Christmas Eve with Family at Squaw

Christmas Eve, and all four of us on skis at Squaw Valley. Thin snow year so far but the groomers held up, and from the top of the runs you could see clear down to Lake Tahoe, gray under the clouds. The girls skied everything we did. New helmet and goggles got their first day out.

Santa was set up by the tree in the lodge with a bucket of candy canes, and both girls went through the line — the younger one in her gingerbread sweater, the older one in a hoodie that says ALWAYS COLD, which felt like the right thing to be wearing on a ski mountain in December. Then the whole crew squeezed in around him for one more, Grandpa included, everyone in Christmas sweaters except me in my Michigan one, which I'm counting.

Back at the house that night we did presents by the little tree. The older one opened hers one-handed, arm still in the brace, and managed fine.