Sol Mountain ski touring

We just came home from five days ski touring at Sol Mountain lodge. Last year Green Cat built a kitchen for them so in payment we got two ski touring trips out of it. This time Ann-Marie and Tobin came in so it was great... Well it would have been better if Ann-Marie hadn't blown out her knee on the first run of the first day... A huge bummer. We're keeping our fingers crossed that it isn't catastrophic and she still be able to ski and run the Boston marathon.
So on the way in Tobin had his first helicopter flight and, as usual, he fell asleep. Spoiled kid!
While Ann-Marie was out wrecking her knee Tobin and I went for a short powder run ourselves. It's pretty hard to give'r with a baby on your back, but we managed a few faceshots. "Uncle Steve" came in too, assisting with child minding and taking photos.


Just like a big fan



annnnd.....asleep.


This is looking down Thor Creek on the flight in; Ann-Marie and I had a mid-grade epic on Frigg Tower (first and blackest, prominent tower on ridgeline looking from left to right) when she was 7 weeks pregnant. 18 hours, epic bushwhacking, grizzly sign, lost gear, endless rappelling... Fun fun fun. Flying over that area makes one want to go back and climb some more, but it was sure nice to be in that warm helicopter...





Hawk Owl


Not how she did the knee in, but not long before. Huckin' the 15 footer!

levitation

Storm #1

We're rejoicing in the first mega snow fall of the year, about 50cm has fallen since yesterday and it's still puking out. Unfortunately it's supposed to start raining later today... Oh well, the snowpack needs to be cleaned up a little anyway. Here are some pics from our walk this morning.

Winter

Feels like forever since we posted anything, but I guess it's just been a little over a week! Skiing has begun here and we're on a one day a week each now, we're both so jazzed to get out skiing that there isn't much room for compromise!!! Although I'm thinking we should put Tobin in daycare one day a week so we can get out two days each... Junkies! Not many new Tobin pics, but maybe we'll have to start adding some ski pics to spruce things up...

little blue caveman


Tobin's fun new toy, ghetto style.





Uncle Steve helping Tobin get a redbull out of the cooler

The usual pics of the Smallest Gill (aka Valentino Marmalade). Now that he has crawling dialed he's keen to walk every chance he gets. He's now crawling over to the couch (very ghetto, I'll have to be more cognizant of what's in the background...) and pulling himself up and traversing. He's definately getting busier and busier these days.

Quality music making time

Finally, Tobin can spend some quality time with his sassy surrogate auntie Erin, banging on boxes and eating plastic bags...

Crawling and Tobogganningnning

Tobin is now mobile! It's been pretty fun watching him develop his technique. He went from looking like the first fish emerging on to land, to disappearing when you turn your back, or try to change a diaper, all over the matter of a few days.
We also went up to the pass today to check out winter and see how the snowpack is shaping up. Ann-Marie went out earlier and skied up to Balu Pass and I came out after with Tobin and a sled so we could enjoy some sliding around too! It was fun to be up there again getting psyched for skiing! Fun to run into half the town out for their first day skiing too.

Attack mode:



Tobogganing









He's also been enjoying watching the world go by from the living room window.

Tobin singing

The black and blue running team

commensalism

Our day was foggy in the morning...


and sunny in the afternoon!

Two little boys

Tobin and his cousin Coen. It brings a tear to my eye they're so cute.

I just want to eat them both up!!!

Bed time for my two boys...

If there's anything Tobin likes more than a fine day of skiing, it's relaxing in the bath.

Ski season...sort of.

We went for a "ski" up McRae this afternoon. After hearing reports of 'deep pow!', 'awesome skiing', 'just like January' we had to check it out. Unfortunately we were about three weeks too late and were stuck with dust on breakable crust. Still it was nice to get out and walk on the skis, even though we abandoned them shortly after starting. It was sure nice to be in the mountains in the snow again. Tobin loved it; maybe it brought back memories of our last winter...

Mr giggles himself

jolly jumping

Tobin is digging his Jolly Jumper, when we came back from the coast he went crazy in it, leaping around and banging on the tray. Even after he gets maxed out in it he can't stop jumping; crying and jumping simultaneously.

marathoning

We just came back from the island where Ann-Marie ran the Victoria Marathon! She did great, ran it in 3:32, much faster than she expected and amazing considering she decided to do it three weeks beforehand without having done any specific training for it; outside Tobin nap and bear pooping outings. I didn't take many pictures of Ann-Marie during the marathon as we (Deb and Pete, Sylvie me and Tobin) were racing between points to see her and cheer her on. However I did inadvertantly catch her on the picture of the start, you can see her with her arms in the air in a black long sleeve shirt in the center of the picture.






I like this last picture of Tobin and me; Tobin has a look on his face like he's explaining something important to me and Ann-Marie just interupted our business meeting.