The Only Way to Fly

We started off a little bumpy today. Harlow is teething and was a little cranky-pants and there was some confusion about our sleigh ride (which was canceled), but after we got past those two things and got some of Rafe & Caroline's awesome chili in our bellies all was right with the world. Allan, Caleb, Rafe, Caroline and Sus went sledding on the golf course and it was MAJOR. Not only is it probably the coldest day since we got here, but that hill is serious. The snow and wind yesterday created some deep powder and just getting to the hill was exhausting.

There was a nice collection of kids on the hill dare deviling on saucers and in tubes... but we did them one better. We had the toboggan. It's the only way to fly. Man that thing can move. And in the unofficial battle of who could go the farthest, it was Allan by a nose, followed by Caleb and Susan close behind (seriously, I almost had them). Don't be fooled though, we also had some excellent wipe outs and Rafe & Caroline had a snow-toss fight (they didn't bother to make snowballs). Jen and Melissa arrived just as we were leaving and they too had some good, solid, competitive, sledding fun.

Now we are settling in for Nanci and Allan's shrimp dinner and getting ready for a rowdy New Year's Eve. Party!!!

Snowy Paradise

Here are a couple of pics from the trip so far... more to come.

The view from the kitchen... a teetering snow biscuit.

Caroline, Rafe and Sus trekking through the woods... and face planting every now and again.


A healthy political debate with breakfast courtesy of Jen, Caleb, Allan, Nanci and Rafe.

Erika trying to read that damn book.

A Day for Sledding

Today has been lovely. The snow has been gently falling all day and making everything beautiful. Noel made the breakfast of champions for the team... cinnamon rolls. Caroline was the first to venture out and when you saw her frolic and face plant into the clouds of fluffiness... you just had to join in the fun. Rafe and I went with her into the woods and it was very Chronicles of Narnia. A couple of rolls down the hill and swan dives into the snow later and we were ready for sledding.

Caleb, Jen and I went up a hill (hold on while I catch my breath) to forge a sledding trail. We caught some major air and took a couple of snow hits to the face. I thought my face was melting off Wicked Witch of the West style for a while. Meanwhile, back at the "cabin" Allan was creating a miniature Fortress of Solitude out of giant icicles.

Erika, Noel, Rafe, Caroline, Allan and Nanci were de-nied on their snow mobiling adventure because their guide got delayed by an accident on the main road (Mel, Jen and I saw it... it was not pretty). Probably turned out to be a good thing that they couldn't go today... the wind and the snow would have made it slightly miserable going 80-whatever-mph. But they did get to enjoy the fun of the sledding that Jen, Caleb and I forged earlier in the day. And Allan took some truly hilarious video.

Noel is chef this evening... we finally found some chicken in this town for his Chix Parmesan. Sidebar: what kind of grocery store is out of chicken?! It's CHICKEN! Come on people.

Winter Wonderland

It's day two in snowy paradise. Getting here was easy for some, not for others. Melissa, Harlow, Caleb, Sus, Erika, Noel, Nanci and Allan had no trouble, but were half-awake, zoned-out, drooling and generally feeling kooky from the altitude. Meanwhile, the not-so-easy trip belonged to Jen, Rafe and Caroline and it turned out to be hilarious. They were feeling about an 8 out of 10 frustration level until they met their CME driver in Silverthorne... let's call him Stoner. He thought Jen was "sexy and aggressive" and he was totally impressed by the guy "with all the smiles" at the valet. Hot.

This afternoon has been lovely, Jen and I took a walk in the snow and just sat in the powder forever. We made a snowman... that looks like a relative of Jabba-the-Hut. It ain't easy making a snowman out of powder. It was also our night to cook... and just in case you haven't heard, it takes longer to boil water at this altitude so our pot roast made for a late night eating extravaganza. But it was DELICIOUS.

The evening ended with a rousing game of "celebrity." Fun for some, not-so-fun for others. Come on y'all... stop your whining and get with the program. I can't help it if some of us have a natural talent for the sport.