With the rising temperatures, the heavy rains are quickly melting the once-in-a-generation snowpack that has coated Portland for the past two weeks. As the snow melts, I find myself a little sad to see it go. Here are a few highlights, most of these are first-timers!

• Skiing down my street and around my neighborhood (pictures)
• Cross country skiing with Aimee across town to Ben and Annie's house (pictures)
• Sledding down the big hill by Chapman Elementary School, including a 7-person "sled train" with the Big House gang (pictures)
• Hiking through a blizzard for dinner at Macaroni Grill downtown
• Meeting neighbors and other fun-seeking indivudals while doing everything listed above
• The universal camaraderie all around town in dealing with nature's adversity
• Having an actual white Christmas (complete with fresh snow fall)