**Saturday**
Valerie had decided to go ahead and have a second day of lessons. Carissa, as mentioned before, refused to go back to ski school. I think she would have really gotten a lot out of the second day, but it is vacation and the number one rule of vacation is you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Travis thought that he could maybe try to help her a little bit and see how that went.
;)
So we all (us, Ryan, Val, and my dad) strapped on all of our gear and skied out of the condo towards the base area. (If you click on this link of the trails and zoom in some, our condo was in the second group of houses directly to the right of the ‘Right-o-way’ green trail before it gets to ‘Headwall North’. You had about a five minute ski down to the main base area – so perfect!) Travis worked a little bit with Carissa, but she was still really nervous. Primarily because she was literally JUST learning the wedge and how to stop at school. But, we did eventually make it down to the base area. And, she declared that she was done and ready to go back to the hotel with Grandma.
Over a cup of hot chocolate and a plate of bacon at one of the little restaurants at the resort’s base, we again tried to talk her into another lesson or to work some more with daddy. She was having none of it so we called Grandma. I think Travis and I were both a little disappointed that she didn’t want to try again, but she is still just three years old. And, a very cautious three-year-old at that! (Hmmm… wonder where she gets that ‘cautious’ trait from?)
My legs were so sore from the day before (Remember my telling you about the slow skier I am? I literally stay in a permanent wedge position the entire way down which rakes havoc on your knees, thighs, and calves!), that I told Travis he should go ahead and go up the mountain to do his blue and black runs, and I would take Carissa back to the house with mom. I got to spend the morning reading on the balcony, drinking hot tea, and playing with Carissa – a great day in my book! Travis had fun doing the more adventurous runs that I refuse to try.
Mid-afternoon, I did venture back out again with my dad. We went up the gondola (where he of course made new friends during the seven minute ride) and went down the ‘Why Not?’ to ‘Right-o-Way’ back to the condo. My legs were literally BURNING! I’m so out of shape!
That evening, Valerie and I decided that we were going to take a break the next day so we turned our equipment back in. Val then began researching some different options for the next day – something other than skiing! We also made a Walmart run for a sled and some beer, where I learned all about the Colorado 3.2 law from the helpful Walmart lady. After hearing they only were able to sell the 3.2 beer at Walmart, I told her we’d just go next door to the liquor store instead! Which worked out great – I got a great sampler of local-Colorado beer and Ryan and Dad found some PBR! Class-say!
We had delicious spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread for dinner, played more games, and went to bed.
**Sunday**
Valerie made a ton of phone calls this morning, and, based on what was available, we settled on snowmobiling and tubing at Saddleback Ranch. The price included a 12:45 pick up at our condo so the boys even got in another morning of skiing! While they skied, the rest of us played in the snow with the new sled with Carissa which was a big hit. I attempted to make a snowman, but it didn’t turn out that well as the “champagne-power” snow just doesn’t stick together!
The bus showed up right on time with a cowboy driver, and we loaded up. Ryan, Val, Travis, and I were doing the snowmobiling and Carissa, Mom, and Dad were planning to meet up with us at the Ranch later than afternoon for the tubing. The first adventure was that the bus they brought up was too big to turn around at the condo. The cowboy tried everything under the sun, but kept sliding around on the ice!! Valerie and I were just a tiny bit nervous that we were going to end up sliding down the mountain! He did eventually get it turned around, and we were on our way listening to some great country tunes on the radio.
Once we got to the ranch, we were outfitted with helmets and assigned to snowmobiles. Travis and Ryan wanted to drive, and Valerie and I wanted to ride – with the understanding that the boys would not try anything crazy or stupid, drive too fast, try to knock us off, etc. After all the stipulations, I think the boys were wishing that we would have gotten our own snowmobiles!
Away, out the gate we went on the two hour ride through the ranch. About halfway through the ride, the leader let us loose in a big pasture to ride freestyle. He outlined a couple of boundaries and asked if we had any questions. My question was: “Can I get off and let him play?” The leader said of course, and Travis and Ryan got their fill in of crazy driving.
Travis pulled up and asked if I wanted to try it. I hesitantly said yes and took it down the hill. Yeah, I didn’t care for it. The snow in Steamboat is very powdery and you literally felt that the snowmobile would sink. I was on my way back up the hill to give the machine back to Travis and was making my way to make a large loop and bring it in… when I flipped the stupid thing. And, Travis got it all on video.
Jonda Flips Snow Mobile from Michael Cherry on Vimeo.
We finished the ride and headed back to the ranch-house for cookies and hot chocolate. We then rode a bus over to the tubing hill (the ranch is over 8000 acres!) where we met up with Mom, Dad, and Carissa. We got our passes and headed out to get the tubes. There were a ton of red tubes… but one blue tube which sweet-pea quickly zeroed in on. There is an automatic tube-puller-upper thing that takes you to the top of the hill. Carissa rode up with Travis and we all followed in our own tubes. We unloaded and went off down the hill. It was a lot of fun – a little too fast for me, but I felt safe enough!
The bus came to pick us all up and take us back to Steamboat after about an hour-and-a-half of tubing. We had discussed going out for dinner when we got back into town, but after the bus ride, we were all exhausted and settled on KFC take-out instead. Never has a piece of crispy chicken tasted so good!
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We have recently returned home from a wonderful Steamboat Springs vacation. We left on Thursday the 14th and returned to Houston on the 19th. Way too short – I think we all wanted an extra two days at least! Travis, Carissa, and I traveled with my mom, dad, Ryan, and Valerie. Ryan and Valerie deserve some big props for researching the Colorado ski towns and settling on Steamboat! It was awesome, and we can’t wait to go back again!
**Thursday**
We flew out on Thursday morning and landed directly at the Steamboat/Hayden airport – which is probably the smallest airport I have ever been to. Luckily, it was a 737 that flew in and not one of those little prop planes! The airport was a little one-story building with only four ‘gates’. They even brought out the stairs to walk down – no jet-ways to be found there! We could see the sprawling hills and mountains out the plane window all covered in a beautiful blanket of snow so we quickly bundled up in our jackets (and hat and gloves and scarf if your name begins with ‘J’) before heading out to get our luggage.
Getting the luggage was unfortunately a bit of a bump in the excitement as my mom’s suitcase somehow did not make it on the plane. You would think with Continental now having the audacity to charge money for checking bags, they would at least ensure the bags made it on the plane! They did give my mom a complimentary overnight bag (how generous of them) and a comp for some rental snow-clothes. (Luckily, the bag did show up the next day.) Anyway, we then loaded up the luggage we did receive, packed up in the rental cars, and headed out to Steamboat Springs!
We got the keys to our ski-in/ski-out condo, stopped for some lunch and groceries, and then drove up the mountain to our new temporary home. We unpacked a little bit and then drove down into the main resort area to pick up our boots, skis, and poles in preparation for the big ski day tomorrow!
**Friday**
We all woke up early on Friday as Valerie and Carissa were enrolling into ski school today. Carissa was a very big girl and walked right into their Kids Venture Club to meet some new friends. They told us she would likely come out to ski in about an hour and a half so Travis, Ryan, and I went up the gondola to get our ski legs back on. Steamboat has a great green trail that meanders its way from the top of the gondola all the way back to the base. It was a perfect run for us to take and make it back to see sweet-pea ski.
Carissa was with a group of about five kids her age with two instructors. Sounds like a great ratio until you factor in the one kid that won’t stop crying (thus having the full attention of one instructor) and the other kid that won’t listen to the other instructor and just zooms on down the hill without waiting! Needless to say, I don’t think Carissa got the attention I wanted her to get.
She did do a great job though when she had her turn! They have a ‘magic carpet’ (basically a moving walkway) that the kids stand on to take them up the slightly-inclined hill. The teachers walk beside them and help them off the carpet onto the astro-turf coated top of the hill (‘hill’ being VERY generous). They then take each child individually down the hill by holding onto a handle that is attached to a vest that the child is wearing. The work with them on balance (doing the superman), the wedge (piece of pizza), and basically just going straight (french fry). Carissa did each perfectly!
The only problem was that she saw us leave at lunchtime…. The program basically included some playtime inside first, then a morning ski time, lunch, more inside playtime, and afternoon ski session. We were a little concerned that if she saw us, she would want to leave with us during the morning ski-time. You could tell she was a little nervous, but she was doing so well! She waved and showed off her skills and said how much fun she was having.
We watched her until they were packing up to go in for lunch. We waved bye, she waved back, and we were off back up the gondola to do some more skiing. About a third of the way down, I noticed that Travis wasn’t behind me anymore. It didn’t really give me much concern because he will let me get pretty far ahead so he can zoom up at his own pace rather than my slow-as-molasses version. So I pulled aside and rested/waited for him. A few seconds later, he comes barreling towards me, calling over his shoulder as he whooshes by, “We’ve gotta go back to ski school!” No stopping, no further explanation, nothing. OMG – WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY BABY is of course the first thought that comes in my head.
Now, I am strictly a green trail skier – I don’t like going fast, I don’t like to fall, I don’t like to be out of control. That was probably the quickest I have ever skied and Travis still beat me down (granted, he had a head start!). I pull up next to Travis worried to death and ask him what had happened… Oh, she was just upset and crying and missed her mommy and daddy. Geez-louise!
We went into the building, got her calmed down, and convinced her to go back in to have some more fun. I really think she was just tired after a full day of travel the day before and not really sleeping too well in a new place. She did stay at the school the rest of the day and skied with the class that afternoon – but refused to go back any other day of the trip.
After we picked Carissa up again later than afternoon, I decided I had also had enough of skiing for the day and went back to the condo with mom, Valerie, and Carissa while Travis and Ryan went up the mountain again. Mom had prepared some chicken tortilla soup for dinner which was perfect after a day out in the snow! We all ate, played some cards, and then went to bed.
**MORE TO COME!!**
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Wow, over a week into 2010 already! The past few weeks just completely flew by with fun times with our family and friends. Here is one of those random catch-all posts.
1. I had a fabulous girls-night out with some of my wonderful friends right before the holidays. We went to Birraporettis for dinner and then over to the Hobby Center for a showing of the Sound of Music.
2. Travis and I were invited to the Rockets game by his Granny and Pawpaw. We had a great time with GREAT seats watching the Rockets beat the Clippers!
3. We spent Christmas Eve with my side of the family. We met over at my mom’s that morning for breakfast with my dad’s family. It was a tinge bittersweet as it was the first Christmas without my Granny, not to mention that Christmas Eve also happens to be her birthday. I remember growing up we always had to celebrate her birthday first and then we could do Christmas. I’m sure I would have been the same way if my birthday happened to be on a holiday!
4. We then opened gifts with my immediate family. Everyone really liked everything they received – especially the drum set that mom got for Carissa….
5. Now we are on Christmas number three over at my nana’s. The girl-cousins all decided we should have fajitas and our wish was granted with a huge spread from Ninfa’s. YUM! We did a secret-Santa this year with the first cousins and mom arranged for a Chinese Christmas – tons of fun! We played some board games and cards before everyone went home to wait on Santa.
6. Carissa (true to form) fell asleep on the way home but her daddy put out some cookies and milk for Santa. Carissa woke up early the next morning, but paid absolutely no heed to the ‘new’ presents that were under the tree. She came to our room and crawled up into bed with us!! Woohoo – extra sleep time for mom and dad! When we did remind her of what the day was, she jumped up with eyes wide-open and squealed – “LET’S GO!”
7. We started with our stockings. If you haven’t seen it, Carissa has one of those HUGE stockings that stretch from the mantle to the floor. Santa also seems to like to wrap everything in the stocking so it took awhile!
8. After that, up the stairs we went. Santa had some really cute red paper this year that even said “From Santa” on it. He brought Carissa exactly what she has been asking for – “a Huto-hat-wahlks” (aka a Pluto-that-walks). I have it on good authority that Santa had a difficult time getting the elves to get this one together in time! Santa also surprised Carissa with a Scooby Doo Mystery Machine Van and a couple other toys. Of course, she also received some things from her Momma and Daddy, but those two things from Santa were definitely the highlight!
9. I surprised Travis with a new computer processor that works with our TV, and he really surprised me with the Nook! We both went way overboard with each other as we tend to do!
10. After we finished up opening presents and enjoying our family time, we got dressed and went down to Pops and Grandma Ronnie’s (we are on Christmas number five if you’re counting). We had a great brunch with all of our favorites including practically-burnt bacon (yes, that is exactly how I requested it), cantaloupe for C, and cinnamon toast for Travis. Loni had requested a breakfast casserole that was delish, and I honestly can’t remember what else was on the shamorgasboard! After eating, we opened presents – the highlight for us being a bomb-pull-tag thing that Joey sent over from Afghanistan! Travis has it displayed in our game room.
11. We then went over to Bobby and Vanessa’s (number 6) for the traditional turkey/dressing dinner. We do a Chinese Christmas over there that is always a hoot! I got a great little Coleman grill… while Travis got a lovely set of glass swans!
12. After saying our good-byes, we headed back over to Angleton to Grammy and Pawpaw’s for number 7. Both Becca and Crystal were able to come with their families. I can’t remember the last time we all managed to be at the same place at the same time! The kids played with their new toys, the highlights being Colton’s new Zippity and some Transformers. (One other thing to mention for the parents that might visit this site – Grammy and Pawpaw got Carissa this. She has seriously played it everyday. It is very educational and fun, I would highly recommend it.)
13. Over the weekend, we honestly didn’t have much to do – which was WONDERFUL after all the hectic days before! We chilled in our PJs, played with our new toys, and ate all the cookies and other treats we brought home with us.
14. For New Year’s Eve, we went to the Texas Bowl to see Navy play Missouri with our good friends Chris and Margaret and some other their Navy friends. We tailgated that morning (with the aforementioned Coleman grill!) and saw Navy kick some Tiger booty.
15. After the game, we went over to Dee and Jake’s to welcome in the New Year. (Yes, New Year's Eve was a LONG day!)
16. The next day, we headed up to Ace (for Christmas number 8!). Of course we ate and ate and ate some more!
17. We headed back home and had Chris and Margaret over for games. They brought over a new one that has quickly become a favorite – Settlers of Catan. Travis has since ordered the entire series!
18. Vickye and Billy celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary – Congrats!
19. My Mom and Dad celebrated their 34th Wedding Anniversary – Woohoo!
20. Last but not least – My little family has gotten sick with the crud that is going around at a very importune time… More to come on that next time!
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Growing up, we had an advent calendar that my mom hung on the wall. It was basically a fabric Christmas tree that had ornaments with Velcro tabs that you would stick onto the tree. (I think she maybe even made it or maybe my Granny did – I’ll have to ask my mom where this tree came from.) Anyway, it was supposed to be one ornament per day starting December 1 up until December 25. However, I could never play by the rules and just really liked decorating the tree over and over so I don’t really recall using it as an advent calendar! Ha! My nana had a similar one in her stash of Christmas stuff (store-bought though) that she give to us to use a few years ago.
Travis’s family also had an advent wall calendar growing up but with pockets on the dates and you would move a little mouse from day to day to count down until Christmas.
Anyway, I saw this idea and just fell in love with it! I told Travis I was going to make one for Carissa over the Thanksgiving holidays. Well, I looked for a tree branch at the craft stores – couldn’t find one. I looked for small boxes and was just going to make an advent tower – they were all way too big or too flimsy. (I was looking for boxes about the size to fit small ornaments and pez dispensers – no bigger than a jewelry box or match box.) So, my brilliant plan was quashed like so many tend too.
But, Travis happened to see this little house at Target so we settled on doing that this year. And, Carissa has LOVED it!
The compartments really aren’t big enough to do what I wanted to do (I had bought some Mickey Mouse ornaments on clearance last year and they didn’t fit through the doors!), but they are just big enough for a small piece of candy, a dollar, a couple of quarters, or - Carissa’s favorite – treasure maps! Every morning she wakes up asking about opening the ‘number of today’ and is so excited to see what waits for her behind the door. We used the treasure maps to hide the ornaments around the house so it did work out in the end.
On Christmas Eve, the door was supposed to reveal the baby Jesus for our nativity set. But, of course, baby Jesus does not fit through the little door… Grrr… Another map it is, but with a star to mark the spot rather than an x!
I’m trying to decide if I should have the treasure map lead us to the baby Jesus under the Christmas tree (because he is the most important gift) or if the map should just lead us to the nativity scene with baby Jesus in his spot. (When we set up the nativity scene, I intentionally left baby Jesus out of the scene because we celebrate his birth on Christmas. So Mary and Joseph are patiently waiting with the wise men and shepherd and donkeys.) I’m leaning towards having the map lead us to the nativity scene.
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We had SNOW the first Friday of the month! Fortunately, I had the day off from work, and Carissa and I had already talked about the possibility of snow that afternoon. Surprise, surprise – we started seeing big, fat flakes around 8:30 that morning!! Carissa was at her art table in the kitchen and I eagerly called her over to the door to see the flakes falling. She nonchalantly answered, “Well, I’m working right now, Momma. I’ll come see it in a little bit.” Whhhaaaat? It only snows here about once every ten years! Get over here girlie!
She finally stopped “working” long enough to come and look with me, but she wasn’t quite interested in going out in it. It was still kind of drizzly, kind of snowing – but we take what we can get in southeast Texas! Luckily, the snow fell for a good while and we finally went out when she was good and ready. She donned her ski bibs, coat, and snow boats all without fuss. She really enjoyed catching the flakes on her tongue, making snowballs, and throwing them at me. She would’ve played in it a lot longer, but her Momma got cold so we went back in.
The next morning, we woke up early to attend a “Breakfast in Bethlehem” at one of the local churches in Pearland with Grandma and Pa. It really was a winter wonderland outside! Frost covered the ground and the rooftops. It was a really pretty site and the perfect setting for our destination.
The church’s fellowship hall had several different tents set up inside where you could see and do different things. The church members were all dressed in robes and “Bethlehem-wear”. The thought was to have the hall be Bethlehem in Jesus’ time. They had an “Iron Shop” where they strung a metal ornament, a “Music Shop” where you made a tambourine or shakers or a drum, a “Scroll Shop” where you drew a picture and rolled it up like a scroll, the stable, a pottery tent with a guy making clay pots, and a bakery with breads. They even had Santa and Mrs. Claus, but they were off in a completely different room which was really smart. Not just for crowd control, but also really stressing the difference between the real meaning of Christmas versus Santa Claus and everything that goes along with that.
After the pancake and sausage breakfast, the three wise men began to inconspicuously make their way through the hall, asking the kids if they saw the bright star and would they go and seek the newborn baby king with them. Carissa hopped right up and went with them! I was SHOCKED that she didn’t grab on to one of us to come with. The wise men led the kids up to the stage where the stable was set up. The stable doors opened to reveal Mary, Joseph, and a baby Jesus.
The morning ended with everyone singing “Joy to the World” with the kids playing their instruments that they made at the Bethlehem Music Shop. I think that is something we’re likely to do again next year.
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