Moose Wonderful Time of the Year!

              After a long prep season of too many squats to count, we finally got to do our first race of the season at the Speed Norams in Copper Mountain, Colorado. Even though we had less pre-season speed training than planned due to Global Warming, the races went relatively well considering I never felt like I was able to execute a full run. On the last day of the series I crashed into the nets at 100km four gates from the finish. Unfortunately since it was the last day the coaches didn't have the video cameras on but I was told by one American coach that my crash was the best he had ever seen live. I walked away with a buggered up ankle (opposite one as this summer) that made it really hurt to pressure the front of my stiff racing boots. I ended up not being able to race the Panorama Noram Series or the Van Houtte Cup before Christmas. As hard as it was to not strap on my skis for most of the Christmas break, my sights were set on healing for a three week Europe trip in the New Year. The time with my family was amazing. It had been a year since all 3 sisters had been together and it was a reunion full of sleep overs, fleecy pajamas and cat shirts. 

 Christmas morning at our cabin at Castle Mountain was sunny, snowy and beautiful! It was great spending the holidays with my Mom's newest addition to Team Cas Libby. She is wonderfully helpful and happy. The way she fits in with our family after only a few months proves how fantastic she is. It was so fun for me to get to witness some of her first winter experiences. She was over joyed by the snow on the trees, the frozen lakes and getting to look out the window at all the skiers passing by. Switching from flip flops to winter boots was a big change but we couldn't be more grateful that she did.

 Christmas breakfast after presents and face masks with a wonderful bouquet from Windymere.

 Christmas at Grandma's was as always hilarious, delicious and amazing to be together. Presents from Alice and Charlie were definitely a hit!

Since everyone was out on the slopes during the day I went on adventures in the snow with my friend Jenga.

 We had another person join our family over the holidays who had little experience in winter. Kyra's friend Nick Dobbie from New Zealand stayed with us for only five days and it was so much fun by the end we wanted to adopt him. He would be the red head child my mom always dreamed of having.

Annual New Year's Hockey and Nick's first time on a frozen lake!

 I'm so lucky to be able to visit and explore all kinds of mountains with my skiing. All are unique and have different slopes and terrain to play on. I love skiing new places but there is something about skiing the familiar runs that you learned to ski on that makes me bubble over with joy. I finally got to go out skiing with everyone at the end of my break and I couldn't have been happier. I love my home and my family!