old school sneaker creepers! he's very proud of them.


our favorite seattle coffee: caffe ladro
100% organic/fair trade

the original. crazy to think we have the first starbucks
in the world! they've kept it pretty close to orignal.
don't be fooled...it all tastes the same.

put your nose closer to the screen...
you'll be able to smell them!

pike place market has to be the most 'colorful' place

santa cruises in style...only an international is good enough
for old saint nick!

for your desktop!
take a picture of yourself with this as a desktop background;
we'll post it and send you something sweet from washington!

my beautiful wife!

waiting for the holiday magic!

only at pike place would you see lit up christmas vegetables!

strands of lights with banners of the producers.

rein-pigs! rachael is on the right with a red nose.

andrea wanted my picture. she was standing about thirty feet
away ...'out of sight.' after i sat on the bench this shady dude,
who looked like santana, sauntered over and asked if i would like to
buy some weed. i politely declined and waited for him to move
out of frame; although he didn't move far. maybe he didn't think i
was serious. forget about having your pant leg rolled up, i guess
the universal sign for wanting to buy illegal drugs is to sit on
a bench by yourself, with your right leg crossed over your left
knee and having your left arm out-stretched. sorry dude...
although i have the correct posture, i still don't want to buy drugs.

take 2.
merry-beginning-to-your-christmas-season from your
local pike place market drug dealer.

Turkey Tom's Demise...aka: An Amazing Thanksgiving

this year we shared thanksgiving dinner here in washington with a couple from portland. andrea took it upon herself to prepare the entire entree...and it was amazing! here's how it unraveled:

andrea thought the turkey looked so cute that she
named it 'turkey tom.' too bad for tom...as you'll see!

little turkey tom's little right wing.

ouch! that must hurt turkey tom! is that a neck...or...
something else?!

woo! cleaning turkey tom out! where are the guts?
i didn't know you had to do this sort of stuff!

ewwwww...i found the gibblets...whatever they are!

i liked it when she started talking about 'brinning!'
i later found out that it meant to soak turkey tom
in salt water. i was disappointed.

you are on a "roll!" they were amazing!

we were joined for dinner with kris ann and jon.

that's kris ann carving turkey tom. we it was my turn
to play the 'dad,' i froze...i had no idea what to do.
i was glad there was a vet in the audience.

delicious!

my wife made the best thanksgiving dinner i think i've ever had! it was great to spend the evening with our friends jon and kris ann. after dinner we journeyed up a floor to their condo to enjoy a most delicious dessert and a game of scattergories! later we played a new game called 'mexican train' and enjoyed the company of wesley, bob, and paul. we missed our families, but we couldn't have asked for a nicer thanksgiving on the west coast!

BUSTED!

Is that a Starbucks cup?!

* fine print: this photo was setup!

In need of a mountain 'fix'

This past weekend we needed a little 'fix.' Where else to turn to than the mountains? We haven't been to Rainier in a month or so, and we've heard they've been getting some snow, so we packed up our daypacks and headed up.

The beginning of our drive: pouring down rain


Just inside the park and gaining elevation: first sight of snow


Up at Paradise Visitor Center: Snowy tracks. The Xterra did mighty fine as Brooke went tearing through there


The snow was beautiful (and quiet) but unfortunately, it was still raining/sleeting/hailing up there. Just wasn't cold enough I guess. We ran into a dozen or so skiers/snowboarders who packed up their gear and hiked out to a big snow field below a glacier. Sounds fun! Maybe next year?


Is that my husband hiding under that big marshmallow coat?


Andrea can't help but play in the snow like a little kid.


Here...catch!


I love this man!


Peaceful & serene


The fog rolling in...there was a big storm coming soon


The Nisqually Glacier. A little dry this time of year, but will hopefully be filled with snow on our next trip.