Colorado Spring Break Trip

The trip was finally planned.  I think if someone else would like to take me on vacation then it would be a true break, but even so packing up and leaving the house, school and schedule was such a refreshing and needed break.  Planning and trying to make a trip to CO -fun and affordable seemed impossible but I am so glad we were able to make it all work.  The first couple of nights we stayed with David and family-sad to say they were hit pretty hard by the flu making for some unhappy kids.  I love that they heal so fast.  We enjoyed hanging out-the kids helped out in nursery sunday, not sure how everyone did with David subbing in for Linnea but all kids had smiles.  We were able to get out and enjoy lots of climbing/hiking the three sisters...and a little brother sunday afternoon.  Of course the visit is never complete without a  huge splash in their hot tub.

An afternoon hiking and exploring the three sisters.

We ended out trip with one last night at their house-such great/flexible hosts!  The kids loved that Josh was feeling better and they could play and goof around with them a bit more.

Then it was off to find out condo...not easy to find online but super easy to find up the Mountain.  The condo's seem endless.  Located on ToKay road it was at the top of the mountain of wilderness rental units.  Just the basics but had a pool and hottub and a kitchen.  We found it just the best to hear the kids talking about putting on their PJ's after a swim after coming home from skiing.  The first day we headed to Loveland.  David met us at the Mountain-such a help getting the kids back on their skiis-it did take a little while-at one point I was a little unsure if we were going to make the three days skiing.  Brayden was mad because the "skis" wouldn't turn, James was out of control and crying and just a bit more crying/complaining than fun includes.  Thankfully after a full morning, some food the kids made huge strides and remembered how to turn and ski.  Then is was a bit tough just trying to keep up with everyone.

A full plate of pasta after a full day of skiing

First day on ski's...last trip was two years ago.  Andrea did have lots of tears the first lift remembering her fall from last season.  We managed all the lifts-even without safety bars-lost a couple skis, fell off one tow bar but no big mishaps, which I was so thankful for!

This is what happened just after a morning-what's scary to me is that he still didn't have a lot of control

Not sure how these guys ended up on the top of Loveland-the snowcat wasn't running that day.

Such a great help!  David skied with the kids and then helped his little guy out, I think he is going to be a pro at age 5!

The second and third day we spent skiing at Copper Mountain.  Just as beautiful.  Of course just as much work.  I think I spent a lot of time griping in my head when struggling with gear to and from the Mountain.  But views like this and so many others once on the mountain made it all work it.  What we most enjoyed was being to just hang out and have fun with the kids.  Sometimes we don't always need a break from the kids but a break from constantly parenting- a little fun with all of us was so refreshing.

A full-stinky car, the kids got pretty good by the last day getting boots on-better when we ended up missing the first lift by 30 min due to forgetting my purse in the condo with are 2 for1 pass in it!!  There is always something.

Kids pushed me to the top of the Mountain on the tow bar...which I fell off of with Brayden which of course was my fault!

Clear blue skies, made for such beauty when up top.

Copper actually had a life that carried 6!

The first day at Loveland the kids crashed at lunch.  At copper I barely had my coat off and they were downing food down putting gear back on ready to get back to the mountain.

 Goofy girls

And this is what happened the last day...lots of harder runs.  Brayden was always a bit frustrated with us-always wanted to do higher/harder runs-James was always willing to tag along.  This surprised me because the first day at Loveland him and I got stuck on a huge black and I had to have a ski patrol help me get him down the run.  It just amazed my how fast kids can learn.

 At the top-so fun to ski behind the kids and just want them ski down the mountain together.

Just for the record-Andrea and I struggled on this one and I might have gone down half on my face.

After Three days on the Mountain we checked out and decided to explore a bit on foot before heading back for out last evening with David and family. We had a couple pairs of snow shoes from David which were a lot of fun to try out.

Jumping off a bring into waist deep snow was just too much fun for the kids-even if we did have to do a bit of digging for Becca's boots.

A nice lunch spot in Silverthorne.

Brayden is almost 13 and still never tires or gets too old for tossing rocks.

 We ended our trip with a round of Frisbee golf and taco's with David and family and then a day of driving.  Definitely a full fun trip away.

Clips of skiing

more clips of skiing

Clips of skiing

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