So what did Elena do on our ski trip

Elena is two and she is too young to ski.  I am old enough to ski, but I don't and I won't.  So, what did she and I do all day?  We hung out and had so much fun.  We watched some tv shows.  We walked in the snow.  We played with dolls.  We baked. 

The statue was on the driveway and Elena loved it!

Eating snow

It was a fun and games until she got sick.

Sick girl watching tv

The poor baby was so sick on Monday night and Tuesday.  Thank goodness for local clinics and the ability to get medicine quickly.  By Wednesday afternoon she was well enough to go outside for some more fun and games.

She and Samuel loved to sit in this copper bin

Samuel and Elena loved sitting together and eating the snow

Daddy helping her walk on the snow

I think Elena had lots of fun despite the bumps in the road.  She smiled all day regardless of how she felt.  She really is such a joy!

When not skiing....

There was lots to do at Beaver Creek in addition to skiing.  Truly I was happy to be in the house all day, go for a walk or run or both, and just hang out with the family.  The kiddos were kind of happy with this plan, but they knew of the fun lurking in the ski village.  Being the kind parents were are (ha-ha) we indulged almost every wish.  It was a vacation after all!

We did go on a fun walk up the mountain.  The boys loved kicking the snow piles!  Elena was so bothered that her brothers were not walking on the road.  She yelled and yelled at them, which was hilarious to us all.

Just love Elena copying her big sister!

Walking on the ski slope by our house

We took Emma, Jonah, and Samuel bungee trampolining which was awesome for them. Imagine being strapped with bungee cords and bouncing on a trampoline doing all kinds of flips!  Jonah would have done that all day every day.

Samuel getting strapped in!

Jonah's turn to strap in

Emma turning flips

On our last day in the mountains Emma, Jonah, and Samuel went ice skating.  At first none of them were any good at all.  It was all rail holding for them.  Samuel skated with my help for about 30 minutes.  He was beginning to get the hang of it when he decided he was too tired. 

Emma and Jonah skated for about one hour and they both improved.  Emma was skating without the rail by the time we left.

All three of my ice skaters

We also did a little sledding on day one.  After that it was all skiing!

Samuel laughing himself silly!

Jonah wanted to go farther and faster each time.

And, after all that playing there had to be some eating.  We did eat some yummy food that I cooked in the amazing kitchen.  However, the best dessert we had all week was homemade snow ice cream....oh my yumminess!  Mix a little white ice cream, milk, vanilla, and sugar and eat!  The kiddos were so excited to make this yummy treat all day and they were not disappointed.  Daddy did a good job.

Making our treat!

Snow ice cream

Wow, did we have fun!

Skiing at Beaver Creek

We went to Beaver Creek Colorado to ski.  Well, I went because it was a vacation and everyone else went to ski.  Drew grew up skiing and loves to ski.  In his heart he hopes his children also love to ski.  I do not like to ski, but I will do anything to help Drew realize the dream of watching his children ski. 

I also went because of the house we lived in for five days.  My goodness it was unreal to live in this house and just pretend.  Pretend to live a life unknown to us the other 360 days of the year and for the rest of our lives.  What a privilege for all of us.  Despite the obvious wealth of the house, it was a very warm and inviting home.  We felt comfortable and happy in this house.  It was an amazing gift to all of us. 

I mean really...look at this house!

Beaver Creek is probably one of the most beautiful places we have gone as a family.  The mountains were lovely and even more so when covered in snow.  The temperatures were perfect...below freezing at night and 50 during the day.  I was so thankful it was not too cold or I think the kids may have been miserable.  There was plenty of snow to enjoy....sled, eat, ski, kick, throw, etc.

Drew, Gail/Meemaw, Emma, Jonah, Samuel, and Gretchen skied on Sunday.  The kids learned some skills and were excited about the upcoming days of learning to ski.  Monday the kids stayed with me to explore the area and play in the house.  Tuesday the kids had a private lesson and turned into skiers.   Drew was beside himself with joy at the sight of seeing Emma, Jonah, and Samuel ski down a hill to him.  Wednesday they skied until they could barely move.  Drew said they smiled all day and were just so excited.  What a gift to all of us.  The kids so badly wanted to ski and they did.  Drew wanted his kiddos to ski and love it...they did.  Meemaw just had a full heart of seeing such joy on everyone's faces.

Meemaw, Gretchen, Drew, Emma, Jonah, Samuel, and Elena for fun

Emma and Jonah

Drew said Samuel smiled like this all day

Daddy and his skiers!

Drew, Samuel, Jonah, Meemaw, and Emma

My skiing fools!

Emma's Beaver Creek snowman

Emma wanted to build a snowman so badly.  We were barely out of the car and dressed in snow gear when the building commenced.  She did quite a good job!