What I did over Christmas break

If you’ve had time over the holidays to be checking blogs like mine, then you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus. Both of our family groups live over in Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho, so Robert and I have probably logged about 20 car-hours over the last two weekends criss-crossing the state and experiencing it’s many snowy interstates.

Washington is really beautiful to drive through at any time of the year, and I’m quite partial to the bleak wintry look that the central desert gets this time of year. Snoqualmie Pass is beautiful, as well (which is good, since I’ve probably driven that sucker an average of 6 times a year since I moved to Seattle 12 years ago.

This last weekend we also got to drive partway up White Pass, which is absolutely gorgeous this time of year. All the evergreens are weighed down with snow, and the the lakes are frozen solid and glassy, reflecting the steep snow-covered hills. The twisty, narrow roads make gawking a bit difficult if you’re the driver, but fortunately I got to ride shotgun and take it all in.

(I’m not going to apologize for talking so much about driving on a cycling blog. Have you ever tried to take intercity public transportation in Eastern Washington?)

All the driving aside, I started to notice a common theme this year.

Bikes.

Hmm.

My niece has just turned 2, so Rob and I figured it was about time to get her a balance bike. She’s still a bit on the too-short side to ride it, but we eventually coaxed her into standing over it and pushing it along for a bit. (Sorry for the really grainy pre-dawn phone photos.)

She didn’t quite get the concept that it would fall over if she got bored and let go, so she had a couple spills that were pretty hysterical. Little kids = so fun to laugh at.

Bikes always make fun gifts at Christmas, of course, but lucky me–I also got bike crafts! Rob’s grandma made me this adorable door hanging, which even features a Bicitoro-print square. She’s an incredible painter (I’ve commented on lovely several of the photos in her home are, only to have her tell me that she painted them).

Last year she made me Patches, Guardian Angel of Sewing Rooms–I’m so lucky to now own two of her creations. Thanks Grandma E!

The back threw me at first, until Grandma explained that I should turn the hanging around if I wanted to keep Rob out if I’m in the middle of a project. Ha.

Robert received a bike craft masterpiece as well. My mom’s been busy making quilts for everyone in the family, and earlier this year he asked her to make her a quilt out of his old messenger event t-shirts. She’s been working on it for months, and finally finished it this week. It’s massive (the boy has a lot of messenger shirts), and really artistically put together. Cool, huh?

Thanks, mom!

All in all we’ve had a great Christmas, despite the hours chilling in the Subaru, and Rob’s neverending cold. After going through my photos for this post, I just can’t help but share a few more off-topic photos. Be warned, there are no bikes or crafts following this sentence.

First up is my niece again, because she’s rad. For Christmas, I made her a dinosaur hoodie at my sister’s request. (Tutorial here.) The blur on the left is my parents’ dog Cuy (long story). She’s always moving, and often appears blurry even to the naked eye. She’s impossible to catch on camera.

She loves it, which obviously means she’s got great style. An even better style indicator? She put on my Docs when no one was looking. Yup. She’s a cool kid.

Just like her auntie, who now has pink hair!

I’ve always wanted to do it, and finally just figured–why not? I love it. So much.

In parting, I would stay out of Idaho for a while, if I were you. I took this photo in a Coeur d’Alene sporting goods store just before Christmas. Looks like a lot of people got AR-15s this year.

Happy New Year! I’ll see you on the flip side.