McCall winter carnival.

We had a wonderful weekend in McCall.  Winter Carnival was in full swing, and my friend Lee from work hadn't seen Idaho's mountains yet (she's on an exchange in the US from Scotland...coolest thing ever!).  So it was a must!

We drove up Saturday morning and headed straight to Brian and Christianne's place.  Clara was thrilled to see them both.  We ate a little lunch, and then headed to Moss where Brian works.  He pulled some snowshoes and a sled out for us to borrow, and we headed down to march across the lake.  Yes, you heard me right.  I allowed my almost two-year-old to be pulled across the ice on top of Payette Lake.  I was freaked out the entire time (I am who I am...a nervous Nelly!).

We waltzed across the lake for a while, and then headed up to snowshoe through Ponderosa State Park.    It was a gorgeous day.  After what has seemed like months of being shielded from the sun from our nasty inversion down here in the valley, it was fantastic to see blue skies!  So we spent the afternoon wandering through the woods at a toddler's pace...literally.  Clara refused to get in the backpack.  And she preferred walking in her snow gear over being pulled in the sled, too.  So we wandered through the majestic woods at a snail's pace.  But it was a ball.  And in the end, she fell asleep in the backpack.  But she honestly walked a good part of the way.  We were all a little shocked!

Later that night, we walked down to the beach for a pretty great fireworks display.  Clara HATED the fireworks!  The second they began, she started to cry and just kept repeating, "too loud".  Poor thing.  So we headed out a little early and had to weave in between all the people standing and looking up at the sky.  Maybe by the 4th of July she'll like fireworks!

On Sunday, we hit up the Pancake House (we're such tourists!) and then took a little drive around town to show Lee other parts of McCall.  She got a few great pictures, and then we started home.

It really was a whirlwind weekend.   But it was so much fun!  Thanks Brian and Christianne for letting us stay with you.  And thanks Lee for joining Kurtis, Clara and I!  It was so much fun to show you around!

Here are some pics from the day!  I stole some from Lee (thanks, Lee!).  Sorry they aren't in perfect order!

Here are Clara and Christianne sledding.

Here is Clara pulling her sled.  I told you she wanted to pull her sled more than ride in it!  Here's the proof!

 Here we are climbing up from the lake to the park.

 Here is Clara, all tuckered out after marching around all afternoon!

 Here is a cinnamon roll from the pancake house.  The size was a little outrageous!  (Just a little).

 Here are Lee and I on the lake.

 Clara had fun climbing in and out of snow caves that some people made on Moss' campus.

 Here are Clara and Uncle Brian inside a snow cave.  Cool pic!  Nice shot Lee!

 Here we are in front of one of the ice sculptures in McCall.  Clara is completely eyeballing the buffalo.