Christmas Time in Vermont

I have been at my parent's home in East Montpelier since I traveled back from Davos, Switzerland two weeks ago. I have yet to miss a Christmas here with my family, and this year my brother, Andy, who lives in Seattle, was able to come home for a few days as well. I am enjoying my last day at home tomorrow before heading out to Alaska for Nationals. Coming home is always awesome, time with my parents, time with my dog and just plain, time. It is great.

My parent's home with the newly erected barn!

Family snowshoe

My brother, me and my cousin Josh and his wife Kate!

Christmas doll from Norway whom my Mom named Sigrid

Took Charley for her first ski on the snowmobile trails with me. It was incredibly fun. We both had headlamps, as it got dark while we were out there, and it was an experience I will never forget, and will repeat tomorrow!

Andy sporting his new glasses

Dad doing a dance!

Andy and the dreaded gift of "the puzzle"

Next year's Christmas card, or it would be if we sent Christmas cards

Burke Mountain from the Sutton Ridge

Morning light

Mom performing carols

Christmas pudding burning the traditional flame

Charley in action!

Rough life, eh?

DAVOS!

The internet is very in and out here, but Davos is one heck of a place.  I think for many of us, it is one of the favorite spots on the tour, and when you come from dark scandinavia, the sun feels even better.  Races this weekend are a 10/15K skate on Saturday and a skate sprint on Sunday.  I head home on Monday, so these will be my last races over here until later this season.  

First morning! AAAHHH!

Mo, enjoying the sun

My two favorite things: trains and alert-shirt orange

Gormet meals at the Hotel Kulm

Moon rise over Davos

Hotel Kulm staff Christmas party.  Here, the tradition goes that if you are a bad kid that year, Santa will put you in his sack and take you out into the woods and leave you, so kids around here are much more behaved! 

Pete Vordenberg and his wife Barb Jones.

Kuusamo Report

Canadian bowling team.

Team USA Bowling

Mo i.e: "The Ocho"

Newell turning 26!

Davos, Switzerland now, where there is not only plenty of snow and good coffee but something called "sun".  Crazy, but that thing shines bright and lights up your life.  Pretty awesome feeling the Vitamin D kick in again.  Pictures to come.  Sprinters are in Dusseldorf this weekend, then we will all meet up here in Davos for next weekend's WC.  Results for this weekend will be at: www.fiscrosscountry.com.  Tim Burke 2nd in a 20K individual start biathlon race today!!  Stoke is high here!  Alpiners in Aspen this weekend, ski jumpers and combiners in Lillehammer, nordic supertour in Bozeman (results at: www.summittiming.com.)  The results for all this will be at: www.fis-ski.com.  The winter is here, races are happening, it's time to get stoked and start cheering from your seats at home or from the sidelines of a race course.  Let's get fired up.