OUR SKI TRIP JOURNAL:
we counted down for months. they made posters that hung excitedly on the fridge. leading up to the trip dates we fought strep and coughs at our house. others were much more sick and sadly original plans had to change. but eventually it came time for the five of us to hit the road for 1100 miles each way!
SATURDAY:
we woke up bright and early and we were on the road by 4:15am. by 8am we acknowledge no one was falling back asleep. we had covered much road, but had to stop for our first puke of the day. shortly after the second puke stop we came upon two horses dead in the middle of the road and a pile up, many car accident around them. by the third or fourth puke stop we sent the steffens on ahead and our doctor called in medicine to wichita falls pharmacy. the medicine kicked in and thankfully color returned to graham's mouth and face once again, which resulted in a cracker and gatorade party for all. we slid into a hotel in pueblo, co for the night and crawled into beds and pallets.
we woke up bright and early and we were on the road by 4:15am. by 8am we acknowledge no one was falling back asleep. we had covered much road, but had to stop for our first puke of the day. shortly after the second puke stop we came upon two horses dead in the middle of the road and a pile up, many car accident around them. by the third or fourth puke stop we sent the steffens on ahead and our doctor called in medicine to wichita falls pharmacy. the medicine kicked in and thankfully color returned to graham's mouth and face once again, which resulted in a cracker and gatorade party for all. we slid into a hotel in pueblo, co for the night and crawled into beds and pallets.
SUNDAY:
the day started with a continental breakfast and laundromat date for adelaide and me. it continued with many more hours logged along snowy road but this day was fabulously free of puke. thank you God! eventually we arrived in winter park and our first stop was ski rentals for adelaide and graham (who insisted he felt all better and wanted to try sometime during the week). mae was content touching every patch of snow she could get her hands on. evan and i were so happy to have actually made it!
MONDAY:
it was a grand day for graham's first ever ski day! he was in lessons with caroline, while adelaide was in a class with sage and kolby. they all made good progress and successfully stayed in lessons all day. meanwhile, evan and i thoroughly enjoyed a day of skiing with rubey and each other. mae was having a wonderful day herself back at the lodge playing with jim, gayle, kelli, and hazel kate. the afternoon called for coffee, cocoa, and crepes at the base of the mountain to celebrate.
it was a grand day for graham's first ever ski day! he was in lessons with caroline, while adelaide was in a class with sage and kolby. they all made good progress and successfully stayed in lessons all day. meanwhile, evan and i thoroughly enjoyed a day of skiing with rubey and each other. mae was having a wonderful day herself back at the lodge playing with jim, gayle, kelli, and hazel kate. the afternoon called for coffee, cocoa, and crepes at the base of the mountain to celebrate.
TUESDAY:
during the night graham got sick with a different stomach virus. the rest of us felt weird too, so we quickly quarantined ourselves up in the master bedroom for movie marathons and rest.
during the night graham got sick with a different stomach virus. the rest of us felt weird too, so we quickly quarantined ourselves up in the master bedroom for movie marathons and rest.
WEDNESDAY:
everyone seemed well again by the morning, but sadly we had to say bye to half our group that morning. i love this picture and what all these faces mean to me. it's a beautiful thing that the first friend i made in austin, became friends with two of the first friends i made in houston! the rest of wednesday morning was spent digging a sledding hill and playing in the snow.
everyone seemed well again by the morning, but sadly we had to say bye to half our group that morning. i love this picture and what all these faces mean to me. it's a beautiful thing that the first friend i made in austin, became friends with two of the first friends i made in houston! the rest of wednesday morning was spent digging a sledding hill and playing in the snow.
wednesday afternoon was spent visiting cooper creek- shopping for souvenirs, fudge, and playing. mae stayed back for her nap, and we realized we had taken an almost identical picture at cooper creek's fountain a few years back. then on our way back to the lodge the trip down memory lane continued as we took adelaide and graham by the spot where evan proposed.
THURSDAY:
the crazy way the week had gone, it felt like such a bonus day of skiing for evan and i to both get to be on the mountain with the big kids this day! we all rode the chairlift up together and then took turns which kid followed which adult down to the bottom of each run. evan and i totally relived our childhood, only this time as the parents repeating instructions instead of as the kids trying to juggle listening and balancing. adelaide preferred playing follow the leader in our tracks, while graham focused best by us shaking our booties in front of him. we skied through the trees many times. then at midnight we heard crying upstairs and mae got sick...
FRIDAY:
thursday night through friday morning, evan slept on the the floor next to sick mae. ev has many gifts but one that especially amazes me is his kindness and skills at taking care of our puking kids. the rest of this day was summarized by measuring sips of gatorade, lots of laundry, and packing up to go home.
thursday night through friday morning, evan slept on the the floor next to sick mae. ev has many gifts but one that especially amazes me is his kindness and skills at taking care of our puking kids. the rest of this day was summarized by measuring sips of gatorade, lots of laundry, and packing up to go home.
SATURDAY:
i woke up in winter park as a 35-year-old. we left with memories of our vacation days, and drove from 8am until 10pm, accompanied by snow on the ground every mile of the way from colorado to texas. it was a sllllooooow travel day, but we were soo thankful for zero sick stops on this travel day. and that night we got to land in abilene for wonderful hugs and a midnight birthday snack of three of my favorite things: nachos, cucumber sandwiches, and brownie fruit pizza.
mom made a yummy breakfast and i still can't believe this impromptu bonus day of the trip happened. to sit around a table celebrating with my parents, sister, four grandparents, evan, and the kids was such a treat. as was sitting around the living room after that, worshipping and taking communion together. it was a day i will remember always. that night we finished the last leg of our car time and arrived safely back in houston.
as we fell asleep back at home thinking of all one week had held, it was time to put into practice my motto:
"if you are going to laugh about it later, you may as well start laughing now."
because it was a crazy, memorable, full of way highs and way lows, but oh-so-special week in winter park.
as we fell asleep back at home thinking of all one week had held, it was time to put into practice my motto:
"if you are going to laugh about it later, you may as well start laughing now."
because it was a crazy, memorable, full of way highs and way lows, but oh-so-special week in winter park.
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