Feb 4: Winter Park with Friends

We'd all been looking forward to a weekend getaway in the mountains with some good friends. Adam had a hard month of work leading up to this week, but he finished (and won!) his trial and three other major deadlines just in time for us to spend four days together, playing in the winter wonderland that is Colorado in February.

After a week of packing, planning food, and taking care of last-minute details (there are so many for a family of four people and two animals!), plus trying to pull together a present for a mom from Isaac's school who has cancer, a snowstorm hit Denver the day we were supposed to leave. The mountains were sadly not getting much, but as the light faded and the first of two feet of snow piled up on the roads here, we decided we'd better leave the next morning.

So we met our friends a day late, but we made it. When we arrived after stopping for sandwiches in town, a few friends were out skiing and Adler was just waking up from his nap. He and Jonah were very happy to see each other, and we sat at the beautiful kitchen booth and ate pumpkin muffins.

The house was in more of a development than our family might choose if going alone, but we wanted to be near the runs for all the skiers in the group. And it was the best kind of development - beautifully built with fine materials and high-quality construction, surrounded by 100 acres of open space. Or, as Adam pointed out, 100 acres that included a few more blocks of future home sites probably postponed until the economy improved a bit. Either way, we had a gorgeous view of a snowcapped peak and lower mountains ringing the valley, and there was enough snow for beginner snowshoeing and a variety of hills nearby for sledding. The layout was amazing - the eating nook for the kids, a long dining table at the edge of the kitchen for the adults, and lots of room for us to all be together and yet spread out. There was even a hot tub outside, which we all enjoyed - though maybe the kids enjoyed it most of all.

Our first outing was to the little sledding hill, once everyone was at the house for the day. Thanks to Shawn and Albert for capturing this beautiful afternoon in the snow:

Each family took care of one breakfast and one dinner. Shawn had prepared make-your-own pizzas with an assortment of toppings for the first night we were all there. Yum...it was a hit.

Our boys, as usual, were the first ones to the table and probably the last ones to leave too.

Isaac's favorite pizza these days is spinach, pepperoni, mushrooms and olives.

Jonah had the same thing without the olives.

After pizza, there was hot chocolate and also homemade cookies for the kids, while we parents enjoyed our pizzas and a few glasses of wine in relative peace. The boys played loudly but happily, running through the house, while we got to talk and relax. The dinners might have been my favorite part of the trip.

Christmas morning

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve

Oh, the joy of waking up to those sweet little voices that first morning back!

Taylor told us cute stories about the boys all the way home from the airport, and my parents met us in the kitchen with more stories when we came in at 1am. They were all so excited that I could tell the boys must have had an amazing time. We couldn't wait to see them, sound asleep in our shared room, when we crept in an hour later to go to bed.

When the boys woke up, it was Christmas Eve morning, and we pulled them into bed with us for lots of snuggles. Isaac had already found us in the night, and Jonah didn't seem that surprised to see us, but he also didn't want to let me out of his sight.

 

Jonah was clingy all day, and I didn't mind a bit. Isaac wanted a lot of snuggles too but easily floated from lap to lap, comfortable and secure with all nine adults in the house. 

Church started at 5, so in late afternoon we all got dressed in our Christmas clothes. The boys had new sweaters. 

After the service, we gathered around the Christmas tree for pictures. 

Here are a few of my favorites.

 

 

We let the boys open the first present of Christmas while we were making dinner, rather than after they ate. That way they were entertained while the adults were busy, and they had time to play with their new gift before we tucked them into bed.

Both boys picked out a present from Jane and Greg. For Isaac: the biggest toy crane I ever saw, complete with authentic components like a counterbalance (thanks Adam for naming that one). For Jonah: a new set of Legos. We didn't hear much from Jonah after that, but we saw his creation growing taller and more involved with each busy minute.

Dorothy and Lucy were reading funny books outloud and getting laughs from Isaac too.

Dec 18-23: First Overnight Away

We left early for our Christmas travels this year because Adam and I had some special plans: we were going to St. Lucia for three days alone, thanks to an amazing set of babysitters.  My parents and both sisters would be there to take good care of them and keep them busy so they wouldn't miss us too much. We had about a day to get them settled in before we left.

I stayed up too late writing a medical release, a summary of their schedules and comfort needs, and my food philosophy (yes, not in the realm of necessary but see Food Manifesto to understand my obsession). We left early in the morning the next day, arriving at our beautiful hotel around 5pm, just as the sky opened and a tropical rainstorm pounded down on the metal roof of the open-air lobby. 

The rain tapered off into a cool mist as we arrived back upstairs for some food, and we sat at the edge of the covered deck and watched the lights across the bay as we ate our first dinner of vacation. 

Meanwhile, the boys had visitors from the first day, as my parents' friends so kindly dropped by to help entertain them - and several with gifts! Here is Claire playing with Jonah, who is holding one of the light sticks she brought for the boys.

Isaac loved his light stick too. 

There was Baby Pete to play with, and tin of yummy Christmas cookies -

but their babysitters made sure they got their veggies too.

Our next day started like this: a half-day tour of the island's highlights, starting with the Caribbean coast and especially the stunning Pitons (behind us in this picture). Our guides - including our responsible but very fast driver - cut the engine for photos, then dropped us off right between them for snorkeling.

We had lunch at a restaurant here, overlooking Gros Piton:

and then returned to our hotel. That's me taking a picture,

and here is my picture, courtesy of a lively employee!

Meanwhile, the boys were having just as much fun. They went out to breakfast one morning and spent an afternoon making cookies with Taylor.

Baby Pete wanted to help too.

 

June came to visit and brought some presents. 

Jane bought a heated outdoor cat house for Tusky, and the boys got to try it out first. 

Christmas was everywhere - the big beautiful tree, the presents, the cookies, the family and friends, and lots of toys.

Taylor helped Isaac make elves from a cute little craft kit my dad had saved for him. Isaac spent a long time on the elves and the beautiful wrapping. I got mine on Christmas morning.

We spent our third day enjoying our hotel - easily the nicest place we've ever stayed together. 

 The boys had another day full of fun, with more visitors and outings.

The doting babysitters kept a consistent bedtime routine: 

play, books and snuggles, just like at home. Taylor put Isaac to bed each night, by request.

We were gone four full days, which seemed like both a flash and an eternity to us. The boys, in such good hands and kept so happily busy, apparently did not ask for us much. We had prepared them for weeks, and they were surrounded by doting family - also including Dorothy, Lucy, Bill and Greg, who arrived while we were gone. We were told that they never seemed worried.

We had one last breakfast in St. Lucia, 

on a misty morning that made the island look like Maine to me.

The sun peeked out just as we were leaving, lighting up a strip of sea like turquoise. 

We then spent the rest of the day traveling, arriving in Charlotte just after midnight on Christmas Eve. Taylor was there to pick us up. 

Jonah looks tired in the pictures from this last day. As we flew back to Charlotte, we couldn't wait to see these little faces.

Big thanks to all the babysitters, especially Taylor and the constant time she spent with the boys. They are still asking for you now, in February!