Winter Adventures

It seems the snow just keeps coming here, and has been dictating our days for weeks. We like that – we really do! And that’s where I’ve been, playing in the snow with my family. And by that I mean skiing in Colorado with my brother, sister-in-law and niece. But before we left we had three snow days at home. Then we got snowed in there and had an extended stay totalling nine nights. Then we brought the snow home with us – literally the same storm that snowed on Colorado made it here yesterday – dumping six inches of snow on us at home.

So no mater where we’ve been we’ve had days full of winter adventures – big and small. Skiing with my girls and brother’s family was a big and amazing adventure. I was so proud of my girls, loving to ski and not making a single complaint about being cold or unconformable in bulky snow boots and gear that is somewhat foreign to them. Even my four year-old loved it and begged to take her skis home with us on the last day when she refused to take them off and stop skiing when the mountain was closing and the moon was rising.

Yesterday was my birthday and as the snow fell, it was peacefully perfect, in a small wonderful way. I took two night walks, had cake with my family, drinks with friends and ended the day at midnight alone in the park with my dog and snow falling everywhere.

There are so many ideas in my head everyday I would love to write and do and share here. But in the end, moments with my family and time off the computer seem to trump what we do. These days, creating time for adventures, making memories, spending time together, enjoying the squeals of children sledding, and just taking in a peaceful snowy walk are the important things.

When I see my girls follow my lead and find the joy in those things too, it makes my heart smile.

Right now they are on the third round of drying, thawing it and heading back out for play. As it melts I am watching out the window, then I must feed them, and help dry, and get ready to do it all over again.  Even after being in three feet of Colorado snow, they are still up for more winter adventures big and small.

Here’s a few shots from our big Colorado adventure, and skiing at Snowmass. Thank you SO much to my brother, sister-in-law and niece who host us, borrow cars for our big family, help cart our 10 skis and boots around, find lift ticket deals for us, teach us how to build igloos and SO much more. Without the local hook up and family hospitality this trip (which we have done before) would never be possible.

The making of the BIG Igloo…. It was so big that we all fit inside it! It was built by using coolers to make blocks of snow, and stacking them up. It took about three hours to make.

My midnight snowy birthday walk, filled with peace and love in more ways than I can say for more reasons than I want to explain (something to do with this).

And then I woke up to these guys being so thrilled about more snow…again! Including more days filled with outside play, chili and hot chocolate. Who could get too much of that?