Feb 5: Snowshoeing, Hot Tub and Super Bowl

We didn't get to use this front porch much, but the view through the columns was beautiful as we took Isaac out for his first snowshoe hike on Sunday morning.

Jonah, all bundled up, rode in the pack.
There wasn't as much snow in the mountains as normal for this time of year, but it was enough to get in some good practice. Isaac did great.

We just hiked around the mountain development where our rental was, but it was a beautiful flat meadow, and the sun was warm.

Isaac and Zack stopped to investigate this ice formation made by water dripping off the eaves above.

When Isaac got tired, we dropped him off at the house and let Jonah move his legs a little. He led us on a walk around the little neighborhood and was very excited about the "fire stations," otherwise known as fire hydrants, that stood out bright red against the snow. The air had warmed up a lot, and we were able to take some layers off. Here, he'd asked us repeatedly to take him to see the fire station.

Back home, we found the big boys relaxing with a movie about trucks that Zack had brought. It showed various real trucks performing their jobs.

In the afternoon, the kids got to try the hot tub. It was Isaac's first time, and he loved it. Jonah really wanted to go in, but he even likes his bath water cold...so he never was brave enough.

Here are all the kids together at dinnertime, having a great time.

As always, our boys were the last ones at the table. The Super Bowl was on in the next room, and they were excited to get to watch TV.

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.