Family Ski Trip

March 24, 2013

Over President's Day Weekend, our family plus Tommy's friend, Jayce, drove to Pinetop, AZ for a ski trip at Sunrise.  

Jayce was nice enough to take this family photo, but my group of impatient models and the photographer wanted it done ASAP so we didn't even get our goggles off and Tommy looks like a terrorist with his mask on.  This will NOT be the Christmas card photo.  

 Grace enjoying the day.  She did not have a single melt down this whole trip, which is a first and we were certainly enjoying it!!

 Doesn't my head look huge?!

 The boys (at least I think that's them).

 Grace was pooped!

 Tom

 Tommy & Jayce again.  I don't think I got one with their actual faces showing.

Grace at the cabin.  Again, we were lucky to have friends who weren't using their place let us stay in their wonderful cabin in Pinetop.  It was about the cutest cabin-y cabin I've seen.  

 Grace built a snow man all by herself!  I don't know how she had the energy to do that after skiing all day.

Tom & Grace

 Me & Grace (Tommy & Jayce only showed up to eat lunch and then again for the ride home).

 Grace skiing!!

Mother-Daughter Ski Trip

March 23, 2012

Over Grace's Spring Break (which was not also Tommy's spring break so he stayed home with Tom and went to school), she and I were invited with 2 other moms and daughters (+ an extra girl sans her mom) to drive to Durango, CO to ski.  Lucky us, we are friends with the mom who owns a condo on the ski mountain and a Suburban big enough to fit all 7 of us plus luggage.  

We headed out at 6:30 on a Sunday morning (March 10).  Around Camp Verde, AZ we drove through this weird fog.  I have never seen such a thing in AZ.  

 We hit Flagstaff and LOTS of snow.  I love Flagstaff.

 Then the very long trek through the res.  Not much to see, but these unusual rock formations caught my eye.  Apparently, they are called Baby Rock.  At least according to my non-official tour guide Diane.

 Eight hours later, after a stop in Durango to rent skis and load up on groceries - literally load up: we crammed the Suburban about to capacity with 5 sets of skis, boots and poles and helmets and enough groceries for a small army - we reached the condo at Durango Mountain Resort aka Purgatory.
This is the view from the condo balcony looking at the ski mountain.

 Here are the 4 girls - or 3 and a bunny.  Jamie's ears made her easy to find on the mountain!!

The views on the ski mountain were amazing.  

 More girls.

Grace on our first ski day.

 The Riley girls

 More girls ... on the lift

 "The Graces"

 Day Two.

 The moms

 I had THE most comfy boots and brand new skis.  I think I am in love.

 "The Graces" again.  I love photos of people on the lift for some reason.

 Tell me that is not a gorgeous view!

 After 3 ski days, we headed into town.  We stopped at this hot spring on the side of the road.  It was rather lukewarm and smelly. But the girls HAD to climb to the top.

 We moms played it safe and just posed without getting muddy or wet.

On Thursday we headed home.  We made a little stop at Four Corners, so actually we visited New Mexico and Utah as well as Colorado.  

 Grace in 4 states at once.

 I am not sure if the movie I took will post, but I wanted to show Tom how the condo was literally ski in/out.  I am skiing behind Michele at the end of the day after coming down most of the mountain, we are skiing the last bit of the run into her condo.

Tahoe 2011

February 27, 2011

I'm a little behind in posting our ski trip pictures.  It's been busy here with 4 sports plus theatre and general busy-ness.

We went to Tahoe with the Massimis and, as usual, had a fabulous ski trip.  We flew into Reno, NV in the midst of a snow storm.
Here is the airport.

Then we had an adventure putting chains on the rental car (actually Tom & Matt had that pleasure).  I stayed in the car where it was not snowing and freezing.
A 30 mph drive to Tahoe in more snow than I have EVER seen!
We settled into a great rental house.

Kids cleaning up after dinner.  Tommy, Grace, Scott & Jack.

 Grace & Jack

Day 1 of skiing: Homewood.  It was too cold to take pictures, so we are a little lacking this year.

End of Day 1:  tired kids: Grace & Hannah

                                                                     Tommy

Day 2 Skiing at Squaw Valley.

 Cathy & Hannah ahead of me on the lift

 Notice my Christmas present: new ski clothes...now I don't have borrow from Mindy every year.  It was so cold I had on about 5 layers so I look a little puffy.  

 Hannah & Cathy

Post skiing.  Fire roasted corm was a big hit.

Thanks Massimis.