Monday, 24 December 2007
The morning dawned clear and sunny with blue sky and no wind. We had another few inches of snow during the night. The river is flowing smoothly by about 20m from our front door, there are icicles hanging from the eves and the entire property is blanketed in deep powder snow. We went into town where the kids had a ball in the local park riding their toboggan down the slopes frequently accompanied by one or more adults. Margaret was particularly impressive managing to demolish one of the jumps by going through rather than over it. We had planned to find somewhere for dinner tonight for Rod's birthday, but virtually nothing would be open on Christmas eve so we decided to eat at home and stocked up on rib-eye steak for the BBQ. Have you ever stood ankle -deep in the snow cooking at a BBQ. Barry did and managed to avoid being impaled by spear-shaped icicles falling from the eves. Finally got the kids to bed after leaving out a beer for Santa and apple for his reindeers.

Tuesday, 25 December 2007
Awoke to the sounds of children's voices as they set upon Santa's bounty under the Christmas tree.. Ashton now has virtually every Spiderman accessory and Zara was delighted with her Mickey Mouse dolls. There was no more snow overnight but the temperature dropped to minus 3C. It did not stop outdoor activities with Rod and Emma building a snowman, Ashton and Zara diving around in the snow while Colleen and Nicola engaged in snowfights and body slams. Barry and Margaret were smarter staying inside to prepare our Christmas fare.

Wednesday, 26 December 2007.
Another clear, freezing day. This morning the temperature is minus 7deg C. We went out through town via Icicle Street to a ranch for a horse-drawn sleigh ride. We were well rugged up but it seems nearly impossible to keep hands and feet warm.. After lunch in town, Nicola, Rod and the kids hit the park sled slopes, while Emma and Colleen rented ski gear and hit the beginners slope. After that they were ready for the outdoor hot tub.

Thursday, 27 December 2007,
After snowing steadily all night, it was again minus 7 deg C and the outdoor fridge, where we store the beer in 60cm of snow, was working fine. Today we are planning outdoor activities. The main commencing area is at the end of Snowfields drive behind Leavenworth village. The kids were too small for any of the activities so Nicola and Rod took them shopping. Emma and Colleen went skiing with Emma picking it up quickly enough to decide to take another day gear rental to progress further up the beginners slope tomorrow. Barry and Margaret rented truck tyre innertubes for the Tube Ride where you are dragged about 200m uphill on a towrope and then hurtle downhill in a twisting walled course where there is little or no control over direction. We had 6 rides each and, despite the cold, affecting extremities, the activity actually warmed us up. When Nicola and Rod returned they too had a go on the tubes. After a late lunch at a brewpub in town we retired to our lodge where Colleen prepared Bratwurst and sauerkraut for dinner. Nicola and Rod had dinner in town.

Friday, 28 December 2007
It must have snowed most of last night and has been snowing fairly heavily and consistently all morning but this did not stop Emma and Colleen who took off for more skiing at 09:00. The rest of us opted to stay in front of the fire until the appointed time for the beauty spa and facial treatments Emma had arranged as Christmas presents for Margaret, Nicola and Colleen.. Emma and Barry drove out to Plain, 14 miles from Leavenworth to book snowmobile rides for tomorrow. By the time their spa treatments were finished it was time to head home and prepare our dinner of Buffalo wings and chilli washed down with beer. Great.

Saturday, 29 December 2007
Tonight will be our last at Jolanda Lodge. Barry and Margaret set out for Safeways at 09:30 and the temperature is an all time low : minus 9 deg C. After lunch Nicola, Rod, Emma and Colleen went to Plain for their appointed snowmobile rides, after which Nicola was reported as the star, being the only one to run off the track. Margaret was sinking low with her cold so the best option for us was to stay in with the kids. The weather forecast looks ominous with snowstorms predicted for the next 24 hours. We partially loaded the car for an early morning departure.

Sunday, 30 December 2007
It snowed heavily last night, probably about 12 inches. Emma was out early digging the car out of the snow. We finished loading and were on the road in darkness by 06:00 with Rod at the wheel. At this hour the snowploughs had not yet started and the road was very difficult to see and, at times, the driving snow rendered visibility not much better than zero. Nevertheless all went well but, as daylight was just breaking through at 07:30, we slammed into an elevated kerb on the passenger's side blowing out the front tyre.. We had to unload all the luggage to access the jack and tyre lever tools and then had all sorts of trouble trying to figure out from the Chevy manual how to release the spare wheel from its housing. To make matters worse there was not much light, it was freezing and muddy and snowing. Finally succeeded in changing the wheel then reloaded the luggage and were on the road in about one hour making it to Seatac airport in good time for our 12:44 Alaska Air flight to Los Angeles where we spent the night at the Renaissance Montura.