What did you do today?

A Blizzard in March - get me outta here!!!Where is our driveway?

Science Olympiad!

Alicia and her friend Emily competed in the Science Olympiad held at Minot State University (where Alex Sr. attends). They had to study with a coach for weeks and then compete against about 10 other middle schools. There were around 15 total kids from Memorial at this competition. Only 1 group from each school allowed in each event. (So, they didn't have to compete against their own schoolmates.)

The hard work is done, now we're just chilling! Emily is wearing the bridge that she made for her competition on her head.
Alicia is nervous for the results!

WOOOHOOOOOO! Alicia and Marley take the bronze!

Shockingly, all but 1 student from Memorial won a medal in their events. WOW! We were all so excited. The squatting guy is her science teacher. You may remember him from the top of the ski hill. This guy is everywhere! Great guy!

Spring Fling

Alicia had fun with your gift certificates at American Eagle. She bought these two spring dresses and still has money to spare. The associate asked her if she was going on vacation. (What kind of crazy person buys a spring dress in ND?)

Alicia's Bday Ski Trip

We're in Bottineau which is about an 1 1/2 hours from Minot.

The birthday girl is ready to ski!

Mastering cross country pretty early in the day.
Not as easy as she makes it look.

Up you go!

A wee bit nervous?

Look at that boy go!

Alicia is a pro! (never mind the fact that her science teacher is standing in front of her )

Let's GO!

Tubing - Of Course!
He's been beat up, knocked down, rolled over, rolled under, caught in a rope fence, tripped and horizontal most of the day, but in the end... he doesn't want to go home.

We're all ready to go back and hit the slopes. Alicia's science teacher grew up near the resort and he spends his weekends out there coaching a ski team. He's a great guy and as soon as he spotted Alicia, he took her on the slopes for a lesson. Alicia turns 14 tomorrow - wow!

Trip

Let's go to Ca Na Da, eh? We did a drive-by on the border today.

Big City, I mean Town!

Not sure if you can see the two deer on the side of the road. They were two of the over 100 deer we saw today.

See these guys, they're just mocking Gent! We saw at least 8 groups of deer like this. They were all hanging out, sitting in the snow and discussing the weather.

This guy flew by a few times.

This is our favorite little house and barn.

Riding with Alex is always an adventure.

We had a lot of fun today. The temp was 38 and it was nice to be outside.

Ski Park

The guy in the red jacket is Alicia's science teacher. He is a ski coach on the weekend at this ski park which is about an hour and a half away from our house.

There was an eleven car caravan which was incidentally formed of 10 gray jeeps and 1 tan car. We kept thinking that someone was going to alert Canada of an invasion because the roads are desolate and we would occasionally pass a lone car. Alicia the Puff Dolphin, Gracie was thrown in our car at the last moment and we didn't know her, Emily the always positive social butterfly and our own little drama llama Alex.

This is the tube-take-you-upper. You hold on to the pulley and it takes you to the top of the hill.

What goes up, must come down.

Smiling faces - it's a good thing!

I think he said he almost had a heart attack.
Alicia and Heather

We're headed back this weekend to ski for Alicia's birthday! You are welcome to join us!

What's North of the Base?

Nada. We have never taken a left out of the base since we moved here July. I asked someone once what is up there and they replied, "Canada". Makes sense since we're about 40 miles from the border. On Friday, I headed out in a convoy to a ski park that is 3 miles from the border. We didn't pass a living soul (well this occasional car) or gas station on our trip. When we got closer to the park we saw a school. It's the school that is closed the most often when the snow falls or they cancel the buses and tell the parents that their on their own to get their kids to school. I now understand why!

Huh?

I was loading pictures onto my computer when I discovered these gems. I guess somone is sneaking around behind my back with the camera. I wonder who it is?

A foot?

A warrior?

A pitiful kitty who loves to sleep in boxes that have plastic wrap? Nah, he's too sweet.
AHA! I think I found the culprit!

Flashback!

Alex attended a Fifties party and Alicia's school had 80s day at school. (Blue eyeshadow...eek!)