No snow today so off we went to Coeur d' Alene to take a cruise to see the holiday lights. We had tried to take the cruise several different times and we could not make it out the alley or the roads were really bad. Finally, we made it. It is always pretty with all the beautiful Christmas lights around the big hotel. We boarded the boat for the 45 minute cruise and Mike immediately started taking pictures! Of everyone! Even dogs! Is the dog smiling? I can't tell!
We didn't realize it but we were headed for the North Pole. And we made it if you can believe that. It was a bit different than the North Pole I had pictured in my mind! We even got to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. I thought they were off duty after Christmas but I guess not!
The lights were beautiful. Mike and I thought there would be homes with lights all around the lake. There weren't. After Santa talked to us from his North Pole location these lights came on around his workshop. 
The Gleason's on the boat!
We got back to shore and decided to go out to Titos for dinner. We like it there! Good Italian food. We noticed that there was a vacated sleigh near the restaurant so we decided to make use of it. I guess Santa can't be in his workshop and driving his sleigh at the same time. 
It was a nice relaxing evening! Great way to celebrate the New Year and be home before we turned into pumpkins! Mike and I wish you all a Very Very Happy 2009!
Last but not least is this picture. Remember the bird bath that had a mound of snow on it???? Mike was measuring the amount of snow we got during the first big storm almost two weeks ago. Well can you see it now? The bowl part of it got so much snow on it that it fell over. You are seeing the top of the base barely sticking out of the snow in this picture. The bowl with all the snow on it is the big mound to the left of the base! Ain't life grand!!!
That dino looks a bit intimidating! Looks like a Merry Christmas!
I was finally out doing what I love to do more than almost anything in the winter!!!! Life is Good! Even took some pictures along the way. Country Homes Blvd, Chewelah (the town below 49 degrees North), saw some deer crossing the road. Perfect.
Got to the ski area and there were no crowds. I walked right up to the table to get my pass picture taken and I was off! The snow was really falling. I didn't have a very good ski season last year. Did minimal working out to strengthen my leg with the arthritic surgery knee. I have to do special stuff because of my knee and I didn't do it! BAD! This year I really focused getting those muscles strong around my very painful knee. It worked and I was excited! Not skiing at my best but with my knee that won't happen. I was doing so much better and really good actually so I was excited. I rode up the chairlift with a man that was from Southern California. He even went to the same high school I did. Not at the same time though. He was probably 10 years younger. I started to notice that the snow was falling even harder but now it was not falling straight down it was going sideways. HMMMM! Blizzard??? Couldn't see the top of the mountain. I took a couple more runs and decided it was time to go. I would be up on Tuesday after all so why push it! I took some pictures of the 49 sign as I warmed up my car. 
Check out this parking lot. The snow was really coming down now. Notice, yes notice! The little red car amongst all the big 4 wheel drives! That is my car! I am so proud of it! I had zero trouble getting to the ski hill. 
I headed down the mountain. It was a little tricky getting started. It is uphill just a bit after you get out of the parking lot. I could see the top of the hill and willed my car up it if you can will a car up anything. No problems. Took some more lovely scenery pictures and pictures of the town of Chewelah! Chewelah has one stop light. Look closely and squint and you will see it!
In Stevens County the roads were excellent. I hit Spokane County and they were still pretty good. Then the snow picked up and there were no trees or buildings near the road. White out! Worst I had ever driven in! I prayed a lot. Stayed close to the car in front of me but not too close. Well I probably was too close but... I figured if the drivers of that car went into a snow bank I would be right behind him. I prayed some more. I was so relived to get to Spokane. I have never driven in such a white out. I really couldn't tell where I was supposed to be driving. Thank you God for getting me to Spokane! My troubles are over! NOT! The roads in Spokane were like driving on a giant ice cube. People were even stuck on Country Homes Blvd. I turned around on Country Homes and headed for Division. The Division Street Hill had several semi trucks stuck on it. I had to actually stop on the hill but got going again OK. I was praying again. I finally made it to Francis. I was checking out every grocery store on Francis to see if I could get in and out of the parking lot. I selected the very expensive Rosauers. Jumped out of the car. I think I left skin on the steering wheel when I peeled my hands off of it. Got my groceries just fine. Mike told me to park in the front of the house because there was no way I was getting down the now famous alley. At least 8 inches of snow had fallen! One minor detail. I pulled up and no place to park because Mike's car was in the front of the house. I called him and made a huge circle around the Shadle area and he started shoveling a spot for me. I pulled up and shoveled with him. We finally dug a spot out for my car. I started unpacking groceries and relaxed for a minute. My phone rang and it was my daughter, Kristin. MOM! The roof at the Rosauers at 5 miles collapsed! Justin is headed down there now! I had been home about an hour at that point. Was God watching out for me today??? I think so! I know so! Thanks God. I will not be heading up to the ski hill tomorrow. The End!