Snow Season 2008

2008 
We LOVE the snow. Especially when we can ski in it. We bought annual ski passes this year for the family, so after Christmas we headed up to Winterpark to get in some snow and ski time in the mountains. We arrived at the rented a cabin (or should I say VERY nice home with rustic features) a few miles from the Winterpark resort. The day we arrived the temp was in the negative fridged temp area, so we decided to forgo skiing that day - why be miserable - and we opted to go sledding and get settled in the house instead.

. Bright and early the next day the temperature had warmed so our friends The Christensen's joined us in a day of skiing. Kids waiting patiently outside for the "ski-train" to leave - while mom is inside feverishly getting lunches packed, extra gloves and socks together (you always need extra gloves and socks), etc.

Once at the resort everyone squished their feet into their boots (boots are always soooo hard to put on in fridged temperatures - I personally thought I was going to break my ankle trying to push my foot into my cold boot!) we gathered our ski's and polls and headed for the lifts.

Personally, I'm a very "fare weathered" skier. I really only want to ski if the snow is good, the weather is not too cold, but, not too warm either (this makes the snow yecky) and I'm skiing with good company. Well, on this particular day, the conditions couldn't have been better. The sun was out, the weather was a perfect 30's and the company was PERFECT. I just love the phase of life our family is in right now. We are all SKIERS! (well, Ariel is a snowboarder, but we love her anyway) I never thought that would happen, but, it DID and here we are and it is so great!

Look at all the cute snow bunnies. Smiles! They know lunch is next.



Chandler taking a break in front of the sign that describes him the least! SLOW??? Chandler is all about speed and jumps. This kid jumps off things I would never consider in my wildest dreams (I keep saying lots of prayers to myself that he will be o.k.) He certainly is not risk averse when it comes to his skiing style. Steve is very proud to have a son that he can take to any part of the mountain and they can ski together. Chandler keeps asking his dad How old to I have to be before you take me helicopter skiing in Canada???

Hot chocolate never tasted sooo good. After a long day of skiing we headed back to the house for dinner, hot chocolate and an evening of games, movies or just hanging out.

After a few days of skiing it was time for more sledding. In downtown Winterpark, there is a sledding hill and the city provides sleds for all to grab and go sledding. The little hill was mostly icy-packed snow so you can imagine the speed available to those who want it. The kids (and adults) had lots of fun racing, creating trains and having hours of fun on the little sledding hill.

Sled down, walk up. Sled down, walk up. Sled down, walk up. Repeat...

The whole group (Christensen's and Browns) before heading out of town. We loved Winterpark.. Steve and Chandler enjoyed snow shoeing, we all enjoyed skiing, eating, sledding and escaping from our daily lives. We hope to return very very soon to our new favorite mountain town. Next time...snowmobiling!