Snowmass, Part 4: Adventure!

Day 3: Lindsay, Kelli, and I took the kids to the park again so the guys could go on a real hike to Maroon Bells.  That night we learned to make sushi rolls with my cousin Brian.

Day 4: We geared up for a bike ride.

It started pouring rain right after we made it over the tough uphill part.  So, with most of the kids in covered trailers (Lily, Aubrey, and Julian each spent some time in the rain on a tandem bike), we rode the next hour from Snowmass to Aspen in the cold rain.

Soaked and tired on the bus ride home.

Vacation Quotable  -  We were discussing how we would love to purchase an expensive piece of land in Snowmass.  Aunt Kelli suggested jokingly that we could sell the kids to pay for it.  Then she countered that they were too old to be sold.  Lily piped up: "We could sell Amelia!"

That evening we took the kids to the Snowmass Rodeo.

Even living in Texas, we don't own any cowboy boot.

This got us into trouble later!

Isaac roping a steer.

Dinner time!

Vacation Quotable  -  Julian to Isaac: "Are you from here?"  Isaac to Julian: "No, I'm from Houston.  It's hot there and there's lots of mosquitos." Julian to Isaac: "I'm from Egypt."

Ready for the rodeo.

Cowgirls showing off.

The rodeo begins.

Isaac, Lily, and Aubrey lined up on the field for the "calf scramble."

And they're off...the idea is to be one of the first 3 kids to grab a ribbon off a calf's tail and turn it in.

Isaac made it clear to the other side of the arena...

Then he and his city-slicker sandals got stuck deep in the mud!

This nice lady was helping him cross back over the field barefoot, after digging his shoes out of the mud...and here comes momma to help...also wearing flip flops!

The result: yuck!

So gross!  Horses and cows poop out there!

Couldn't wait to get home to wash this off!

That's what we get for being city slickers at a rodeo!

Day 5: We went on the gondola to the top of Aspen Mountain.

With cousin Tristan.

Back in Aspen, exploring the stream that weaves through the walkway.

A few minutes on the playground after lunch.

That night we went to the ski slopes on Snowmass Mt. for a free concert.

Day 6: The daddies take the kids back up Snowmass Mountain so Kelli, Lindsay, Aunt Linda, and I can get in a good hike at Maroon Bells.  That night, our last night there, we went on a triple date in Aspen...and brought along my cousin Jason to thank him for all the time he spent playing with the kids.

Vacation Quotable  -  On the journey home, Mimi asked: "What was your favorite part about our vacation?"  Lily: "The mountains.  And I wish we could eat lots of ice cream and not get sick."  Isaac: "Playing Legos with Julian." Abby: "Cheese Puffs."

Memorable Moments

• The fox who came to check us out as we were talking on the balcony.
• Playing "The Newlywed Game" with DD and Papa.
• Fresh cookies in the lobby every afternoon.
• Learning to make sushi rolls with cousin Brian.
• Isaac and Abby being so "popular" with their cousins.
• The all-girl hike with Lindsay, Kelli, and Aunt Linda while the guys watched the kids for the day.
• The fox who came back to check us out on our last morning as we walked to breakfast.

Thank you Uncle Tom and Aunt Linda for hosting us in such a beautiful, fun location!  We love our family!

Snowmass, Part 3: Adventure!

We departed last Saturday morning for a big family gathering in Colorado!

Travel-weary girls watching a movie during an airport layover. 

Vacation Quotable  -  The flight attendant, as we were descending upon Denver, with no irony whatsoever: "And in case of emergency landing...leave everything."  WHAT?! Should that really be the last thing you say as you land?

Day 1: Nature Trail hike. The kids were tired from travel, so we took it slow (one mile in 2 hours!).

Teacher-Megan, can't resist any opportunity to sound like I know what I'm talking about.

2 momma ducks and 4 baby ducks.

Kids in the meadow.

Vacation Quotable  -  Isaac, as we drove from Aspen to Snowmass for the first time, looking at the beautiful countryside: "I want to live here FOREVER!"

Abby had quite an obsession with dandelions.

We "discovered" this abandoned log cabin.  If you could crouch down through the doorway, you could actually go inside.

Vacation Quotable  -  Lily, Aubrey, and Abby, the first morning from our condo balcony: "Look at that tree!  Look at that flower!  Look at that big rock!  Look at that mountain!"  Everything was so beautiful and we were so excited about it that we were like obnoxiously overzealous city slickers on our first trip to the countryside.

After seeing the warning signs, Isaac was so afraid we'd see a bear.  Thankfully, this was the closest we came.

That night we met the rest of the family at The Hickory House BBQ for dinner.

Day 2: we rode the gondola to the top of Snowmass Mountain and went on a  hike with Mimi and Boppa.

Abby being Abby.

Tired girls who just want to be carried.

Abby and her obsession.

And carried!

Boppa leading the way.

Abby in the daisies.

Isaac and Aunt Lindsay running through the courtyard of our condos.

We spent the afternoon at the park with the rest of the family.

I taught Isaac and Aubrey to roll down a hill.

(We don't do this in TX because the grass is not soft and I'm scared of fire ants!)

We take over the swing set.

Vacation Quotable  -  Isaac, on one of our van rides, dolling out his favor on his cousins: "Excuse me Julian, you can sit with me the next time we go.  And then after that, Lily can sit with me."  At the time, he had given that covetted privilege to Miles and Julian was quite upset.  He's so magnanimous.  ;)

Isaac and Miles taking a spill on the whirly-thing.

Memorable Moments

• Learning that DD has a weakness for onion rings.
• 4-in-a-bed-Lagoy-family nap time.
• Getting reconnected with my cousins that I don't get to see very often.
• The interview of DD and Papa keepsake DVD made by my cousin Matt.
• Playing spoons with my cousins.

Snowmass, Part 2: VIEWS

Part of what made being in Colorado so wonderful was the beautiful scenery.  Adel captured all of these cool shots.

Flowers:

These decorative hangings were all over the place.  Flowers grow amazingly here!

Yellow Columbine.

Landscapes:

Soaring.

Maroon Bells