Mosaic Monday #112: More Family Festivities

By the time you read this, #1 Daughter and The Boyfriend will already have been at their home for a week.  But it's never too late to recap the final days of their visit with us.

On the Monday before Christmas, we surprised them and #1 Son with a dogsled ride.  (Actually, I think #1 Daughter and #1 Son had guessed the plan, but it didn't lessen our joy one iota.  Spousal Unit and I experienced this adventure last year, and I knew they all would love it.)  The day was made all the more special because it was snowing as we pulled up to Dog Sled Adventures, and that white stuff kept falling throughout the ride.

The mushers radio ahead when they are a few minutes from the dog yard, so I was able to get outside and capture a video of the sled pulling in.

While I was waiting, I was totally amused and laughing out loud at a dog named Oreo - it was catching snowflakes as they fell!

No winter vacation in Montana would be complete without a trip to the Whitefish Mountain Resort.  #1 Daughter is normally a skier, but as moral support for The Boyfriend, she gave snowboarding a try.  Spousal Unit and #1 Son, both boarders, were their instructors for the day.  To protect the innocent, I will share no videos here - but this picture at the end of day shows them still in one piece and with smiles on their faces!!!

The next day, we went to Glacier National Park.  #1 Daughter and The Boyfriend had been there during their vacation in August (see this post), but it is a sparkly, white world in the winter!  We hiked from Lake McDonald Lodge to the Sacred Cascades and back again.  Later in the season, snowshoes would normally be required for this three-mile excursion, but in late December you can manage it with hiking boots and trekking poles.

Someone had placed a few small ornaments on one of the pine trees near the trail.  So festive!

As faithful readers will know, it is customary for us to stop for huckleberry pie after a hike in the Park.  This day was no different!  Yum yum!

On Christmas Eve, we returned to Whitefish Mountain Resort.  The Boyfriend continued his snowboarding lesson with Spousal Unit, while the kids (can I still call them kids?) and I went skiing/riding.  It was a rare blue sky day, and the scenery is practically indescribable.  These pictures will help you envision it a little!!!

Whitefish Mountain Resort allows foot passengers to reach the Summit via Chair 1, so at the end of the snowboarding lesson, The Boyfriend met us at the Summit.  Perfect time for a photo op!  (The mountains of Glacier National Park are in the background.)

After we returned home, Head Chef, #1 Daughter and I prepared the dessert for the next day.  You have seen this confection before!!! (White Chocolate Huckleberry Cheesecake)

We watched the movie Klaus (outstanding, if you haven't seen it) and turned in fairly early since it had been a long, active day.  And Santa won't come unless we are asleep!!!!  The next morning, Monty the Moose stood guard among the gifts while we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.  And then the un-wrapping began, one present at a time!

It must have been exhausting for the young lady in the Santa hat, because she was napping in the afternoon!

Before we knew it, the mouth-watering aroma of turkey and all the fixin's was wafting through the house.  We all pitched in with our various talents, and sat down at the table with great anticipation.  No one left disappointed!  It was a delicious topper on an already wonderful day.   How I love Christmas and all its traditions!!!

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.

Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.

The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Tuesday (U.S. Mountain time). 

Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog. 

Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back. 

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Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully. 

Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us. 

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