This past week we drove up to Pagosa Springs, CO and spent some time with a couple of my sisters and their husbands (Nat & Brian, Mel & Jade,) and my brother Jacob, who flew out to hang with us for a few days. We rented a great cabin and had a wonderful time together.
Here are the boys clearing a path out of the steep driveway. After numerous attempts, and a broken chain, this was the final option to get our van out of that drive-way. They were out there with garden shovels, hoes, ice-chippers, and snow shovels digging down until we found dirt.
Here is Hayden heading off in his first ski school. He looked so tiny going up the lift, and as I waved to him, the cute little boy next to him called to me, "Don't worry! I'll watch out for him!" I was really glad to hear that.
Jacob and I struggling through the powder. Well, I struggled more than Jacob. That powder really makes you work hard! Also it was super cold, so the only way I lasted so long was not exposing any skin, and working up a sweat in that powder. I'd be sweating by the end of the run, and then freezing on the way back up the lift.
The Wolf Creek ski school is THE BEST! They have this great lodge where the kids eat lunch (which is included in the $60 all-day ski class) and the kids get hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream on it while they wait for the parents to come pick them up at the end of the day. They look pretty happy don't you think?
All our ski-school kids: Daphne, Hayden, Sean and Kyrie.
It snowed most of the day on Monday and Tuesday. Here is our whole group except Arthur who is taking the picture, and Natalie and Melanie who were home watching Sydney. (Thanks girls!)
Tuesday was Valentine's Day, and according to tradition, we exchanged Valentines from Nona, Papa, and all the Aunts and Uncles and cousins, and had a yummy Valentine's breakfast. Here are Sean and Hayden waiting for breakfast to be ready and ruining their appetites by eating their Valentine candy.
the table
Strawberries and heart shaped honeydew melon.
That took forever, so I only did a few.
Natalie working on her red velvet pancakes cooked in the shape of hearts.
The finished product--pancakes with some delicious cream-cheese frosting. :)
so decadent.
Aunt Melanie told the boys that the "Squeeze-Its" were actually love potion and would make them fall in love with the first girl they looked at who wasn't family. As a result Hayden spent most of the day covering his eyes, just in case.
Sean and Hayden on the 4th story of the cabin. They thought it was so cool that the cabin was so tall! Jacob, Dallin and Sean were the lucky ones who got to sleep in the "tower" loft.
there they are way up high!
sigh.
I loved the snowy view from this wall of windows at the cabin!
It felt so cozy to be inside reading by the fire.
sledding
On Valentine's Night, Jacob was a sport and babysat all the kids for us, while the married couples went to the Hot Springs to soak for awhile. It was AWESOME! I love those smelly hot springs. Some of us even jumped into the freezing cold San Juan river which is right next to all the hot springs. Now that will really wake you up. Getting out of the river made the air outside feel balmy. We chatted and soaked and enjoyed a kid-free 2 hours at the springs. I felt so completely relaxed when we left.
Sorry Mel--I know you'll probably hate me for posting this picture, but I think you still look cute.
Not very many pictures turned out at the springs because it was so steamy.
But here's one where you can see our faces.
Arthur and Dallin on the last day getting ready to ski Glory Hole Bowl.
They had to hike up to this ridge.
And just look at that powder!
We had a wonderful time being with the Evans and the Thomasons and it was so fun having Jacob come too. I'm already looking forward to next year's trip to Pagosa!
