The Cottage with the most snow ever. (this photo is from a few days into the week) Grandpa is teaching Graeme how to play Cribbage. Grandma and Catriona are both in their happy places. Expression A lot of snow fell last night so we're snowed in for the day. Grandpa digs out the path around the front of the cottage. It's more of a trench than a path. Our last trip with Jenn's old 1996 Honda Civic (440,000km on it). Grandpa digs out the path for Grandma and the kids. Let's go toboganning! Over at the Harrison's, they've started cleaning the roof which resulted in a snow pile as big as the house. I remember back in the dump of '71 where we didn't have ladders, or roofs. Best... Toboganning... Conditions... Ever... Dad and I go out for a snow-shoe, up in the woods behind the cottage out towards Priest Point. A rare shot of the Dougus Photographerus, snow-shoeing along the shore. Okay, that's a lot of snow. Dismount! Jenn & Catriona Zombie Graeme chases Catriona Group hug Okay, now Jenn is in her happy place. Jingle Bells... Jingle Bells... Back at home, a little cuddling is in order. Dad and I head over to Tremblant for our own day of skiing. It was wonderful. Heading up the lift. Two photos of the same view... ...with different lighting. Catriona spent a lot of time in Grandma's arms. I didn't hear much complaining about that. Correspondingly, Graeme needs a little arm-time. Graeme disappearing around the corner of the boathouse. I believe it's some sort of requirement that I take this photo each time I'm at the cottage. Everyone all bundled up? Graeme cracks the top (1-2cm) layer of ice with his foot. Now Graeme is "emptying" the water from between the two layers of ice. Grandma and Graeme both deep in the snow. It's a very bright day. A deer was spotted over by the bunk house. We watched as he walked down the hillside. He stopped to eat some greenery, then disappeared into the bushes. Grandma and Graeme decorate Catriona's cake. Proud of their work. Graeme, very high up on the snow the plow has piled up. This will be our tobogan run, from the parking lot down to the lake. Mommy is holding Cationa up out of the deep snow. Deer tracks along the ice. Graeme, Catriona, and Doug take a run. Doug, at the top of the freshly carved-out tobogan run. Jenn is refilling the bird feeder with help from Graeme. Shadows on the lake. She's two years old! ...because cakes need explaining. The snow on the roof fell off in large (loud!) chunks. Doug waits for Graeme to tobogan down the driveway. Father and son toboganning. Does it get any better than this? Assembling the obligatory snowman. Family Portrait Time to open gifts! Success! Catriona is given her name, in "Zoodonym" letters. Family shot. (a typical family shot, three in front, and Doug behind the camera.) Less posed. Susan drops by and gets to read Graeme a story. Grandma wants to show Doug some photos, but Graeme jumps in. Graeme's very first time downhill skiing. This was one of his very few falls all day. Out of the gate! Look at that concentration. Daddy is taking video. The "lift" is called a "magic carpet", and you just ski on to it. Things couldn't be easier. The butterfly slalom. After his first run Graeme said to me/Doug as I tried to hold his coat to slow him down, "no Daddy, let me do it." Yup, we're having fun. Jenn, Grandma, and Catriona watch from the sidelines. Grandma took a turn walking the hill with him, but by this point, we adults weren't needed any more. Interlude: Ice clearing. The pitch is flat enough that you can practically keep up by walking. He's really getting the hang of it, time to head over to the "bigger" bunny hill. Catriona is happy to be carried by Grandma. Time to stretch our legs. Mt. Tremblant. Here's a better view of the "magic carpet", over at the "bigger" bunny hill. Graeme has no trouble with the extra "steepness". Daddy/Doug/my silhouette. Because this pitch is steeper, Graeme has to learn to steer in order to slow himself. The longest part of the bunny hill. No sweat. Daddy, are you following me? The base of Mt. Tremblant. Graeme made friends with this woman... ...and they ended up walking up the "top" bunny hill slope after the "magic carpet" lift had closed. Ski jumper on the side of the hotel. Last action shot. Father and son. On our way out we bumped into a balloon-animal-dispensing clown. Back home, we'll relax with a story.