why is the snowboarder dressed in a bunny suit?

He was trying to win a trip to Hawaii.

Last weekend Ben and I went to Mount Hood Meadows to ski and watch the Sno-Kona Pond Skimming Competition. First prize was a trip to Hawaii.

Here's another bunny suit skiing down the hill...

and a competitor skimming across the pond.

Chicken costumes and bikinis were popular costume choices as well... the most popular- Octa-Mom!

what happens when you graduate from mount hood meadows bunny hill?

You get to ride the quad ski lift up the mountain.

Today I joined the big league. A few weeks ago I ventured off Buttercup and took the Easy Rider Ski Lift. I skiied down Mitchell Creek a few times and was prepared to continue on that trail. The problem today was that Easy Rider was closed and Vista Express was the next option for me. The lift is fast and goes pretty high up the mountain. My first run was good, with one scary part. After lunch we rode again and that time is was smooth skiing!

what was the funniest thing about subbing today?

A real chicken (actually a duck) transported
to school in a fried chicken box.

One of my students wanted to share her duck, Acorn.
Her mom brought the duck to school in a "Hot to Go!" box.

Acorn had a good time walking around the classroom
and visiting the students.

where did ben and i meet?

At Homestead Farms in Poolesville, Maryland.

In the fall of 1992 I went on a field trip with
Shaun's preschool class to Homestead Farms
(I was Shaun's nanny and his brother Michael
for eight years). Ben worked at the farm and
took the class on a tour of the farm. He
explained the difference between hay and straw.

Ben had recognized me from an event we'd
both attended a few days earlier and struck
up a conversation. We talked for a bit and
then he asked me to find him after the hay
ride out to the pumpkin patch.

After the hay ride, he found me and wrote his
number on my pumpkin. The rest is history.

This past week we went back to Maryland for
the holidays. I had to stop by the farm for old
times' sake.

what did i do yesterday while ben was working?

Went downhill skiing by myself.

We all know that Ben skies by himself all the time.
He'll hit the mountain for a few hours before work
to "get fresh tracks". I, on the other hand, am new
to downhill skiing. I always ski with Ben.

But Ben has been working long hours and weekends
trying to finish his work before our trip back East for
Passover. When I woke up yesterday and knew it would
be a bluebird day on the mountain, I packed up my car and
headed to the mountain. I got there early, stayed a few
hours and left when it got crowded... the beauty of a
season pass.

Here I am a few weeks ago... on Buttercup
(aka Bunny Hill) Graduation Day! Woo Hoo!

how does abby's kitchen look after a week of reorganization?

Lovely.

Last week Abby and I reorganized her kitchen and living room.

We had a great time organizing. Abby has a great
sense of style especially when it comes to combining
traditional with modern.

Living room pictures to follow...