January 14-21
We went to Steanboat, Colorado with our ski club in mid January. This was Gregg and I's first time to ski since our trip to Italy in January 2010 so we have been looking forward to this trip for several months. We were also a little nervous about being rusty! (Me especially since I have also had a baby and gained a few pounds since the last time!)
Headed to the airport
having fun on the airplane
Our flight was very smooth and Cade did GREAT! He was awake for about 30 minutes after we took off and then slept the rest of the flight. It was kinda erie to fly into Colorado since they have had minimal snow this year. The ground and mountains were all brown instead of snow covered.
Our first stop was at the condo head quarters to get all checked in. Cade and I had lots of fun playing on an old sleigh while the guys got everything taken care of.
After that we headed up the mountain a little to our beautiful condo! We were originally supposed to be staying in some condos that were right across from the mountains but those had some kind of leak in them so we were moved a little farther away. We were still within walking distance from the slopes and there was also a great shuttle that picked us up to carry us where we wanted to go.
Since we had Cade with us we requested to have a 2 bedroom condo instead of one of the 4 bedroom condos. We stayed with the guy that Gregg normally rides on the ambulance with, Deacon, and his wife.
our condo
Once we got settled in we went to the slopes to scope everything out and get something to eat. Then later we went into town to the grocery store to go shopping for the week and then hung out around the condo.
Pretty hot air baloon greeting us on our 2nd morning
Sunday was beautiful and scheduled to be one of the warmer days during our trip so we decided to walk around the downtown area and sight see.
We got up early Monday morning to make breakfast before everyone headed out to the slopes. While we were at the ski shop getting everything rented we started talking to one of the employees who said that last week they had fitted a little boy for skis that couldn't even walk yet! That made us really excited because we had really wanted to try and put Cade on a pair of skis just to get him exposed. We decided to go for it and got Cade a pai of skiis for the next couple of days. After getting skiis we all went up on the gondola to the top of the mountain. Cade and I hung out in the restaurant at the top for a little while while everyone else took off skiing and then we rode the gondola back down to hang out at the condo.
First gondola ride!
Tuesday morning Gregg, Deacon and Jennifer went out early and then Cade and I came after he woke up from his nap. We decided that we would put Cade on his skis that afternoon and see how he did!
Ready to hit the slopes!!!
Cade took to the skiis really well! He didn't mind the boots (even though they were a couple sizes too big) or the skiis. We hung out on a little exit area right next to the kid ski school area. It had a perfect amount of slope for us to test things out. We were able to ski down the area 3 times before it starting snowing so heavily that we had to head to cover.
Gregg and Cade skiing for the first time!
Gregg and Cade skiing!!!
Cade LOVED skiing! He was talking to Gregg and smiling the entire time that they were coming towards me. I am so exited that he enjoyed it and cannot wait till next year when he is old enough to have ski lessons! I know that in just a couple of years he will passing me up as he zips down the mountain!
After skiing we went to one of the little pubs at the bottom of the slopes to warm up and see all our friends! Another exciting thing about this trip is that we got to meet up with all our Aussie friends again! (We met these 4 families 2 years ago when we were in Italy and have all stayed in touch sicne then.)
Aussie Ellie and Cade
(Cade was smitten with Ellie and spent quite a bit of time with her over the week)
While we were at the Pub they had a dancing competition. Once of the Irving FD Batallion Chiefs won the dance off and a new snowboard which he gave to Ellie! It was quite an entertaining event!!!
We woke up to 11 new inches of snow on Wednesday morning! It was so beautiful and made for GREAT skiing that day!
view of fresh snow from condo
Cade napping before going to ski slopes
Trying to stay warm while waiting on Daddy
After lunch we decided to take Cade up a little lift that we found at the bottom of the mountain. The lift went up probably 100-150 yards and then there was an easy green beginner slope to ski down. We got one of the ski harnesses and adapted it a little so that it would go between Cade's legs and give Gregg a handle on top to lift Cade up with if he fell.
Cade's little skis
The staff was all very nice and helpful to us as we were getting on and off the lift. Cade enjoyed the ride up and was looking all around taking everything in. Once off the lift I skied half way down the little mountain and then waited with the video for Gregg and Cade. (Please excuse quality of this next video as I was trying to ski and watch where I was going all the while watching Gregg and Cade and trying to video!)
After taking Cade down that little slope twice we decided to call it a day and went to an outside pub to enjoy a concert. Later that afternoon they had a professional cowboy downhill race and free for all. There were over 100 of the best professional rodeo cowboys in town to participate in this unique ski rodeo!
Cute little cowboy!
The first set of races were side by side salolm races where the cowboys skied the flags and then had to rope a cowgirl and sattle a horse before crossing the finish line. After that they lined all the cowboys up on the starting line and said go and it was a free for all to see who could cross the finish line first. It was quite entertaining to watch and very funny!!!
Pictures from the race and the downhill
Thursday brought more fun and skiing during the day and then that evening we had a happy hour get together for the ski club and the Aussies! It was so great to get to see everyone for a couple of hours and catch up with all the Aussie families! (We started planning a trip for all of us to go to Australia in a couple of years which I am VERY excited about!)
Cade and I getting ready to head to ski club party
I decided to turn in my skis Friday morning and just spend the day hanging out with Cade. We rode the gondola up around noon and met all the skiers at the restaurant on the top of the mountain for lunch.
Momma and Cade
After lunch we spent the afternoon playing in the snow and watching Ellie practice on her new snowboard. (We all went snowboarding one afternoon in Italy together and had lots of fun. Ellie has since only skiied but decided on this trip to take snowboarding lessons and give it a try again.)
Little marshmellow puff playing in the snow!
Ellie on her new snowboard
Ellie and Cade
Friday night we decided to have a "fancy" dinner to celebrate both Deacon and Jennifer and Gregg and I's Anniversary! (Deacon and Jennifer's 2nd Anniversary was the week before our trip and Gregg and I's 3rd Anniversary was the week after our trip.) We bought steaks, patatos and asparagus at the grocery store and made a YUMMY dinner!
our make shift grill
fancy dinner is served
Cade all dressed up for our dinner
our little family
Saturday brought the end to our trip and the return to reality :( We had such an AMAZING week in Steamboat, Colorado and enjoyed every moment of our trip! It was so great to get away for a week and have fun as a family. We enjoyed being able to catch up with our other TUFF Ski Club members as well as our Aussie friends!
Happy boy enjoying the plane ride back to Dallas
