Jason has wanted to take the big boys skiing for quite a while, and after finally persuading me, off we headed for Red River, NM, for a long weekend of great fun!
"sleeping in the car" - (aka - we AREN'T tired, Mom!)
(30 minutes later....)
Guess who knows best?!?!? MOM!
We were bored... NO ONE travels in the Oklahoma panhandle...
We left snow and 16 degrees in Oklahoma and headed to the ski town with little snow and average 35 degrees! It was 49 when we returned our ski gear on Sunday (not complaining - it was perfect ski weather for this crew!)
(note: if you don't want to see pictures, then stop perusing... there are a lot!)
No road trip is complete without the state signage!
Tumbleweeds were everywhere...
On family trips, Jason and I truly value the opportunity that time gives us to develop memories with the kids, and to not simply turn on the DVD or ipod so everyone is quiet. NO! If we can avoid it, we won't buy a car with a DVD player just for this reason. We checked out 4 books on CD from the library and had a great time listening to them and discussing what was going on in the story. We dance to music. We joke. We act like dorks. It's what it is all about! They have their leapster games for some quiet time but it's very minimal. We love our kids - why not hang out and enjoy them (while they'll let us!)?!?
Piddling with camera settings while in the car... just about the only time this trip I used the actual camera instead of the camera on our phones!
Off we went to the Copper King Lodge at the base of our ski area.... checked in and headed to the slopes to investigate the tubing that happens daily at 4:15!
Grant wanted to take a picture...
The sweet posed photo from above soon turned in to an all-out wrestle match in the snow. They found out it's a bit softer than the ground at home, yet a lot more cold!
Tubing!
G and K had no clue what to expect when we said "let's go tubing" but they soon discovered it was super fun!!!
Morning 1: Ski School Group lessons
The boys took group ski lessons. The 2nd morning, after pulling children out of the safety net at the bottom of the easy green three times, we decided to get them a private lesson. SO worth the extra money - they were doing great at the end of the lesson.
When the boys were in lessons, we took off to explore the mountain. By the end of our last run on the 2nd day, we had both accomplished skiing "blacks." However, our ideas of how to get down the mountain were different. I took it nice and slow, going back and forth (and it wasn't really that slow). JDW, my love, decided he would take the "hot wheel track" way and just aim his skis down, and fly! Literally. Straight down. On the very steep blacks.
I am thankful he didn't break a bone but glad he had a blast!!
Our selfie mid-mountain. Not sure why he has on the mouth guard as it wasn't cold (and coming from me, that's saying a lot as I get cold easily!)
The bunny slope's "magic carpet" for beginners to learn how to go down. We spent a little while here with the boys after lessons so they could "show off" their moves.
We found a family of deer at our cabin after skiing. We went inside and grabbed our carrots (more reasons to eat junk food, right?) and the boys fed carrots to the deer for at least 10 minutes. All three of them were having a blast.
feeding deer - video
We then headed to the back of our lodge and played at the river and fed the ducks.
We then headed to the back of our lodge and played at the river and fed the ducks.
That night, we learned about the Red River Torch Light - these are the ski instructors on the black slope holding road flares. They do this every Saturday.
Red River Torch Run video
Day Two!
Red River Torch Run video
Day Two!
After their round of private lessons, these two thought they were brave - both hopped on the chair lift (without our approval!) to head on another run.
Goobers!
This is at the top of the green by the bunny slope. The main lodge is in between their heads, and the "magic carpet" area is to the right of Grant's head by the other building. We stayed on this slope the entire second afternoon as the greens up the mountain we found to be too steep and narrow for true beginners and didn't want to risk something.
Our room. The deer feeding incident was right on this sidewalk and street.
It was a great trip. Easy drive. Good weather.
All of the giggles and memories made are so worth the time and expense involved, and I am so glad my hubster made this trip happen - he planned it all!!!
------- Reid and Catey ------
While we were having fun, Catey and Reid had fun, too! Catey stayed a few nights with the Loylesses before heading to my parents' house for the last night. Here she is cuddled up with our buddy.
When our phones and internet would get a signal, we'd have a photo from my Mom of this cute face. He got a Mickey Mouse and went to see Granny one day... I think (hope!!!) everyone had a great time. He sure didn't seem overly excited to see us on Monday!
Trying to learn his colors with Bubba (he has ZERO interest in colors).
2 comments:
Very cute!
Fun!! Your skiing styles are exactly the same as mine and J's! :) Glad you had a fab time!
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