The Clan McKinnon

Last day of the year means another birthday celebration for me! Cora & John were just as excited for the night as me! I got a cool new camera.  We enjoyed another birthday day at Knights.  And of course had a great dessert! We switched up which building to take pictures with this year.  The First National Building got new special colors this year - of course purple was one of them and it matched Cora well tonight.  Cheers to being 9 years old! 

This year I got a special slumber party with my good friends Grace & Olivia (while John & Cora got to spend the night at Grandma & Grandpa's).  We had an extra special time making pizzas, eating cupcakes and playing games!

Aunt Sarah took us to her deli for some custom made sandwiches.  We were all stocked up for our ride home!  

We started the morning as some of the first riders on the Orange Lift.  Daddy got to ride with the girls.  And help Cora down the hill to get to the front for her next lesson.  Day 2 and she was a pro already! The clouds broke apart later in the day and we had beautiful sunshine -  lots of good views of Northern Michigan -  and lots of smiles (and squints) all around!   Skiing together at night under the lights! Fun times for everyone! And more big smiles for the youngest and oldest skiers of our clan!  

We snagged a slope side condo at Nubs Nob where it was finally my turn to learn how to ski! Waiting at the base of the Green Lift for my 1st lesson to begin.  Mommy was excited to be back at the ski hill where she learned to ski at my age! While I was at my 1-on-1 lesson, Eve & John headed up to hit the slopes.  Here's John right outside our condo with the Orange Lift in the background. It was nice to ski back for lunch time.  That's me actually on the lift during my 1st lesson! I mastered my wedge.  So proud of myself (and not even realizing that my teacher wasn't holding on anymore)! Daddy was waiting for us to get back for lunch.  And here come the girls.  I worked so hard in the morning that I took a really good nap after lunch.  We got to meet Aunt Sarah, Matt and The Brandons for dinner after skiing. We had an adults table and a kids table with August (not pictured). You guess which table had more fun!  

Early morning lights -   and lots of presents from Santa! Small joys for Cora like a Frozen hairbrush -  and Pete the Cat! John got lots of drawing accessories -  and a cool solar system! I got a really BIG cookbook from Dad.  And Dad got the motorcycle Lego kit that John has been asking about for months.  Cora loved some new Magna-Tiless And I got a huge Friends Lego kit! We all got to work building later in the morning.  A sunny afternoon brought us to Wheeler Park for some two-wheel racing.  Cora kept up on four-wheels.  I helped wrap up the day by putting the finishing touches on our yummy dessert!