Last Day of Spring Break

On our last day of playing, we decided to go tubing again. This time we went to a fun place called Adventure Ridge. We went there on our trip five years ago, and it really is a fun place. The tubing hill is much bigger and than the one we went to earlier. In fact, Carter was not allowed to go down by himself this time. He had to have his own tube, but Monte had to hold on to him as they went down.


Carter woke up and put on these ski goggles. He came in the kitchen and said, "Hey, take a picture of me!" This kid loves to look at pictures of himself. (Lexie was the same way when she was little. Anytime she would start crying, I would pull out the camera and she would stop crying and smile.)


Getting on the gondola. Wee!!

See those trees? We were able to look down on them from the gondola. It really was a pretty view. We could see people skiing down the hill below us. We were happy, smiling, and enjoying the ride. THEN, the gondola stopped. It really wasn't bad until they would try to get it going again, and it would go maybe 1/2 inch and stop. The problem with this is it would cause the gondola to swing back and forth. I am not scared of heights or claustrophobic, but this really did freak me out. At first, we were afraid they had closed and didn't know we were on the gondola. The other cars around us were empty, and they waited a while before trying to start the thing. There was a sign hanging that said they would contact us over the speaker if there was a problem. Well, no announcement (for a while).

Lexie kept Carter entertained (and still) by playing games on her phone.

After a while with no announcement, Monte called to make sure they knew we were there. I am so glad we still had cell service. I felt a little less scared knowing I could still communicate with the outside world.

Lexie finally decided she would take a nap.

Carter trying out a snowmobile. I'm sure he'll be trying one of those next time.

They installed this nice little moving sidewalk since the last time we were there. Carter would yell at me through each window.

Family slide!

Lexie decided to go down Superman style. I think she enjoyed the long, steep hill. She was going nonstop.

Monte dragging his and Carter's tubes. Where's Carter?

There he is! This was how he stayed warm. He would duck down completely in the hole. I thought maybe he was scared, but Lexie and Monte said he laughed the entire way down the hill.

This is Frank. It was a big snow tractor that transported us from the lodge area to the tubing hill. It is not really called Frank, but that is what Carter called it. He was Lightning McQueen today, and there is a tractor named Frank in the movie 'Cars'.

Carter warming up by the fire.
Carter got cold before Lexie and Monte finished (because I brought the wrong gloves), so we went back to the lodge area and had hot chocolate while we waited on them.

He loves hot chocolate!

My babies!

I didn't want this week to end. We had so much fun! I love going on vacation and leaving the stress of the real world behind. We had so much fun playing together. I can't wait to do it again!!

Day 6- More Fun!

Carter loves puzzles!! I took a few of his puzzles with us. After he saw Dan doing the puzzle on the table, Carter (who today is Toby/Astro Boy) decided that he HAD to do his puzzles on the table too. It is funny how much his and Dan's personalities are alike.

This is a gorgeous bridge that we go over to get to where we go skiing. It is really pretty when the ground is completely covered with snow, but I prefer the road when it is not snow covered. :)

Today we didn't sign Carter up for a ski lesson. When we got over to the bunny slope, Carter asked where his coach was. We told him that we were going to be his coaches today. He looked a little unsure about that idea. Monte and I took turns pushing him up the hill a little way. Then we would let him ski down to one of us. It was so much fun getting to watch his facial expressions up close. He LOVES skiing!!!!

Carter kept wanting to go to the top of the hill. We decided to buy a ski harness, so Monte could take Carter to the top of the hill and ski down with him without having to worry about Carter getting too far ahead. Monte said as soon as I walked away Carter said, "Where did the coach go?... Oh, there she is." (and he pointed at me) I came back with the harness, and we put it on Carter. Fortunately, we decided to do a trial run before taking him to the top because he was not a fan of the harness. Monte took Carter part way up and started down. Carter refused to stand; Monte had to hold him up by the harness straps. When they got closer to me, I realized Carter was panting like a dog. (The harness looked kind of like a dog leash.) Needless to say, Monte didn't take Carter all the way to the top.

Lexie took a self portrait on the ski lift. She texted it to me with the caption, "I'm alone on the ski lift." I was terrified. My baby is not supposed to be alone on the ski lift. (Carter and I had already left at this point.)

Lexie loves skiing, too. Monte said she did great. It is hard to believe it has been 5 years since she skied. We are definitely going to have to find a way to ski more often.

My little snow bunny.

Monte and his ice beard. It started snowing after Carter and I left, and it was really coming down.

Lexie sent a text to me saying she had not fallen all day. Well this picture is a result of that text. I know Lexie and I am sure she was cracking up. I hope Monte asked her if she was okay before he took her picture.

I was so proud of Lexie for going down a black. I was glad she told me AFTER she went down the slope because I would have been so worried if she had told me before.

One of the highlights of the trip: Ofelia made guacamole. She makes the best guacamole I have ever had. It was sooooo good! I think I ate half of it all by myself.

Wyatt decided he wanted to do a little more sledding before he left. (They left the next morning.) He used the shovel to make a long track down the hill.

Wyatt made a "wall" at the end of the track to help him stop before he went over the cliff. To us it looked more like a ramp. So, being the caring and loving family we are, everyone decided to video the first run just in case something funny happened.

He survived! (These photos are a little fuzzy because I took them through the window. It was warm and cozy inside, and I didn't feel like putting on all of my snow clothes.)

Lexie decided to join in on the fun.

Lexie doing manual labor! (I had to get a picture to remember this.)

Day 5- Another (Eventful) Day of Skiing

On Wednesday, Dan, Monte, and the big kids went skiing while Ofelia, Carter, and I stayed home. It was a perfect day for skiing, there was fresh powder and the temperature was perfect. They could tell it was going to be a great day of skiing.


Dan getting ready to snowboard.



Lexie on her first Blue of the day.



Lexie

Well, they were right. The skiing was great. They went down one time, caught the ski lift back up, and went straight to this place...

When Kalin and Katherine got off the ski lift, they both fell. Katherine landed the right way, and Kalin didn't.




Kalin getting her arm checked out.

They wrapped her arm and put her on a sled to take her down the hill.

After a short trip to the Vail Valley Medical Center, she got this nice pink souvenir.

I just had to include this pic of Carter "taking a nap". He has given up nap time since we have been here, but he does do a nice job of resting so mommy can get a short nap.