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Thanks for the update, Carolyn! You're amazing. Latte is so lucky to have you as her mommy. Take care of your kitty and yourself!

I have three kids ages 10, 8, 5. We buy the Fusion Pass which lets you ski at Timberline and Ski Bowl. I rode up a lift at Willamette Ski Pass the first time we went skiing with the kids (that winter it was the only place with snow) with a guy involved with the Mount Hood Meadows Ski Team. He told me the snow and skiing is better at Meadows, but with kids he recommended starting out at Timberline so that's what we did and we haven't been disappointed. It's perfect for family skiing. As for ski schools, Timberline has one and we were extremely happy with how they worked with our youngest. She isn't the easiest kid when separated from us and the instructors were great with her both emotionally and ski instruction wise. She'd gone to Mount Bachelor Ski School (which I personally think is the best around and where my other two learned) for three days when she was 4 but really didn't remember much, but was skiing everywhere on the mountain except the Palmer lift after a couple lessons with Timberline. (Caveat: she's a natural athlete with amazing balance who only took 30 seconds to adjust to no training wheels on her bike so the same results may not apply ) There is also a separate ski school that is independent of Timberline called Powderhounds. My friend has his two sons in that and has for years now. He says it's wonderful. We couldn't commit to that many Saturdays or Sundays in a row so the Timberline school worked better for us. We never used the ski school at Ski Bowl. I think there is an independent ski school there also called Mogulbusters (Something like that). We had fun skiing there too. It's a small resort. Steeper than Timberline, and when the snow is good, it's great skiing! And when the weather is bad up at Timberline, it's a little more protected and easier on the kids so it's great to have that option. I've never been to Meadows, so don't know anything about it.

Not only in China. Winged cats have been around forever. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_cat I had no idea. Thanks for the link.

Only in China! See linky for pic of kitty with wings.

All this talk about frosting... I need to get myself a cupcake And thanks again for the b-day wishes :kisss:

The book was scarier and better, but I had to sneak into the movie since I was too young to go by myself so I thought the movie was pretty cool, too. The miniseries with the guy from WINGS was a closer adaptation of the book. Though given where I am now, the following version of the Shining would probably be more to my liking then the original. sfout_rgPSA

Misery Thanks. I didn't read that one, but opted to see the flick when it came out. The last SK book I read was The Stand, about 30 years ago. Chilling... Oh, Sobo, you should read the unabridged The Stand. The first one released when you read it had stuff cut out or maybe he just went back and added with the later one. I can't remember which, but I love that book!

The one thing I learned this year is to plan a whole lot earlier if we want the group site at Eight Mile Campground. So... Any suggestions on when people want to do this next year? Spring or summer? Toss some dates out there so we can get a spot reserved early and people can mark their calendars! Thanks!

I don't care about the comparisons with Jack. In either movie. It's that other Stephen King book/movie about a writer and his number one fan that gives me nightmares.

Sounds like a fun time and a great cause! Can't wait

Thanks for the birthday wishes! Much appreciated

Thanks Sobo and John! Luv ya guys! :kisss:

Great time! So nice to put more names with faces. And it was great that Pax, Britta and Woody could swing by, too. Thanks to everyone and especially to Peter for going above and beyond with so much the entire weekend! All of us had a blast and are looking forward to next year already. It was definitely a cc.com kind of weekend up there, too. I bumped into PDXers Geoff and Kyle in the Leavenworth Safeway and Jason Martin (AAI guide who's blog I read) who was up top and helped me with an anchor when the kids wanted to try a different climb. Here are some photos from the weekend. It'll probably take a couple posts to fit them all in.

We can't wait!

Thanks for the tips all! Son really enjoyed backpacking and can't wait to go again. They went with 31 others on a father son trip. He really fell in love with fishing, too! Strumpett - I think most people bring healthy stuff, at least I'd hope so, but the sweet treats work wonders especially when the kids are dragging or hurt themselves. Our first time Smith Rock last summer, my then 4 yo scraped her leg on a climb. It wasn't bad at all, more of a shock than anything, but she couldn't stop the crocodile tears streaming down her cheeks. RuMR had suggesting hiding some candy in my pack for such instances so I pulled it out. Tears stopped. She only ate one piece and was ready to climb again. And there's nothing like the reward of an ice cream cone or slurpy to help motivate them up that hill to the parking lot! Another sugary tip I took from RuMR that's really helped.

No way are all of them 16. I'd guess half are under 16. Bela Karolyi was going off about that again last night, but he's got a good point as KKK pointed out. Their official documentation is a passport issued by their country. Lots of checks and balances there

I'd rather look at every single one of the pics here, then stare at second longer at the one underworld posted above

Thanks Fairweather. It's great yours turned out so well. I'm hoping hubby's doc is a good one. His doctor referred him to a place hubby had heard about so didn't do a lot of research. I just wish he'd get it done. I know it bothers him. But he's got a trip to Macao coming up so he can't have it done until his return and now that he knows he can't ski is wondering if he should just wait until soccer season is over with (he coaches) which would push it out to November. That just seems like a long time to be hurting.

Hubby and my 8 yo are headed out on a three day/two night father/son backpacking trip with others. My husband has backpacked a lot, but never with kids so does any one have any tips or advice. I already made him add to the food he'd planned to take since I've hiked more with the kids than him and know how they eat when on the trail. Thanks!

Ask Sherri. Even though she's lives on the other side of the sound, she does a lot of wood stuff and might know some places for you to check out.

Try this, Porter! TusJ8HSLaUs

I'm so glad you're coming Ken! My two daughters, ages 10 and 5, love little ones! Simone will get lots of attention. And you never know, she might want to put on a harness and give it a go when she sees all the other kids climbing! If you check out the First Ascent site you'll see a pic of a two year old who just climbed! It looks as if she's wearing her bike helmet so you might want to bring Simone's if she has one just in case!

We can always stay elsewhere on Friday if that's easier. It's just a longer drive for us than you Seattle folks.