Almost There

Just got on the Kilpatrick Turnpike. Home in 20ish. One of those trips that I am not ready to end. Loved it! Had a great time! Kids were fun-farts, stinky feet and all! Love the extra ones like my own-farts, stinky feet and all :-)

Oooooooooooooooooooooklahoma

Where the wind comes sweeping down the plains! Just crossed over. Yes! Lulu says 2 1/2 hours to go. Kids are watching "Master of Disguise", an oldy but a goody :-) I got a round of yeahs when I announced that we were in Oklahoma. Almost home.

Welcome to Amarillo

Pulling into Amarillo. Will grab something to eat and get gas. Probably be home 11ish. Not too bad. Car is very quiet. Think I have some tired babies ready to be in their own beds tonight.

6:00

Pit stop in Dumas, TX at 6:00. Probably stop in Amarillo and eat. Better selection than here.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Went through a stupid safety corridor in New Mexico. Down to 55mph. It killed our time. Gotta love it. Just passed through Clayton, NM at about 4:45 OK time. Kids have watched "Are We There Yet", "Are We Done Yet" and "Yours, Mines and Ours". I love to listen to them watch a movie. Nice to know that a PG movie can still entertain them. I know I have posted some car pics but thought you might see how they are squeezing in right now. Chadley is behind Devin and Blakester is behind Chadley. Log man is behind me and Tayter is behind him. And Chelsea girl is stuffed in the middle like a tamale. The kids swap out the tamale seat.

Pit Stop

Stopped at Subway for lunch in Canon City about 12:00 Colorado time, 1:00 OK time. Discussed Chad's full beard that is coming in quite well. Now passing through Walsenburg on South I25. It is 2:35 OK time. Very little snow on the ground. Only patches here and there. Kids are watching a movie and computing. Cool thing Devin found. It is called Cradlepoint and you plug your USB internet card into it. The cradlepoint then creates a wifi internet. At one point we had 5 computers surfing the internet in this car. Crazy!!! No License Tag game in this car, baby! ;-)

Pics 12-30-09

Not very good pics of the kids as we left this morning. My iphone lens kept fogging over.



The snow was falling as we left Crested Butte.

Pics form 12-29-08

The kids at the top of Painter Boy. This may be the only picture I have with all 5 kids in it... Hard to get everyone together. Should have remembered to tell them to take off their goggles, but it's cute anyway.


Our hot cocoa and snack at Painter Boy.



Tayter Tot and me after turning in our equipment. It was a hard 3 days of skiing and boarding, but tons of fun.

Pics from 12-28-09

Every wonder what a bedroom shared by 3 teenage boys looks like after 24 hours?




Pictures of Devin, Logan and me at the top of Painter Boy Lift. Most beautiful views of the mountains. They have an igloo up there for kids.




Tayte and Chelsea, the Board Bunnies!


Down after a day hard at it. Blake made himself at home in the girls bedroom (a.k.a. the living room) - which had the only TV in the condo.

The Long Road Home

The kids had an awesome time yesterday. All boarded on blacks and blues and only one ended up black and blue. You will have to ask Chadley about his butt bruise. Chelsea was the first to throw in the towel followed by Logan. Devin and I were pretty much done about 2:15 but Tayte wanted to go some more so she and I headed to Peach Tree with Devin in charge of video. Blake and Chad took a break but headed out for a last run a little after 3. The lifts close at 4. We all got our equipment turned in on time and everything accounted for. The snow fall started in the afternoon. Everyone in CB was thrilled! Apparently, it has been weeks since it snowed. Signs at lifts and in shops said to pray for snow. Finally happened yesterday. That means it warmed up enough to snow. It has been way too cold to snow for weeks.

Oh and I found a little somthin' when I was getting off a lift. Seems as if someone was planning to get high on more than just the elevation!

After we cleaned up we went to town and ate at Donita's. Took forever! Then a walk in the snow down main street for a few last minute purchases. Back to the condo to pack. Hate that part! Devin and I went out to walk around a liitle more. Kids wouldn't go with us. Too tired. Pansies! It was so pretty to walk in the snow. Talked to one of the snow groomers. Those machines are incredible. And they start out at only $250,000. Might need one of those. When we got back an hour later they were all in bed.

We could hear coyotes on the mountain every night. Last night one sounded really close. Looked out the window and it was right there! Pretty cool.

Up this morning at 7:30. Boys took all the luggage down and Mr. Devin loaded up in the snow. We got checked out, snuggled in the car and on our way. It is pretty quiet in here. Lots of snoozing. I think we wore them out. Had such a great time. Thanks for loaning your kids to us! I know it made Logan and Tayte's trip.

Onward and Upward

Thought you would like to know that all of the kids, including our precious girls, went to the top! The peak of the mountain! Boarded blacks and blues down. No guts, no glory. Apparently they chose glory :-)

Mid-Day Report

Everyone seemed to drag a little this morning but out the door by 9:30. All met at the top of Painter Boy. Hot chocolate and pictures. The boys have the girls on blue runs today. We have some real board bunnies. Devin and I went on several runs and just noticed how sore we are when we stopped to grab a bite to eat. Turn in equipment today after lifts close at 4 and then into town for dinner. After that it will be time to pack and "shut 'er down" as Mr. Brent would say.

Day 3 with Devin & Crissy Plus 5

Ok - this stupid computer is taking FOR-EV-ER to upload pictures tonight so you are just going to get a rundown of the rest of the day.

It was -17 when we woke up this morning. That is negative 17!!! We were all on the slopes by 9:30. The boys in one direction, the girls in one, and Devin and I in another. The boys started out on some blue slopes. Blakes and Chad even did some blacks. They even got lost once. But all made it back safe and sound. Devin and I took a couple of different trails today. Logan even went with us a couple of times. Logan, Devin and I had hot chocolate at the top of the mountain overlooking the the slopes. Beautiful! We found a few trails that went under the roads and right by some houses. So much fun! The girls did their Peach Tree trails. Chelsea even went up Red Lady a couple of times.

The boys met up with Taylor Galvin and Michael Shay a couple of times today. Funny how you travel 15 hours to hang with kids you barely see at home.

As for pictures of the boys boarding, you won't get many. They go where I would not dare to. So you will just have to imagine it. Plan on getting some group pictures today. All have been wearing their helmets. As a matter of fact, Blake took a pretty good tumble yesterday and this morning said that he would never board without the helmet. Lesson learned.

We are all very tired tonight. Just chillin' in the condo. Ate take-out pizza from the Avalanche and now just laying around. It is already 1 degree outside.

The condo is tiny but working out well. It is maybe 800sq ft. The first floor has a tiny kitchen and living room. The girls are sleeping on the pullout couch. Up a tiny set of steps to the 2nd floor there is a bathroom and the boys' bedroom. Up another tiny set of steps to the 3rd floor is another bathroom and our bedroom.

Planning on hitting the slopes tomorrow and then probably going back into town for dinner tomorrow night.

I see there is a good chance for snow back home. Maybe we can ski at home when we get there...

Day 3 with Devin & Crissy Plus 5

The boys were first up this morning. They grabbed nutrigrain bars and then they were on the lifts when they opened at 9. Logan said there was ice on the seats when they rode up at 9. Here they are ready to hit it this morning. There was talk of double blues and blacks.




Tayte and Chelsea followed closely behind. They were ready for Peach Tree runs this morning and left with smiles on their faces.



Tayte and Chelsea dressed and ready for day 2 on the slopes.

Tucked in for the Night

We went into town for dinner at the Wooden Nickle. If you ever go, the onion rings are A-Maz-Ing! Buffalo burgers and Shirley Temples were quite popular. We walked around town, bought tshirts and finally made it to the grocery store. Ummm - I think I have gotten spoiled to the grocery stores at home. Not much to choose from here. And prices aren't like home, either. We had planned on cooking breakfast and even lunches but plans are evolving. Kitchen in condo is tiny! So got hot pockets for breakfast. Remebered today what a pain in the butt it is to undress to eat lunch and then dress again to go back out. Got some snack stuff that we can easily get to or will go get pizza from the bakery for lunch. Way easier and no changing of clothes involved.

Kids are winding down. First day is always hard. Poor Tayter was walking up the stairs in the condo which, by the way, are the skinniest, little bitiest stairs ever, fell and caught herself with her nose on the wall. Some tears and and bruising were involved. Maybe a picture tomorrow and hopefully a great story about a wicked snowboarding accident to explain the injury to her friends.

Night!

P.S. Pictures aren't great. Forgot cord to get pics from the camera to the computer so I am having to use my Iphone for all the blog pics. Does and OK job.

Down for the Count

Chelsea and Tayte were tired after the day on the slopes.

The Kids

Blake, Logan, Chad, Chelsea and Tayter Tot

Devn and me watching the kids.

The kids after picking up equipment this morning.

I Had Forgotten How Tiring It Is

I had forgotten how tiring it is just to get dressed for skiing. All the layers. Ugh! But we did it. Of course, after you are throroughly warn out from that you must go to the rental place and chase down your skis, poles, boards, helmets... Grabbed a bite to eat the the Bakery (been dreaming about their brownies for the last 3 1/2 years) for breakfast then we were off. Blake talked about taking some lessons but ultimately decided to start out with instruction from Logan and Chad and if he wasn't feeling it then he could take a lesson later today or tomorrow. No formal lesson needed. He picked it up rather quickly. The kids all headed to the Peach Tree lift and were off. Logan said that Blake face planted once but, other than that, not bad. It took the girls a while to get their snow legs back. It is really a lot of work to snowboard. Lots of falling down. Devin and I watched the kids for a little bit, took some pictures and then Chelsea and Tayte decided to go up Red Lady with us. I think it was too much too soon. They did a lot of stopping and resting on the way down. Tayte twisted her ankle on the lift this morning so between being tired and her ankle, I pulled her most of the way down. Break time!!

Back to Bakery for lunch. Good pizza!

Girls did Peach Tree one more time. Devin and I did Houston and another run. Devin only fell getting of the lift one time. Of course he took me down with him. Thanks! Now resting at the condo. It just wears you out. Walking in those stupid ski boots is the worst!!! Probably going into town tonight to get a few groceries and eat. That is, if we get out of bed first. Boys are still out hitting the runs. There is talk of going up Silver Queen and stepping up their game from greens to blues. We'll see how that flies!

We arrived!

We made it! Crested Butte looked so pretty last night! The Christmas lights on the little houses and cabins and all the snow was perfect. Took a while to get to the condo check-in. It's on Gothic Road. Surprise! There are 2 Gothic Roads here. Great. Arrived at the condo a little after 8 and it is litterally right on the slope. Was supposed to have a slope balcony but the balcony is really on the side. The lift is right outside the door so I am sure it will work anyway. We got everthing in , which was not easy because we are on the 4 th level and all stairs, and then the girls went sledding. It was 1 degree. Little chilly. Tried to go into town to the grocery store. Closed! So back to the condo, up the stairs, and finally ready for bed. Yes!!! Woke up at about 8 this morning. My magic phone says it is -11 now. Awesome! Ready for the sun to come over the mountain and heat things up. Kids are getting dressed to go pick up gear and eat. Then, it's off to the slopes. Should be fun to watch the boys try to teach Blake to snowboard. He may be begging for a real instructor by noon. Pray for safety and pray for warmth ;-)

Gunnin' to Gunnison

Stopped for gas and snacks at Salida. Saw a dude in shorts, tshirt and no shoes at the gas station. Lovely! Oh-and the temp was 7 degrees. Drove through Monarch Pass. Learned something new about my car. It shows negative temperatures. Like -2 degrees at tge top of the pass. Ice was forming on the inside of the windows when the kids breathed on them. We saw the lights of Gunnison in the valley. Beautiful sight. Main Street Gunnison is all dressed for Christmas and a huge live Christmas tree is in the center of town. Sssoooo cute!!! Stopping at Sonic for dinner because we are afraid we can't get in anywhere at Crested Butte this time of night. It is about 30 miles up the mountain. Have a small bet going as to when we will arrive. May need to eat slow to make sure I win!!!

Lunch

Stopping at Lamar, CO for a bite to eat. Kids have done great but the girls are getting a little cramped stuck in the back seat. Blake reminded them that it would be really bad on the way home when there is nothing to look forward to at the end of that trip.

Getting the Heck out of Dodge

Pit stop in Dodge City, KS. Gas, Snack, drinks and back on the road!

Oops!

Not doing so hot at navigating this moring. Turned west too soon. Going to Pratt, KS and then turning north to get on highway 50. Maybe it was the fall at the Umberhams that threw off my navigation skills...

Some sleeping and some watching movies

Crested Butte Here We Come!

Going to Crested Butte for a little white Christmas action sounded like a good idea a few weeks ago. Who would have ever thought that we would end up having a beautiful white Christmas of our own at home? Record breaking in fact! The kids were not open to staying at home and playing in our snow. Something about having no snowboards or ski lifts. So, at 5:30am we loaded in the car. First stop was to drop Rascal at the Umberhams and pick up Blake. Falling in the street while trying to get back in the car was just a bonus :-( Next on to pick up Chad and Chelsea. Finally, off for Crested Butte.

Kids all slept until we stopped for breakfast just south of Wichita at about 8:00. After checking some different websites and road conditions we decided to go west on Highway 54 to Pueblo and then on to Crested Butte.

Roads in Edmond were terrible but improved a lot just 5 miles north of town. When we reached the Stillwater exit, roads were greatly improved. Right now there is very little, if anything on the roads but the wind is very windy. Might slow us down a little.