Methow Pursuit

Whoa! We've been busy lately! The new year has been full bore since minute one! Sorry for the lack of posts!

We've been getting out a lot lately to appease our adventurous spirits. This past weekend we drove to the Methow Valley on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains to try our hand in the Methow Pursuit. The Methow Pursuit is a two day event. On Saturday, you ski a 15 kilometer classic ski race. On Sunday, you ski a 30 kilometer skate ski race. The catch is, how you finish on Saturday determines when you start on Sunday. Hence, pursuit. If you win on Saturday, you start first on Sunday. At the end of both races, whoever has the fastest combined times wins. We did not win... time-wise. We did win in having a wonderful time and skiing a lot.

Saturday was Caitlin's second time out on classic skis and she absolutely rocked it!



 We had a wonderful weekend and both really enjoyed being out in the cold on beautifully groomed trails. We also particularly enjoyed the warm company of Cait's father, as well as her cousin and his family.

To more adventures!

Riley

A Wyoming Christmas

Merry Christmas!

It snowed! It was so nice to see Lander blanketed in white this morning.

We woke up bright and early this morning to catch J's first look at the presents Santa had brought him. The 2 year-old sized backhoe caught his interest right away. Calla gave the impression perfectly. As she rounded the corner of the kitchen toward the tree, J said, "I...need to play with that backhoe. I need that backhoe!" It was quite the production getting him to focus his attention on opening presents with so many new truck toys and books to play with.



It was a great morning. We sat around the tree and opened presents from friends and family near and far. We certainly felt lucky to be spending the holiday in the Hopeman household. After coffee cake and German Christmas Stollen, we headed out to the ice rink for a Christmas holiday tradition: pick-up hockey! It was also J's first time on skates!




Thoroughly worn out, we made our way home for appetizers and an early dinner. Here is the happy clan in front of the Christmas tree.


(Standing: Brandon, Calla, Cait, Riley. Sitting: Dawna, J, and Ross.)

We hope that everyone out there has also had a very Merry Christmas!

Much Love,
Cait & Riley

It's Beginning to Look and Feel A Lot Like...

CHRISTMAS!!!!





Riley and I have arrived in Lander for the Holidays! Though there is no snow on the ground here in town, we felt lucky to have had lots in Sun Valley over the last few days and great backcountry skiing on Togwotee along the way. This holiday season has been a whirlwind of activity from finishing up work, school and packing up to leave Seattle for three weeks. But our Christmas cards are in the mail, we have most of the Christmas presents situation figured out, and we are enjoying time with our families.



Happy Holidays!!


Cait