Yes, Tahoe for Christmas!

We did head out to Tahoe for Christams '09.

The trip started sourly with Alamo promising me a 4WD SUV and then saying, "No, we did not promise that."  Plan B - Chains and taking the Accord (sans grocery).  We left Sunday December 20th for the short drive to Homewood, CA on the west side of Tahoe and came back on Sunday December 27th.

Last year in Truckee was amazing (beautiful home and a remarkable amount of snow), but this year we got to stay right on the Lake. You can see the whole experience on my Flickr set.  Mary is starting to Flickr the time as well in more digestible chunks (1, 2, 3, 4 ... so far).

I'm actually feeling a bit under the weather and not up for much of a narrative.  So, here are 10 highlights in addition to the photos and videos. 

1. Sam loved his rocking loft in what was a fun house from the 60's.
2. Instead of a BIG Christmas morning of presents we opened one present a day and it was always boardgame-related.  We played games every night.
3. No internet, no phone, almost no TV (a bit of Weather Channel and LOTR DVD), no screens.  Disconnected from everybody but my wife and kid.  Harmony.
4. A gigantic, powerful snow fort.  Seriously, those who stormed Normandy would have looked at it and thought, "Damn - glad he wasn't there."
5. Snowman and snow angel - check.
6. Sunning myself on the Lake Tahoe shore ... in snow shoes
7. Sledding until it hurt ... really bad! (Mary will hopefully post a video soon where my head and butt met on the sledding track.)
8. Squaw Valley & Sam doing some Olympic snowboarding - while Mary and I rested our wounds
9. Sunrise on Lake Tahoe Christmas morning - 3 1/2 years after celebrating during a sunset.
10. One of the most peaceful canyon hikes I've ever had.